Netflix is making great strides into the future, many of which will have a big impact on how customers interact with the mega streamer’s services. In April, the company announced it would be adding advertisements as part of a subscription plan that will be cheaper than what’s currently on offer. Details on the situation have been scarce since then, but the company has now provided an important update on how it is progressing with the plan. And it turns out that this massive commercial move will see the entertainment entity team up with another monolithic company.
netflix (opens in a new tab) officially partners with Microsoft as it progresses with its ad-supported subscription plan. The news was confirmed by the streamer’s chief operating officer Greg Peters, who explained that the tech firm would be a strong partner due to its ability to meet advertising needs. Although the executive also pointed out that the relationship between the two companies is relatively new, the two agree on what they want.
Mikhail Parakhin, president of Microsoft’s web experiences, also spoke about the big news. While he expressed his excitement about the new corporate relationship, he also shed light on what audiences can expect when everything is up and running:
At launch, consumers will have more options to access Netflix’s award-winning content. Marketers who turn to Microsoft for their advertising needs will have access to Netflix audiences and premium connected TV inventory. All ads posted on Netflix will be available exclusively through the Microsoft platform. Today’s announcement also supports Microsoft’s approach to privacy, which is built on protecting customer information.
For years, Netflix has been against the use of advertising because corporate bigwigs didn’t seem to think such an approach would be viable for the organization’s business model. CEO Reed Hastings also explained in 2020 that the streamer was not interested in having to keep track of the large amounts of user data that would be needed to fill the ad boxes. Announcing the next subscription plan earlier this year, Greg Peters reiterated his desire to be ad-free, but also said he and his colleagues want to offer consumers the options that best suit their needs.
The media company will join some other streamers who have already taken this approach. HBO Max currently offers ads with a subscription level, and Hulu also uses ads. The latter service’s sister platform, Disney +, hasn’t used ads yet. House of Mouse CEO Bob Chapek talked about it last fall, and while he hasn’t ruled out anything for the future, he seems happy with how things are going right now.
The idea of two powerful entities like these coming together makes one think. But if their efforts are successful, they could provide another viable way for potential streamers to access content from the streaming platform at a generally reasonable price. Like so many others, I’ll be watching to see how it turns out.
Those who want to take advantage of the plan will want to make sure they have a Netflix subscription on hand.
Source: Cinemablend
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
