Up to 10% of the Netflix library will reportedly no longer be accessible to those on the cheaper price plan.
Netflix is launching a new version of their subscription plan, which will see a lower monthly price in exchange for adverts being shown during the movies and shows you’re watching.
The plan, titled Basic With Adverts, launched in some major markets around the world yesterday, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, the UK and the US.
Upon the new plan’s launch, Netflix’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Product Officer Greg Peters said the following:
“What stays the same: A wide variety of great TV series and films; personalised viewing experience; available on a wide range of TV and mobile devices; change or cancel your plan at any time.
“What’s different: Video quality up to 720p/HD (now for both our Basic with Adverts and Basic plans); average of 4 to 5 minutes of adverts per hour; a limited number of films and TV series won’t be available due to licensing restrictions, which we’re working on; no ability to download titles.
“In short, Basic with Adverts is everything people love about Netflix, at a lower price, with a few adverts in-between.”
However, it has been reported that many major titles will no longer be accessible to those on the cheaper tier.
Variety found that the following shows were not available on the Basic With Adverts level:
Arrested Development, House of Cards, Peaky Blinders, New Girl, The Magicians, The Last Kingdom, The Sinner, Good Girls, The Good Place, Knight Rider, Queen of the South, Marlon, Friday Night Lights and Uncoupled.
Many movies were also not available on this subscription tier, despite some of the shows and movies actually being Netflix originals and exclusives.
Peter had previously stated that a “limited number of movies and TV shows won’t be available due to licensing restrictions, and we’re going to be working on reducing that over time”, and Variety has discovered that this could be up to between 5% and 10% of the total titles, depending on which country you’re in.
Additionally, the new subscription tier doesn’t state which shows and/or movies you’ll no longer have access to prior to signing up for the cheaper option.
There is no set date for the Basic With Adverts level rollout in Ireland at the time of writing.
You can check out Netflix’s full list of new movies and shows arriving in November right here.
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