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Netflix's Ad-Supported Plan Will Disable Ad Skipping and Block Downloads of Shows and Films (bloomberg.com) 53

Posted by msmash from the how-about-that dept.
Netflix isn't planning to let users of its new ad-supported tier download shows and movies to their devices for offline viewing, according to code found inside of the company's iPhone app, removing a feature that customers enjoy on its regular service. From a report: The move suggests Netflix is doing what it can to distinguish the upcoming service from its current offerings. The streaming giant, which eschewed advertising for years, is planning to roll out the ad-supported level by early next year. But hints about the new service are already reflected in code hidden within its iPhone app. "Downloads available on all plans except Netflix with ads," according to text in the app that was discovered by developer Steve Moser and shared with Bloomberg News. The code also suggests that users won't be able to skip ads -- a common move in the streaming world -- and playback controls won't be available during ad breaks.
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Netflix's Ad-Supported Plan Will Disable Ad Skipping and Block Downloads of Shows and Films More

Netflix's Ad-Supported Plan Will Disable Ad Skipping and Block Downloads of Shows and Films

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  • meanwhile (Score:3)

    by hjf ( 703092 ) on Wednesday August 17, 2022 @06:27PM (#62798715) Homepage

    Meanwhile full rate for Disney+ is half of what netflix charges for their basic plan.

    But also, no one I know is paying for Disney+ since it's bundled with everything. Cable? Get disney+ for free. Intenret service? Disney+. Client of certain bank? Disney+. In my country, be the equivalent of "Prime" in the #1 ecommerce sidte? Disney+ for free.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward
      yeah but disney+ blows chunks for new content. most people I know are dropping it like the turd it is if they are forced to pay for it.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward
      unfortunately even Netflix's meagre new content looks like a massive library compared to the scraps Disney+ offers.

    • But But I don't have "everything" therefore no Disney+. Which I don't want anyway. Netflix is fine for me, it's got what I want, but I'm not a tv addict anymore either. The plan rate is cheaper than amazon, which likes to add premium pricing on top of anything I would want to see anyway. The *only* things Disney+ has going for it are more kids stuff if you have kids, and their balkanization of all marvel and star wars, but I can live without any of those.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by slazzy ( 864185 )
      No kidding, I get Disney+ free with my phone provider, bank and a credit card company as well.

  • Hey, if I want a service that has unskippable ads I can use free-to-air TV. Why would I pay for an *inferior* service from Netflix which won't even give me download or DVR capability?

    I think they're overestimating the appeal of this service and, if the put up the price of the premium service again, I'm gone as a subscriber.

    • If you want to record it, there are tools to record even HDCP-protected HDMI.

      The reason someone would consider using the ad-supported plan is that it's cheap.

      I for one would not even consider it, I'd rather read a shampoo bottle than watch TV with ads.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by vivian ( 156520 )

        Fortunately there's plenty of more interesting things to do with your downtime these days. I absolutely refuse to return to watching ads on TV - and I expect that if there is too much of a push to advertising on streaming platforms, two things will happen - Piracy will increase, and playing games etc will increase, especially since there are so many affordable games easily available on steam, android and ios. etc.

        Guess I will be doing a lot more gaming with my free time, when I'm not actually writing one my

      • Have to admit that I like "Becoming your Parents" progressive commercials and the Geico Lizard commercials.
        But I have never bought their products. I never buy based on commercials.

      • >"I for one would not even consider it, I'd rather read a shampoo bottle than watch TV with ads."

        Yep. I will *never* watch TV that has unskippable content. Haven't done so in 25 years. I would rather watch nothing at all (and I like TV and watch a lot of it). I don't know how people can stand it.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by dgatwood ( 11270 )

      Hey, if I want a service that has unskippable ads I can use free-to-air TV. Why would I pay for an *inferior* service from Netflix which won't even give me download or DVR capability?

      Because that's the only way to see Netflix original programming. The overlap between what's on Netflix and what's on TV is rapidly declining at this point.

    • They are only adding it because people are asking for a cheaper ad-supported service. This is *optional*. Pay the default price which frankly isn't that bad especially if you're used to high priced cable.

      • >"Pay the default price which frankly isn't that bad especially if you're used to high priced cable."

        1) Cable has a LOT more channels than any single streaming service.
        2) To get all the similar content requires lots of streaming services with increasing prices.... to the point it is almost the same price now (if you also have to get your ISP from cable as well, which offers discounts).
        3) Almost everything on cable is in surround sound, which is not the case on many streaming services.
        4) You are ignoring

        • "Channels" and "streaming service" are not concepts that necessarily intermix. There is MORE choice in any streaming service than you will see on a cable TV system. If you get 300 channels, then at any particular time there are only 300 choices. You want to see episode 314 of Breaking Bad? Sorry, they showed that last week, you were too late so you have to wait for it to come back in rotation. But on Netflix, or Hulu, or Amazon, or whatever, you've got a gazillion options despite it being technically

    • Why would I pay for an *inferior* service from Netflix which won't even give me download or DVR capability?

      In case you want on-demand content and/or something that is available on Netflix that isn't available on FTA, so:

      No Netflix
      Full-price Ad-free Netflix with download capability
      Cheaper Ad-supported Netflix with no download capability

      Feels like enough options.

      • Some people just want everything for free and will rationalize that desire with whatever shortcomings that the service has. Twenty years ago people were saying that "I would stop using Napster/AudioGalaxy if I could just buy DRM-free mp3s." Then DRM-free mp3s became available, and then 99 cents a song was too expensive, or overcompressed compared to torrented FLAC, or whatever. Someday an absolutely flawless streaming service will be offered, and a big group of people will say: "This service is perfect, the
  • seems like a decent compromise. I would never signup to it as I pay primarily to avoid ads, but if others want to save a buck this way it seems reasonable.

    • seems like a decent compromise. I would never signup to it as I pay primarily to avoid ads, but if others want to save a buck this way it seems reasonable.

      It's essentially tv all over again. You couldn' skip commercials then (before time shifting became available) either. But commercials were a good time to refill your glass, take a piss, do something else.

      Of course, if you go back far enough you remember the sheer terror of hearing the words, "It's back!" and having to launch yourself over the sofa so you didn't miss the show when it came back from commericals because there was no vcr and the show would never be shown again.

      • yep and back then there were a lot less commercials than now. it was barely acceptable back then but we had no choice, now with choice I would never go back to that but fully understand others are more tolerant or prefer to save a few more dollars.

      • But commercials were a good time to refill your glass, take a piss, do something else.

        Maybe that's how it was, but by now, the pure frequency of ads means that to use them all to take a piss probably means that you should get checked for bladder troubles.

      • You must be drinking gallons and need some very long pisses if that is how you pass the time while the ads are showing. You should see a doctor.

  • If you want to pause/resume, or even rewind and rewatch an ad, why on Earth would they want to prevent you? If you did rewind and rewatch an add, they would be able to sell another impression count too.

    • That's how they're doing it elsewhere that I see. Youtube lets you pause but not skip or rewind. Sucks. I don't know what hulu does, but that is the only ad-supported service that Netflix is competing with.

  • Is this not extremely obvious? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by SuperKendall ( 25149 ) on Wednesday August 17, 2022 @06:40PM (#62798761)

    Who thought an ad-supported service would allow skipping ads?

    Downloading offline video is maybe something you could have thought might happen, but I sure would not have expected that as it's by far the most obvious value-add for any level of paid service.

    I think it is a good idea for Netflix though, I have to think that a bunch of ad supported people starting to watch some more popular shows they may never have seen (like Stranger Things) might well get so into it and hate ads so much, they would at least spring for paid service for a month or more. It's a really good way to bring in more of the service flippers who just want to make sure there's a show they might like before signing up for a month.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by jwhyche ( 6192 )

      I think it is a good idea for Netflix though, I have to think that a bunch of ad supported people starting to watch some more popular shows they may never have seen (like Stranger Things) might well get so into it and hate ads

      I agree. I don't see what the big deal is myself. They are not putting ad's in all their packages. If you have one of the higher end ones this is a non issue. If you are like me, cheap, then a few ads before your stream starts then it might be worth it to you.

      As for me I just audited my streaming subscriptions and I kicked netflix to the curb. I will revisit it in a few months, probably, to see if they have some programs I'm interested.

    • The fact that you can download in advance (only on device, not smart tvs or set-top boxes) is a plus for Netflix. Do the other streaming services allow this? It makes it easier to watch some stuff on a plane, hotel room, during boring meetings, etc.

      • Amazon Prime also allows you to download the content. (At least on a phone/tablet you can, I don't know for computers. Probably not.)

      • Do the other streaming services allow this?

        Just checked and Disney+ on the phone does, don't think it does on computer. Probably would also work on iPad I imagine, since kids downloading things would be a huge portion of use of that feature.

  • Just treat it like we did broadcast TV (Score:5, Informative)

    by 93 Escort Wagon ( 326346 ) on Wednesday August 17, 2022 @06:40PM (#62798763)

    Commercial break = time to take a pee, or time to go see if there's something tasty in the fridge.

    • But idiots keep saying ad blocking is stealing [tomsguide.com] or unethical. Who knew that leaving the room was stealing! /s

    • >"Commercial break = time to take a pee, or time to go see if there's something tasty in the fridge."

      I don't know about you, but I don't need to pee or eat a dozen times an hour (at least how it is with broadcast/CATV). Perhaps it will start off with far fewer/shorter ads, but rest assured it will increase over time.

  • Ow boy, the agony!
    An unskippable ad just when Kim Kardashian is just about to proclaim her latest epiphany!

  • It allowed me to stop watching commercials twenty-five years ago. I'm never going back.

  • Correlation with piracy (Score:3)

    by VeryFluffyBunny ( 5037285 ) on Wednesday August 17, 2022 @08:44PM (#62799025)
    I wonder if there'll be any correlation between the suckiness of streaming service terms & conditions vs the degrees to which their content gets pirated. Arrrr, me harties!!

  • I finally cancelled netflix ($21?). And I'm cancelling Comcast ($96).

    I subbed in apple tv for Ted Lasso ($5) for a month or so... and Tmobile internet ( was fine with me and my two grandsons playing youtube videos and playing risk of rain2 and minecraft with 3 computers at the same time. It has a 100gb cap / severe slowdown level I understand) ($50).

    In a month or two, I'll choose another premium- maybe HBO for Doom Patrol. I might get back to Netflix next year. Watched a bunch of reaction videos inste

    • Netflix was great. They gave us a good price. But now everyone has taken away their content and they keep cancelling their own shows before they get to 100 episodes. Dumb.

      Watching Netflix (and damn near everyone else) take a plot fitting for a 2-hour movie and try and stretch it out across three dozen episodes, isn't "dumb". It's fucking greedy, and Hollywood won't be able to sustain that shit model for much longer.

      Not every plot needs to include 2,000 commercial breaks spread across 5 fucking seasons simply because the overhyped narcissist "star" expects a per episode paycheck.

      • There is plot and character development.

        I watch things for the plot *once* . Maybe twice.

        I watch and rewatch stories with good character development. It takes 10-15 episodes just to get to know a character. To start to feel happy when they are true to their character in challenging situations. To enjoy subtle humor based on their character development.

        I *have* rewatched Psych and Monk and other shows. More than once too.

        If you don't like it-- fine. Just be aware that many other people don't care as

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by EvilSS ( 557649 )

      I subbed in apple tv for Ted Lasso ($5) for a month or so... and Tmobile internet ( was fine with me and my two grandsons playing youtube videos and playing risk of rain2 and minecraft with 3 computers at the same time. It has a 100gb cap / severe slowdown level I understand) ($50).

      If you are using TMO for internet, you should check to see if they offer TMobile home internet in your area. It's $50/mo but no data caps or throttling. I got it to replace my 18/1 DSL (my only hardline option at my house) and it's been great.

      • I'm using TMO for internet and have tmobile home internet. The 100 gig quasi cap is apparently coming everywhere.

        I'm a heavy user- with multi computer gaming at my house and software distribution-- I don't exceed 45 gb per month. It's not going to be a problem (for now).

        And yes- It has been fantastic.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by EvilSS ( 557649 )
          Ah, so you are on TMobile Home Internet Lite: https://www.cnet.com/home/inte... [cnet.com]

          I hadn't heard they were rolling that out. Lucky me I guess, I'm on the unlimited version. Looks like they are offering 100gb of higher priority data for people who live in areas where the utilization is too high to offer the unlimited plan before dropping them to the de-prioritized tier. The unlimited plan uses the lowest priority data but on towers that are not near capacity. Basically $50/mo for what is left over from all t

          • I *may* be on the unlimited priority. Unsure. I only use about 32gb per month so not a big deal.
            I'm on a 5G router hooked to a 5g tower about 200 feet from my house.

  • I have to really like a show in order to just grit my teeth and deal with waiting for the ads to run their course. On the PC I'll mute sound and peruse another browser Tab.

  • Meh, I stopped using my friends Netflix years ago and the Swedish seas always seem to have what I want.
  • Instead of providing the customer with what they want, (good content at a fair price) Netflix thinks it is a good idea to add restrictions and different pricing tiers. That will surely attract customers! Never once, have I said; "but do they restrict what I can view? Oh they do, perfect!" By adding ad's it doesn't attract customers, it only repels them, or drives them towards piracy. Notice how piracy was down when Netflix came out and you could access pretty much anything under the sun for $9 a month
  • Next they will use ML to make sure we are paying attention to the ad and looking in the correct direction.
    • Why do you think they added webcams and microphones to TVs? It wasn't just to enable Skyping.

  • ... to teach an AI, ML program to watch tv, record what it is watching and edit out the adverts?
    It should be easy for a machine to detect advertising's higher production values and sound levels.
    It could help with the actual programmes too. When you are watching the recordings it has made and you encounter a 'celebrity' or actor which you dislike, a microphone could pick up your cries of 'not this dipshit again' and adjust its recommendations when it encountered them in future.

    A telly buddy who records every

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