Apple TV users can now access Netflix’s Basic with Ads plan as the ad-supported tier is now available on the latest version of its tvOS app. The plan launched in November 2022 and was unavailable on some devices including Apple TV. The cheaper plan costs $6.99/month and features 15 to 30 seconds of ads, an average of four to five minutes of ads per hour, and lower video quality of 720p HD. Subscribers can only stream from one device at a time and don’t have access to offline viewing.
Netflix has now made its Basic with Ads plan available on the latest version of its tvOS app for Apple TV users. The plan was initially launched in November 2022, and since then, there have been some setbacks with a few devices not being supported. Apple TV was one of them. However, with the latest update to version 2.3.0, users can now access the ad-supported tier. Netflix confirmed the update, stating that the plan is now available on tvOS.
Previously, Apple TV users were unable to access the ads tier and were instead asked to either upgrade to Netflix’s pricier plans or try another device. When TechCrunch reached out to Netflix in November, the company said that the Basic with Ads plan would become available on tvOS soon, and four months later, it finally is.
Despite the delay in adding support to other devices and setbacks like fewer titles, Netflix has expressed happiness over the success of the new tier. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Netflix President of Worldwide Advertising Jeremi Gorman said there is a “broad swath” of advertisers on the platform.
However, analytics firm Antenna reported that only 9% of new Netflix subscribers in the United States signed up for the cheaper plan, a month after it launched.
Netflix launched the $6.99/month ad-supported plan in November 2022 in the United States, the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Japan, Korea, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. The ads are 15 to 30 seconds long, and there’s an average of four to five minutes of ads per hour. The Basic with Ads plan has a lower video quality of 720p HD, and subscribers can only stream from one device at the same time. Around 5% to 10% of Netflix’s content catalog is unavailable due to licensing restrictions. Subscribers don’t have access to offline viewing with the ad-supported plan.
Overall, Netflix has made a significant move with the launch of its Basic with Ads plan, which allows users to access the platform at a lower cost. With the plan now available on Apple TV, it’s easier for users to access the ad-supported tier. While there have been some setbacks, the company is optimistic about the success of the new plan, and it will be interesting to see how it evolves over time.
