Netflix Might Limit Offline Downloads In Its Ad-Free Versions Of The Streaming Service

If you thought the ad-supported tier of popular streaming service Netflix was the same as before, except for the addition of a few commercials, well, you’re wrong.

Thanks to a leading developer named Steve Moser, we’re getting some more information about how things are about to change.

Moser shared with Bloomberg how Netflix plans on introducing a few changes that entail limiting the number of offline downloads on the ad-free version.

At the moment, Netflix has a total of three different versions or tiers that are up for grabs. For starters, the standard version costs $9.99 per month. This enables users to watch content on only one screen at a single time.

Those who sign up for the $14.99 package a month can avail of HD quality and the chance to watch content on any two screens in one go. And those who want a little something extra can opt for the $19.99 deal where users get the chance to watch content on at least four different screens at once.

If you ask us, we certainly don’t see the move as a huge surprise for obvious reasons. Netflix trying to guard users against making offline downloads on the ad-free version certainly is sensible. After all, those who pay more should certainly get more.

This past year, we saw the company’s co-CEO mention boldly how the ad-supported version of the streaming service was not going to entail the same offerings as the one without ads. Moreover, he elaborated further on how those that support ads were designed to be the true gateway of great benefits at lower price tags.

Remember, it’s not simple to serve ads when you’re offline. We don’t believe the mission is impossible but it’s certainly not easy. As it is, the company is putting plenty of things behind payment barriers that we feel should be standard for everyone.

Keeping in mind records from the past, Netflix is yet to treat the ideology behind offline downloads as one that’s seen as a major benefit. The feature was launched back in the year 2016. At that time, the firm had only just begun enabling the concept of making downloads offline.

The whole idea was centered around providing support to those places where wi-fi connections weren’t performing at their best. And truth be told, Netflix was quite behind other archrivals who were already providing the benefit.

For instance, Amazon Prime allowed users to download content and then carry on watching it later for so long.

The news comes after we last heard from the famous content streaming service platform joining hands with Microsoft. Yes, the latter would now be seen as its leading tech, sales, and marketing partner as the duo collaborated, leaving behind so many others who had hopes of the same.

This is what has allowed for the ad-support version of Netflix to arise essentially. We’re going to see the probable launch of the new variants with ads in 2023 and until then, enjoy the platform as much as you can.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World