Netflix Discontinues Basic Ad-Free Subscription Plan: Users Must Upgrade by July 13, 2023

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Netflix is discontinuing its Basic ad-free subscription plan for existing users.
The last day for Basic subscribers to watch Netflix is July 13th.
Three options are available: a $5.99 ad-supported plan, a $15.49 ad-free plan, or a $22.99 ad-free 4K premium plan.
Users must upgrade to a new plan by July 13, 2023.
Netflix Discontinues Basic Ad-Free Subscription Plan: Users Must Upgrade by July 13, 2023

Netflix is discontinuing its Basic ad-free subscription plan for existing users, and they must upgrade to a new plan by July 13, 2023. The last day for Basic subscribers to watch Netflix is July 13th. Those who wish to continue using the service will have three options: a $5.99 ad-supported plan, a $15.49 ad-free plan, or a $22.99 ad-free 4K premium plan.

Netflix began testing the removal of its Basic subscription option in the UK and Canada last year and then removed it from US offerings last July. At that time, Netflix allowed users who were already subscribed to the $11.99 per month Basic plan to keep their subscription as long as they did not cancel or let it lapse.

In October 2023, Netflix hiked prices across the board, including for users still subscribed to the grandfathered Basic plan. The Basic option provided users with the least costly ad-free experience if they only used the service on one device at a time.

Earlier this year, Netflix warned that it was planning on ending the Basic plan for even grandfathered subscribers, starting with those in the UK and Canada. It seems that Netflix is now finally ready to pull the plug on the Basic subscription entirely.

Those looking to save money will have to settle for the ad-supported version of Netflix, which costs $6.99 per month. The lowest-priced ad-free tier is now the $15.49 per month Standard plan.


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Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • Are there any alternative streaming services that could benefit from this change?

Sources

85%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Netflix is cutting its cheapest ad-free plan for some users

Android Central Nandika Ravi Tuesday, 02 July 2024 22:25
  • Unique Points
    • Netflix is discontinuing its $11.99 ad-free plan for some users, starting July 13.
    • Despite rising subscription costs, Netflix’s memberships rose by 16% in the first quarter, reaching 269.6 million.
    • Netflix publicly announced its effort to push customers towards more expensive or ad-supported plans earlier this year.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (30%)
    The article makes several statements that are not deceptive on their own but do create an overall impression of sensationalism and selective reporting. The author quotes multiple sources, including Reddit posts and a statement from Netflix, but does not disclose these sources in the body of the article. This is a violation of transparency and could potentially mislead readers if they do not click through to read more. Additionally, the author uses emotional language such as 'middle-class viewers' and 'rising costs' to manipulate reader emotions and create a sense of urgency around the issue.
    • Despite rising subscription costs, Netflix’s memberships rose by 16% in the first quarter, reaching 269.6 million.
    • It is important to note that, despite people unsubscribing to the service, according to CNBC, Netflix’s memberships rose by 16% in the first quarter of 2024.
    • One user on Reddit stated that Netflix wasn’t allowing them to watch shows on their current ad-free plan without subscribing to the new one.
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Netflix is starting to phase out its cheapest ad-free plan

The Verge Emma Roth Tuesday, 02 July 2024 13:38
  • Unique Points
    • Netflix is phasing out its cheapest ad-free tier for existing subscribers.
    • The company is asking some basic plan subscribers to choose a new plan to stay subscribed.
    • Subscribers paying $11.99/month for the basic plan will have to choose between the $6.99 ad-supported tier, the $15.49 ad-free tier, or the $22.99 ad-free 4K premium plan.
    • As of May, Netflix’s ad-supported plan had grown to over 40 million users.
  • Accuracy
    • Netflix hasn’t said when it will start phasing out the basic plan for existing subscribers in the US.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Netflix ‘Basic’ subscribers are getting warnings about their plans coming to an end

Mashable Inc. Matt Binder Tuesday, 02 July 2024 21:15
  • Unique Points
    • Netflix is ending its Basic ad-free subscription plan for existing users.
    • The last day for Basic subscribers to watch Netflix is July 13th, 2023.
    • New plans at $5.99 start after the end of Basic subscriptions.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Netflix Begins Previously Announced Phaseout of Cheapest Ad-Free Tier

PYMNTS.com Unknown PYMNTS Tuesday, 02 July 2024 22:00
  • Unique Points
    • Netflix began phasing out its cheapest ad-free tier for existing subscribers in Canada and the United Kingdom.
    • Netflix added 9.3 million paid subscribers during Q1 of 2023, bringing its total number to nearly 270 million globally.
    • Netflix launched its foray into ad-supported plans in 2022 and has since seen advertisers invest in campaigns on the platform.
  • Accuracy
    • The Basic plan has been discontinued for new or returning members in the US, Canada, and the UK since 2023.
    • Despite rising subscription costs, Netflix's memberships rose by 16% in the first quarter, reaching 269.6 million.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The article reports on Netflix discontinuing its Basic plan for existing subscribers in certain countries. The author provides quotes from Netflix and The Verge to support this claim. No formal or informal fallacies were found.
    • ]Netflix pointed to a statement made during the streaming provider’s January earnings call: ‘The ads plan now accounts for 40% of all Netflix sign-ups in our ads markets, and we’re looking to retire our Basic plan in some of our ads countries, starting with Canada and the U.K. in Q2 and taking it from there.’[
    • ‘Netflix discontinued its Basic plan for new or returning members in the United States, Canada and the U.K. in 2023,’
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication