Netflixfinally launched its “Basic with Ads” plan this week, though even for interested customers, the plan comes with a few caveats, including the fact that it’s missing some of the streamer’s most popular shows, likeHouse of CardsandCobra Kai.
News of the ad-supported tier’s release surfaced three weeks ago afterNetflix’s quarterly earnings call, setting the price for Netflix with ads at $6.99 per month in the United States, with the plan also becoming available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain and the UK. However, the exact nature andfrequency of the ads were not specified by Netflixat the time, and neither was the extent to which the licensing restrictions that forbid certain content from streaming with ads would affect the service.
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The landscape for the latter is starting to clear up a bit, asDeadlinereports there are actually a concerning number of shows and movies missing from Netflix’s budget-friendly option. These missing showsinclude certified hits likeCobra Kai,The Crown,Peaky Blinders,Arrested Development,New Girl,Friday Night Lights, andBreaking Bad. On the movies front, things aren’t looking much brighter because Basic with Ads lacks access to the likes ofSkyfall,28 Days, andseveral of the current most popular films in the U.S., all of which do show up in searches but are locked behind a padlock icon.
The user experience is also not necessarily the best, as locked content warns that it’s “Unavailable on Basic with ads due to licensing restrictions.” Hitting the padlock icon will only take users to a new screen where they’re prompted to pay the extra $3 needed for the old Basic plan. It bears saying that both basic plans were upgraded to feature 720p video quality this month, but the ad version also lacks the option to download content for mobile devices.
Basic with Ads' rollout has been met with mixed reception, as the plan is mostly a confusing alternative for those looking for a cheaper streaming option. Ad frequency has also been defined by some reviewers as “unpredictable” given some shows may be able to be enjoyed with no commercial breaks, whereas movies are all over the place. Regardless of that, every single piece of content has advertising right afterclicking Netflix’s Play button.
On top of that, midroll advertising does not come at the same timestamp it would when some of the content made its way to TV, resulting in an overall inferior experience. At $6.99,Netflix’s Basic with Ads is cheaper, but it’s really hard to determine who exactly this product is for.
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