Netflix has removed it's cheapest advert-free streaming plan in a move which will see million face having to pay more to watch their favourite TV shows and films. Users in Canada will now have to choose between sitting through adverts or upgrading their plan to a more costly option.
The current cheapest non-ad version of Netflix in Canada is $9.99 per month, but with this being terminated the next level up is $16.49 per month. However, those currently plan set to be removed can likely remain on it unless they switch to another option or cancel their account, according to reports.
Canada is the first nation to see the basic option removed in what could become standard across every country Netflix operates in. The nation was the first to be hit by the password sharing crackdown earlier this year, before it was rolled out to much of South America, Europe and the UK a few months later.
Netflix's move saw subscriber numbers dip significantly in Canada, but they have now bounced back as the service offers 'extra member' accounts with a 'paid sharing' initiative. Millions of UK subscribers are now also seeing a similar password sharing clampdown, with many being warned they will have to pay £4.99 more to add multiple family members across different locations to their account.
In reaction to the news, viewers took to Twitter, with user MarkRF fuming: "It has been reported that Netflix makes more money from the ads than the extra fee from Basic without ads. They will test this in Canada then US is next."
While Mbode2020 added: "Beginning of the end for Netflix" and, Tealambition put: "Why do we always get these b******t changes first, I hate Netflix fr."
Current Netflix UK plans
The UK could be the next country to see the basic option removed, but no such plans have been officially announced as of yet. Currently, British streamers have the option of four different plans, each with their own benefits but this could soon change.
Netflix's current available options are:
- The Standard with Adverts Plan at £4.99/month – lets you stream content in Full HD (1080p), on two devices at the same time with adverts
- The Basic Plan at £6.99/month – content in HD (720p), on only one device at a time, without adverts
- The Standard Plan at £10.99/month – stream content in Full HD (1080p), on up to two devices at the same time, without adverts
- The Premium Plan at £15.99/month – stream some content in UltraHD (4K), on up to four devices at the same time, without adverts
Industry experts say Netflix are pushing for subscribers on the basic plan to either switch to the advert-supported option or the Standard Plan. The move to introduce a plan with adverts has proved very profitable for Netflix and the password sharing crackdown has boosted subscriber numbers.
