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.

  • HobbitFoot @thelemmy.club
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    5 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 @thelemmy.club
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        5 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.

            • conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works
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              5 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.