Netflix's lower-priced ad-supported tier may skip commercials with certain content

Just a few days ago we told you the latest about the ad-supported tier of service that Netflix is expected to launch early next year. These lower-priced plans will undoubtedly lop off some of the features received by those who pay for a full-priced subscription to the video streamer. One such feature that might not be found on the ad-supported tier is the ability to download content to view when offline.

According to Bloomberg, Netflix's ad-supported tier might not always bombard users with ads. In fact, the report from Bloomberg says that when original movies are first released, Netflix may refrain from running ads on that content until a later date.

It isn't clear how long a new original movie will show without ads, but Netflix could be doing this so that filmmakers don't get worried about ads interfering with the enjoyment of their films. In addition, some of Netflix's original programming for children also will run without ads even on the ad-supported tier, something Disney+ also plans to do on its ad-supported tier. Bloomberg points out that even if studios prevent Netflix to run ads during certain movies or shows, Netflix can get around this by showing ads before and after it shows a movie, something that movie theaters often do.

Bloomberg also said that some of the content licenses that Netflix has may not allow it to show any ads at all even before or after certain titles. The report suggests that the video streamer might have to pay 10% to 15% over and above the current value of the deals it has with studios in order to get the rights to show ads on some content. Netflix is reportedly negotiating with Sony Group Corp., Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.

Netflix plans on using Microsoft to provide the infrastructure for its ad-supported tier. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said that the ad-supported tier will not have the same amount of content that Netflix currently offers to those paying for the service via a subscription.

During the company's first-quarter earnings, it reported a decline in subscribers for the first time in over 10 years. Netflix blamed the decline in subscribers, which amounted to 200,000 users, on a variety of reasons including password sharing, increased competition, inflation, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Netflix shares declined 25% the day after the earnings were released and the stock has yet to fully recover the amount it lost after Netflix reported Q1 earnings.

During the second quarter, Netflix lost a total of 1 million subscribers increasing the pressure of the company's management to quickly turn things around.

It was the drop in subscribers that had Netflix executives coming up with the plan to create an ad-supported tier of service in the first place. That, and the news that Disney's streaming services including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, now have more viewers than Netflix. Disney has 221 million streaming customers counting all of its platforms compared to Netflix's 220.7 million total.

Analysts estimate that Netflix could garner as much as $3 billion to $4 billion a year with an ad-supported online tier, making it instantly one of the biggest players in online video advertisements. Perhaps it is too obvious to say, but we should point out anyway that the the ad-supported tier will have a lower subscription price than the current service.

Netflix has been raising its price and its basic service, which supports 1 screen, is priced at $9.99 per month. The standard service, which allows the service to be viewed on two screens simultaneously, is priced at $15.49. The Premium service is $19.99 per month and this allows the service to be used on four screens with Ultra HD resolution available.

The ad-supported tiers being developed by Netflix and Disney+ will show fewer commercials than the amount that viewers are subject to watch on live television.