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Report: Ad-Supported Tiers Slow to Gain Traction for Disney+, Netflix

Report: Ad-Supported Tiers Slow to Gain Traction for Disney+, Netflix

Known for breaking major streaming stories, he’s covered everything from Netflix policy shifts to Peacock’s ad-tier changes. A sci-fi fan and Toshiba Fire TV user, he brings sharp analysis and a love for the genre to his reporting.

It may be time to tap the brakes on the Golden Age of Ad-Supported Streaming. A new report from Variety suggests that both Netflix and Disney+ are struggling mightily to bring viewers into their new ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) tiers, which launched in November and December respectively.

The Variety report cites a study fielded by SmithGeiger, which asked if streaming users were preparing to downgrade from an ad-free tier to an ad-supported plan. The survey found that just 5% of Netflix customers were planning to switch to the new tier with ads, and 6.5% of non-subscribers said they would subscribe to Netflix in the next month because of the new plan.

These are not the first rumblings heard that the new ad-supported tier at Netflix was not performing up to expectations yet. A report from December stated that Netflix was refunding some advertiser money, after being unable to meet its viewership projections for the first month of its new price plan.

Netflix has also begun making its ad-free Basic plan, which at $9.99 per month is $3 cheaper than the $6.99 ad-supported option, more difficult for new users to find when signing up. This has led to speculation that Netflix may discontinue Basic without ads, in order to drive more users to its more-lucrative ad-supported tier. The advertising dollars Netflix gets for having more users on that plan far outweigh the extra $3 per month it sees when people choose the next plan up.

The results were a little better for Disney+. Around 6% of Disney+ users reported they were going to downgrade from ad-free to ad-supported streaming in the next month. Only 19% of non-Disney+ users said they were “somewhat” or “very” likely to sign up for the ad-supported plan, while 57% said they were “somewhat” or “very unlikely to choose that option.

Streaming losses climbing past $1 billion per quarter were a big factor in Disney abruptly switching CEOs in Nov. 2022, and returning chief executive Bob Iger is now tasked with helping the company boost streaming revenues however possible. The slow start for the service’s ad-supported plan is not the way Iger would have chosen to begin his second tenure as CEO.

The survey also had important data for the streaming industry at large. The findings indicate that as of now, many users who are planning to downgrade to a cheaper ad-supported streaming tier are doing so in order to justify subscribing to another service, as well. This suggests that while ad-supported streaming may be the future of the industry, customers aren’t quite ready to accept it as the default mode of streaming video yet.

For now, industry analysts might want to slow down on their projections of multi-billion dollar revenue growth for Disney+ and Netflix over the next few years. Users need time to continue acclimating to seeing ads on services that have never offered them before, and streamers need to continue fine-tuning their ad-supported offerings to make them as attractive as possible to potential customers.

  • Disney+

    Disney+ is a video streaming service with over 13,000 series and films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, The Muppets, and more. It is available in 61 countries and 21 languages. It is notable for its popular original series like “The Mandalorian,” “Ms. Marvel,” “Loki,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and “Andor.”

    …

    Disney+ has several plans with or without ads. Disney+ Basic with Ads costs $11.99 / month. If you don’t want ads, you can choose Disney+ Premium with No Ads, which costs $19.99 / month.

    The Premium plan also offers an annual option for $189.99 / year ($15.83/mo.).

    If you’d like to add Hulu, you can bundle the two services as well, but Disney+ is also continuing to integrate the two, which will soon be an all-in-one offering.

    Sports fans can also bundle ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited, with or without ads.

    Disney+ most recently raised prices on September 23, 2026 — the fourth time in as many years.

    The app supports unlimited downloads (on their Premium Plans), four simultaneous streamers, up to 7 profiles, 4K streaming, and includes hundreds of avatars.

    The service includes 25+ original series, 10+ original movies, 7,500 past episodes, 100 recent movies, and 400 library titles, including the entire Disney Vault.

    You can see the full list of available Disney, Disney Channel, Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel, Nat Geo shows and movies, or all available Disney+ content by checking out our Disney+ streaming movie listings.

    Sign Up

    Get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for just $16.99 a month ($14 savings).

  • Netflix

    Netflix is a leading subscription-based video streaming service that offers on-demand access to an extensive library of over 3,000 movies, 2,000+ TV shows, and a growing collection of acclaimed Netflix originals. Renowned for producing groundbreaking content, Netflix has become a cultural powerhouse with hit originals like “Stranger Things,” “Wednesday,” “Squid Game,” “The Crown,” “Tiger King,” “Bridgerton,” “The Witcher,” and “Black Mirror.”

    …

    The platform constantly updates its catalog, introducing fresh content alongside timeless classics and international hits. Netflix’s commitment to storytelling has also earned critical acclaim, with award-winning exclusives such as “Roma,” “Marriage Story,” “The Power of the Dog,” “Mank,” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” In 2023, their animated film “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, further solidifying Netflix’s reputation for high-quality content.

    Recently, Netflix has expanded beyond standard movies and TV titles with the addition of video podcasts, and is also exploring a digital store that would offer third-party streamers within the app.

    Netflix offers three plans – stream on 2 devices in HD with the “Standard with Ads” ($8.99) plan, on 2 devices in HD with the “Standard” ($19.99) plan, and 4 devices in up to 4K on the “Premium” ($26.99) plan.


David Satin has been a dedicated News Writer at The Streamable since 2022, covering a wide range of stories in the entertainment and streaming industries. With years of experience writing online, David previously worked as a list writer for Screen Rant, where he gained recognition for his extensive coverage of sci-fi and fantasy genres. His ability to break and analyze major stories has made him a trusted voice in the streaming world. Over the course of his career, Satin has become an integral part of The Streamable team, contributing to some of the most impactful stories in the industry.

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