Netflix’s ad-supported tier may not play ads during children’s programming, a decision that rivals Disney+ made in May. As reported by BloombergNetflix has told its partners that children’s programming will remain ad-free.
Sources also told the publication that the original films will initially remain ad-free, possibly to appease filmmakers who don’t want their big-budget releases marred by commercials. If true, subscribers would be happy about it too.
However, original series such as “Stranger Things,” “Bridgerton” and “Squid Game” are still expected to include ads.
Netflix declined to comment to TechCrunch.
If the streamer keeps its children’s programming ad-free, that can help make up for it recent subscriber loss. Some parents may have turned away from the service due to the high cost, so the upcoming cheaper ad-supported tier could help them save money while giving their kids an ad-free streaming experience.
Advertising and children’s programming do not mix well. Google and YouTube realized this after paying $170 million for violating children’s privacy laws. Targeting ads to individual children is considered exploitative by some, and Netflix probably doesn’t want that reputation — and neither do its advertisers. Organizations like American Psychological Association called for tighter restrictions on advertising to children.
Right now, we don’t know much about Netflix’s upcoming ad-supported plan — just that it’s coming to the service via 2023.
In partnership with Microsoft, advertising technology and sales are managed by a third party, so some decisions may be outside of Netflix’s control. For example, it was speculated that the ad-free plan would block offline downloadsa common move for streaming services.
We also know that not all of his shows may be available in the ad-supported version. Netflix has confirmed it negotiates deals to bring certain programming into its ad-supported tier.
Analysts predict that Netflix will be one of the most prominent players in online video advertising, generating approx 4 billion dollars year in ad sales.