Netflix is no longer offering its basic subscription plan without ads in the U.S. and U.K. – a change which has already been applied to Canada. As a result, customers now have three membership options: Standard without Ads ($15.49/month), Premium ($19.99/month) and Standard with Ads ($12.49/month).
Needless to say, this news has not been well-received by the streaming service’s users, who have been voicing their displeasure on social media.
Last week, the streaming company’s Help Center page for the U.S. read: “The Basic plan is no longer available for new or rejoining members. If you are currently on the Basic plan, you can remain on this plan until you change plans or cancel your account.”
Netflix Faces Backlash as Advertisements Are Added to Basic Subscription Plan
In the past eight months, the U.S., U.K. and 10 other countries have had access to Netflix's advertisement-supported plan. It is offered at a monthly rate of $6.99 and has managed to accumulate 5 million active users as reported by FOX Business by May.
Netflix users have been taking to Twitter to share their thoughts regarding the end of the streaming giant's basic subscription plan, increased prices and more. "I canceled this week! It’s a hard no for me," one tweeted after the news emerged. Another added: "What’s the point of "cord-cutting" if they’re just offering…TV."
Someone else chimed in: "It's basically cable," while one other wrote of the new plans' ads: "why am I paying to watch ads?"
Back in May, Netflix was also in hot water after the company implemented a new policy for U.S. users: an account must be limited to members of a single household. This decision was made to discourage password-sharing between over 100 million households.
Those outside the subscriber’s residence would have to obtain their own account or become an "extra member" on the account they already had. Netflix charges a $7.99 monthly fee for additional members beyond the one that comes with the standard plan, with the premium plan accommodating a maximum of two additional members.
Another user wrote on Twitter: "all these changes to Netflix plans make me seriously want to leave the service." Someone else concurred, writing this week: "Netflix finally caught my family with the password sharing trap. Guess I’m done with Netflix."
