NETFLIX VIEWERS THREATEN TO CANCEL SUBSCRIPTIONS OVER 'IRRITATING' CHANGE

Disgruntled Netflix viewers have declared their intention to cancel their subscriptions as the streaming service phases out its basic ad-free plan.

Last month, the streaming service informed existing subscribers signed up for their basic package in the UK and Canada it had been discontinued via email.

Instead, those customers would be automatically enrolled on the company’s new lowest tier – which includes ads – over the coming weeks.

This means that users will no longer be able to enjoy recent hits such as Baby Reindeer, Bridgerton, or Liam Neeson’s critically acclaimed crime drama without enduring ad interruption.

According to people on Reddit, they now only have a matter of days to enjoy the basic ad-free subscription.

Among them was user BritestBowlingBall, who shared a picture of their TV screen which displayed the message: ‘Your last day to watch Netflix is July 13. Choose a new plan to keep watching.’

In July 2023, Netflix announced that its basic £7.99-a-month ad-free plan would no longer be available to subscribers, introducing a price tier system that allowed viewers to opt out of adverts.

While those paying a little bit more had been able to opt out of receiving advertising during their viewing experience, this won’t remain the case for long.

How much is a basic Netflix subscription?

A basic subscription without adverts was £7.99 in the UK. Under the new system, viewers will be saving more money – now paying £4.99 for the cheapest service.

To sweeten the pill, Netflix announced that the 720p video quality basic viewers currently enjoy will be upgraded to HD across the board.

This means that the streamer’s slate of TV and movies will look better – but so will the adverts crowbarred into the viewing experience.

When is Netflix’s basic plan ending?

Unsurprisingly, it all comes down to money – the streaming giant is estimated to have generated $1billion (£797million) from advertising revenue this year; a whopping 50% more than it made in 2023, according to Reuters.

Changes will come into effect in the UK and Canada on June 4, with all basic users automatically switching over to the new £4.99 package.

The email also advised subscribers that they could upgrade to the standard subscription, at a cost of £10.99 a month – which allows viewers to watch on multiple devices at a time.

Meanwhile, the £17.99 premium plan lets fans see their ads in Ultra HD, on four devices at a time.

These changes have left users fuming, with many threatening to cancel their membership altogether.

‘Dumb move because I’ll just cancel any service that starts overcharging or forces ads,’ wrote the user @Oberje, on X.

‘People don’t like ads. It’s why I stopped watching YouTube. It’s why I cancelled Prime Video. It’s why I will soon cancel Netflix. Find a better way to sell products,’ said @BLU3JAY3.

‘Just cancelled my Netflix subscription for the first time since I subscribed in 2012, I got locked into a £4.99 basic plan which never rose, until this week when they’ve decided to add adverts to my tier,’ said @BadgerSpanner.

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2024-07-04T15:56:20Z dg43tfdfdgfd