In recent months, we are seeing how Netflix is turning its entire platform upside down. We have seen the end of shared accounts, the creation of the controversial “Standard plan with ads”, and a significant price increase in most of the plans offered by the platform. However, there is still one more crucial step to take. And, now, the streaming giant is going to make another change within its membership that, honestly, not everyone will like.
Currently, Netflix users have three plans to choose from: the standard with ads, the regular standard plan, and the premium plan. However, many (specifically the majority) of the users who registered before October 2023 had contracted a plan that, right now, is no longer available: the basic plan.
The basic plan was a little more expensive than the standard plan with ads, but it eliminated advertising and gave access to 100% of the platform’s content. Of course, its resolution was limited to 720p and it only allowed playback on one device. An ideal option for those who were only going to see the platform in one place.
Unfortunately, this is over.
Netflix’s basic plan disappears
Although it has no longer been possible to contract this subscription plan for more than 6 months, Netflix users who had contracted it had been able to continue using it. But this doesn’t last forever. And that’s how they tell us in this thread from Reddit.
Thus, the company has begun to warn (at least, in the United States) that users who have contracted this plan will have to upgrade before June 1 to another of the current plans or, otherwise, they will be left without access. service.
So, at this point, users only have three options. Either change to the plan with ads, cheaper but with advertising, or make the jump to a higher plan (the standard) which is more expensive, and improves the quality and features compared to the Basic plan. Or, as a last option, unsubscribe from the service.
Netflix insists that the users who continued using this plan are very valuable, but it doesn’t matter: they either change plans or are left out of the service.
The normal basic plan was priced at 9.99 euros per month. And, using the scalper’s card, the complete elimination of this plan only makes us think that a new price increase is coming to the standard plan with ads. We must keep in mind that, since its launch, this plan has achieved more than 23 million subscribers, so it is normal that Netflix continues to squeeze its (unexpected) goose that lays the golden eggs.
Steps from other platforms
Netflix is usually the first to take steps, marking the future of the industry. But the other alternative platforms are not far behind. We have been able to see it with the price increases, and with the new plan with ads, something unthinkable a year ago, but, right now, all platforms have their own.
Thus, if any (such as Disney, Max, etc.) continue to maintain one of the older plans, or have some trouble with their subscriptions, it will not take them long to follow the same steps: offer two expensive plans and one, with advertising, A bit cheaper.
