Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, WOW and so on – if you want the full streaming program at home, you’ll have to dig deep into your pocket every month to treat yourself to the full range. So it seems very practical and especially beneficial for the battered wallet if some streaming providers also offer their portfolio in a cost-effective model.
Netflix announced six months ago that it would launch a new subscription option at a lower price. The ad-funded version of Netflix was launched in Germany on November 3, 2022 at 5:00 PM. For a meager 4.99 euros per month customers can now watch Netflix with commercial breaks. Unfortunately, the annoying ads before and during the stream aren’t the only drawback Netflix subscription users face.
The differences at a glance
- Average viewers get 4 to 5 minutes of advertising per hour that are shown before and during films and series.
- Those who have opted for a savings subscription also do not have access to the full Netflix offer. A certain selection of films and series is not included in the cheap savings model for licensing reasons. However, Netflix is working to change that in the future. Early users report that hit series such as “House Of Cards”, “Peaky Blinders” or “Arrested Development” are not included.
- Content can be streamed in HD quality at 720p in the basic subscription with and without advertising. That is at least as much as the “old” basic offer without advertising. A resolution of 1080p is only available with the standard rate for 12.99 euros.
- There is no download function.
- The ad-funded subscription model can only be used on current Chromecasts with Google TV. If you are still using a classic Chromecast without Android TV or Google TV, consider switching to the “Basic subscription with advertising” because you only get an error message: “To transfer Netflix to a Chromecast or Chromecast Ultra To transfer you need to upgrade your Netflix subscription to Basic, Standard or Premium.”
Netflix beats Disney+
In addition to Germany, the new “Basic Subscription with Advertising” has also started in Australia, Brazil, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, Korea, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom and the US. Netflix thus follows the current trend among streaming providers to also offer their services in cheaper but ad-funded models.
The Amazon Prime video alternative Freevee launched in August, and Disney+ will also offer an ad-funded subscription from December — but only in the US. The cost-saving Disney Plus offering shouldn’t come to Germany until 2023.
Ultimately, everyone has to decide for themselves whether the cheap Netflix version is worth it. Of course, the ad integration reduces the undisturbed enjoyment of the film and series. But if you only use Netflix sporadically and prefer to subscribe to another streaming provider, the new streaming model can certainly be an alternative.