Netflix’s New Ad‑Supported Plan: What You’ll Lose (Besides Your Wallet)
Remember when Netflix first flirted with the idea of an ad‑heavy tier back in June 2022? It sounded like a bargain for anyone who’d rather keep their account costs low and tolerate a few commercials. But guess what? The “budget” subscription comes with a bigger price tag than you might think.
What the Code is Telling Us
- No Offline Downloads: Steve Moser, a determined developer, dug into Netflix’s iOS code. He found a clear instruction that ad‑supported users simply won’t be able to download shows or movies for binge‑watching on their phone or tablet. That means you’ll need a data connection to keep watching.
- Unskippable Ads: The same snippets showed that any ad that pops up can’t be skipped—no “skip 15 sec” button, no remote‑control trickery.
- Playback Controls Disabled During Ads: While the commercials play, you’re basically in a locked‑down mode. Think of it as “No rewinding”—the controls are gone until the ad ends.
Why Netflix is Saying “It’s a Work‑In‑Progress”
Netflix tells us that they’re still tweaking this plan with ad‑sales partners. It’s a work in progress, so some features might shift over time.
On top of that, Netflix is also planning a content filter—not every show or movie will be available to ad‑supported users. That means your favorite blockbuster might stay behind the paywall.
What the Numbers Say
These changes didn’t go unnoticed: the platform lost subscribers for the first time in a decade (yes, it’s a first). As a result, the stock market answered in a less-than‑glad voice, slashing the share price by 20 %.
What This Means for the Everyday Binge‑Watcher
- You’ll need Wi‑Fi or a data plan for every episode.
- Ads will be a part of the experience you can’t escape.
- Not all the gems in Netflix’s library will magically appear for the cheaper plan.
In short: the “budget” option feels more like a budget with a twist—cheaper, but also more restrictive. Keep that in mind the next time you consider switching tiers. And hey, if you’re alive, you can always throw a popcorn‑bucket over the top and keep your binge going!
