The rollout will begin on November 3. Initially, the plans will be available in 12 countries – US, UK, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea and Spain. Netflix says that the users will see ads for 4 to 5 minutes per hour on average with the plan. The ads duration will be 15 or 30 seconds and will be livestreamed during films and shows.
Netflix Basic with Ads plan will allow users to watch video streaming in HD (720p) resolution. It will support one streaming device – mobile, tablet, PC or TV. Users will not be able to download titles with the plan. Also, it will offer a limited catalog, but with access to Netflix originals.
Announcing the new plan via a blog post, the company said “Basic with Ads also represents an exciting opportunity for advertisers — the chance to reach a diverse audience, including younger viewers who increasingly don’t watch linear TV, in a premium environment with a seamless, high-resolution ads experience."
"While it’s still very early days, we’re pleased with the interest from both consumers and the advertising community – and couldn't be more excited about what's ahead. As we learn from and improve the experience, we expect to launch in more countries over time," it added.
Netflix says that the new plan does not impact its current plans and members. Instead, Basic with Ads plan complements the existing ad-free Basic, Standard and Premium plans.