Netflix, once a pioneer of ad-free viewing that offered a break from traditional TV norms, is now contemplating launching free ad-supported versions of its service in markets like Europe and Asia, Bloomberg reported.

The plans to offer a free ad-supported tier, albeit in select markets, suggests that pivot towards monetizing user data, in other words — making users and not the extensive library of award-winning shows a product, might be well in the pipeline.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    165 months ago

    The entire source of their growth was “you can get almost anything you want to watch for one low monthly cost”. They no longer have rights to any of that content, and for most of it didn’t even get an opportunity to make a bid.

    It’s the equivalent of Oreo shipping 3 Oreos in a big box for 3x the price. But also they had to change their recipe because they didn’t own the old one.

    • @dustyData
      link
      English
      35 months ago

      Oreo was originally a ripoff so it makes sense.

    • HobbitFoot
      link
      fedilink
      English
      25 months ago

      Yeah. Netflix got really lucky with streaming for as long as they did and they knew it. Cable and broadcast subsidized their content and they were able to lease it for pennies on the dollar.

      Of course, people don’t want to admit that the subsidy for their content is gone and they are pissed about rising costs.

        • HobbitFoot
          link
          fedilink
          English
          25 months ago

          Then cancel and move on.

          The way that people talk about it here, a streaming service raising rates is the equivalent of a significant other dumping them.

          • @[email protected]
            link
            fedilink
            English
            45 months ago

            I did. A long time ago.

            People are allowed to recognize a dogshit excuse for a product is a bad product.

            • HobbitFoot
              link
              fedilink
              English
              15 months ago

              I never said people weren’t allowed, but there is this weird obsession about it on Lemmy.

              • @[email protected]
                link
                fedilink
                English
                25 months ago

                People discuss tech companies, and when a company keeps jacking up its price while making the experience worse for an offering that would be a ripoff at half its original price, people are going to be annoyed.

                Especially with the trend of not being able to just buy shows any more.