Netflix celebrates two years of ads as ad-supported plan eclipses 70 million
The world’s largest streaming service is celebrating two years of availability for its ads plan by bragging about its growing customer base.
Netflix is having a party, and so far it reports that 70 million people have shown up. The streamer is celebrating two years since the launch of its ad-supported plan, and is marking the occasion by proudly revealing how many subscribers are now using its Standard with Ads plan.
Key Details:
- Netflix’s Standard with Ads now has 70 million subscribers.
- The streamer says the plan is attracting half of all new sign-ups in countries where it’s available.
- Improving features on the Standard with Ads plan and reducing the number of ad-free options has helped Netflix grow the plan.
Netflix revealed on Tuesday that it now has 70 million ad-supported subscribers, a total that is almost double what the streaming giant claimed just a few months ago. In May 2024, the company said that it had attracted 40 million customers to its ad plans around the globe.
The company also said that in countries where its ad-supported tier is available, 50% of new customers are now opting for it. That number tracks with a survey released a few weeks ago by Parks Associates, which found that 57% of subscribers to top streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and other popular streamers were ad-supported customers.
Netflix had a slow start when introducing its ad plan. For months after the plan was first released, Disney+ continually bested Netflix in terms of the percentage of customers signing up for its ad tier. No doubt ad-supported Disney+ plans are still popular thanks to the lower price, but Netflix’s is the cheapest on the market at $7 per month, which is likely helping it in the eyes of customers.
Also helping Netflix’s Standard with Ads plan is the fact that the company has improved features available on the tier. That started with allowing customers to download titles. Initially, Netflix did not let ad-supported viewers download shows and movies for offline viewing but reversed that policy in early 2024.
The company has also improved screen resolution on its ad plan, and has discontinued its cheapest ad-free tier for new customers as well. Now, the least expensive ad-free plan available on Netflix is its Standard tier for $15.49 per month.
Netflix
Netflix is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 3,000+ movies, 2,000+ TV Shows, and Netflix Originals like Stranger Things, Squid Game, The Crown, Tiger King, and Bridgerton. They are constantly adding new shows and movies. Some of their Academy Award-winning exclusives include Roma, Marriage Story, Mank, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.