Netflix Increases Streaming Quality of 'Basic With Ads' Plan to 1080p

[MacRumors]

Netflix is upgrading its nascent ad-supported plan to support higher quality streaming than the current maximum 720p resolution, the company has announced.

Netflix launched its "Basic With Ads" plan in November for $6.99 per month in the United States, but the tier was immediately criticized for its limited video streaming resolution.

That criticism was only heightened the following month when Disney+ launched its rival ad-supported plan, "Disney+ Basic," which for $7.99 per month lets users stream in Full HD, HDR10, 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, and Expanded Aspect Ratio with IMAX Enhanced.

In its Q1 2023 earnings report released on Tuesday, Netflix said that it would be increasing the video quality of its Basic With Ads tier to 1080p at no extra cost to subscribers. Additionally, it said it would increase the number of simultaneous streams from one to two.

Netflix said that customers in Canada and Spain would see the 1080p resolution and provision for additional streams immediately, with the upgrades to roll out to all markets by the end of the month. The more affordable tier is also available in the U.K., the U.S., Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and South Korea.

Netflix revealed in its earnings report that its Basic with Ads plan already brings in more revenue than its Standard plan, which costs $15.49 per month and offers HD quality streaming. The company also announced that it is shutting down its mailed DVD delivery service, which was Netflix's main revenue generator when it began nearly 25 years ago.

Article Link: Netflix Increases Streaming Quality of 'Basic With Ads' Plan to 1080p

 

[KOTN91]

Welcome to 2013 Netflix. Oh wait, it’s always been stuck there

 

[Jamie0003]

1080p? You do spoil us Netflix!

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Now increase the 2 stream plan to 4k and one up Max.

 

[DarthDon]

I hope it comes with one-channel analog audio!!!

 

[a3Dman]

lol

 

[Mighuel]

What about bitrates? Resolution is only a part of the story. It doesn’t matter what your resolution is, if a lousy bitrate turns it into a pile of blocks

 

[AppleTO]

So now it’s “Standard With Ads”? Lol

 

[cyanite]

1080p? You do spoil us Netflix!

Well, you can pick one of their other plans for better quality . Although Netflix is a bit on the expensive side in general, I'd say.

What about bitrates? Resolution is only a part of the story. It doesn’t matter what your resolution is, if a lousy bitrate turns it into a pile of blocks

Bitrate isn't everything either, as codec also matters a lot. But yeah, in my experience Netflix are doing ok in that department. I do think Apple TV+ is better, though.

 

[Paddle1]

So the ad plan is now superior to the basic plan. Higher resolution and more streams at a lower cost. Their pricing tiers make little sense.

 

[Duncan-UK]

lol 1080p

To be honest how many people can genuinely see a difference between streamed 1080p and 4k? Not many I suspect. Sure it’s nice to have 4k but it really isn’t the dealbreaker that lazy lol comments would suggest.

 

[NewUsername]

So for 7$ you can have 2 simultaneous streams and 1080p, but for 10$ you can have only 1 stream and 720p?

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Well, you can pick one of their other plans for better quality . Although Netflix is a bit on the expensive side in general, I'd say.


Bitrate isn't everything either, as codec also matters a lot. But yeah, in my experience Netflix are doing ok in that department. I do think Apple TV+ is better, though.

I mean Netflix uses hevc so ....

YouTube uses av1 which is more efficient

Dunno about aptv

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

What about bitrates? Resolution is only a part of the story. It doesn’t matter what your resolution is, if a lousy bitrate turns it into a pile of blocks

Damn right . Given the fact that Netflix 4k HDR bitrate is hevc 15mbps ... 1080p must be lower lol, that's for sure

 

[Zc456]

Now, you can be annoyed by ads in HD!

 

[pauloregan]

In other words, no one has subscribed to it, the advertisers have complained so they have moved it up a level to match the Standard plan rather than the basic plan.

 

[bbfc]

So why is the Netflix Standard tier only 720p and it costs more?

 

[Spidder]

Im currently trying the ad plan for the lulz and 720p is ok-ish for anime, but a deal breaker for everything else. I think Im going to keep my subscription if the bitrate is sufficient.

 

[oofio2461]

So their basic ad free is still stuck at 720P despite costing more? I don't think anyone has 720P iPhones even androids.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

In other words, no one has subscribed to it, the advertisers have complained so they have moved it up a level to match the Standard plan rather than the basic plan.

Well if you read the article you’d have seen that the ad supported plan already generates more revenue than the ad free standard plan.

 

[enterthemerdaverse]

Now, you can be annoyed by ads in HD!

They can also add an ad supported tier for 4K and 8K.

Annoying cleanmymac ads in 8K.

 

[alchemistmuffin]

Only worth it if they would

STOP TREATING THEIR SHOWS LIKE DISPOSABLE CAMERA AND CANCEL IT AFTER ONE OR TWO SEASON, EVEN IF IT’S POPULAR, BECAUSE ALGORITHM SAID SO………​

Otherwise, one more price hike, and we’re done with Netflix, they clearly don’t care about viewers. Viewers don’t care if company offers cheaper plan, they want quality content like Hulu or Apple TV+ or Paramount+ provides. At the rate this is going, Netflix will die like Twitter.

 

[mike090910]

shutting down mail in dvd, netflix just LOST 75% of their content.

 

[JosephAW]

When my hotspot data is on low bandwidth usually the ads try to load at 1080 while the content is 480 thus taking forever to get thru the commercials. Disney+ is the only service that loads LQ commercials. Pluto works well when I'm at 73kbps mode, the rest, forget about it.

 

[goonie4life9]

More consumer-friendly changes are coming, everyone, including ending password sharing, because love is no longer sharing your password.