Tag: netflix

  • Netflix partners with Microsoft for upcoming ad-supported plan

    Netflix partners with Microsoft for upcoming ad-supported plan

    After it teased the upcoming launch of an ad-supported subscription plan, Netflix has now revealed that it picked Microsoft to help make that happen. Under the agreement, all ads served on Netflix will be exclusively available through the Microsoft platform.

    “It’s very early days and we have much to work through. But our long-term goal is clear. More choice for consumers and a premium, better-than-linear TV brand experience for advertisers. We’re excited to work with Microsoft as we bring this new service to life,” said Netflix COO Greg Peters.

    Netflix has been making headlines lately with announcement involving layoffs, after the streaming giant reported losses in the previous quarter. Early this year, Netflix reported a loss of 200,000 subscribers, but that feels extremely negligible compared to the service’s subscriber base of over 221 million.

    The recent subscriber base decline doesn’t really justify so many layoffs, but perhaps Netflix is afraid that will become a trend. That said, the launch of a new ad-supported plan will certainly increase its customer base.

    However, it remains to be seen if the company will manage to turn those casual consumers into paying customers following the launch of the ad-supported plan later this year.

  • Waze and Netflix team up for new, adventurous driving experience

    Waze and Netflix team up for new, adventurous driving experience

    Waze users rejoice! Despite the fact that you’re bound to get one new driving experience each month, June is a bit more generous. So, for the second time this month, if you’re using Waze, you’re getting a brand-new driving experience inspired by Netflix’s movie The Sea Beast.

    Thanks to a new partnership with Netflix, Waze users will be getting a taste of the service’s newest movie before it arrives on July 8. The new driving experience features the movie’s protagonists: Maisie, a precocious stowaway, and Blue, a little beast with a massive mischief streak.

    The unlikely duo will help Waze users navigate every turn and even entertain them with their friendship. But that’s not all! New Beasts will be available for the driving experience as users choose between three new Moods: Blue, Red and Yellow. Also, your vehicle’s icon can be swapped for a Lifeboat to follow the movie’s theme.

    Make sure to download the latest Waze driving experience and tap the “Turn on Sea Beast Mode” banner to activate it. Keep in mind that this one is available globally, but only in English and for a limited time.

  • Netflix is adding a cheaper plan for those who want a lower price and will watch ads

    Netflix is adding a cheaper plan for those who want a lower price and will watch ads

    During an interview at the Cannes Lion advertising festival, the CEO of Netflix Ted Sarandos gave the most direct indication that it will launch a cheaper, ad-supported subscription tier to the embattled streaming service.

    In essence, Mr. Sarandos said that the company will be “adding an ad tier; we’re not adding ads to Netflix as you know it today.” After the pandemic boost wore out, Netflix hit the skids in terms of subscriber count as people spent less time watching TV shows and movies.

    At the same time, new streaming services from juggernauts like HBO, Disney, or Apple, grew to rival Netflix, all the while it kept spending borrowed billions on content creation. Well, that crazy content spending was curtailed, a lot of shows were cancelled, and now Netflix will try and boost subscriber numbers by going downmarket.

    Currently, the Netflix plans start from the Basic one at $9.99 per month with SD (up to 480p) picture quality, followed by the Standard $15.49 a month plan that offers 1080p definition, and go up to the Premium Netflix tier at $19.99 per month which includes 4K UHD quality streaming on up to four devices.

    Besides cracking down on password sharing, Netflix will likely introduce the new ad-supported subscription tier at something close to the Apple TV+ $4.99 subscription price and will try to recuperate the difference with ad revenue. Or, as Ted Sarandos eloquently puts it:

     

  • Netflix could buy the streaming service Roku

    Netflix could buy the streaming service Roku

    It’s tough times to be in the video streaming business. Netflix, the company that, as we may say, pioneered the whole thing, is now rapidly losing subscribers and is trying to find as many ways as possible to keep its users.

    The streaming giant is under such pressure from its competitors that it revealed its intentions to launch an ad-supported plan soon, despite refusing to do so for years. And now, a new report hints that Netflix might use the streaming service and TV box manufacturer Roku for its new ad-supported tier. But how? Well, by just buying Roku.

    In recent weeks, employees at Roku have been discussing the possibility of Netflix buying the smaller streaming service. This “possibility” comes after Roku’s stock dropped by 80% since July last year.

    Interestingly, according to people inside Roku, the company has prohibited its employees from selling their company stock. Of course, the reasons for doing that could be many, but usually companies do that before releasing important information to prevent inside trading. Could that be because of a potential buyout? It’s a possibility, yes.

    However, it should be noted that there is no official word about Netflix acquiring Roku to back up the claim of a possible acquisition. But according to experts, this is precisely the perfect time for a buyout.

    First of all, Roku’s valuation is now below $13 billion, which makes it very attractive for a buyout. Also, Roku’s video-advertising platform generated $647 million in first-quarter revenue. To understand how big of a deal that is, Roku’s video advertising generated seven times more profit than its video-streaming boxes and other devices that the company sells. In a potential acquisition, Netflix could use Roku’s know-how and video-advertising platform to improve its ad-supported plan, thus generating more profit.

    Of course, with buying Roku, Netflix will also get Roku’s hardware business. In previous years, Reed Hastings, a Netflix co-founder and co-CEO, has said that selling hardware is not something Netflix wants to do. However, as Business Insider pointed out, Roku has access to more than 61 million active accounts through its TV boxes. This will give Netflix the ability to know what users prefer to watch, which could then be used to create better strategies against the competition.

    Although it sounds like a great deal, some experts don’t think that Netflix will actually buy Roku. According to some of them, since investors are currently pressuring Netflix to find a way to increase revenue growth and keep its subscribers, buying such a company at this time won’t be a wise move. Furthermore, according to one industry analyst, Netflix could have problems with antitrust regulators if it tries to buy Roku.

    Also, according to one expert, Netflix hasn’t decided yet what it intends to accomplish in terms of advertising and may not know at this moment if it needs to acquire Roku or not. Furthermore, it looks like Netflix prefers to keep its distance from large buyouts. It acquired a few video game developers, but that was it.

    It will be interesting to see if Netflix will indeed buy Roku or if these were simply empty words from people who wish for a potential Netflix-Roku merger.

  • Netflix announces more free mobile games coming to subscribers in May

    Netflix announces more free mobile games coming to subscribers in May

    After adding a couple of mobile games to its free offering since the beginning of the year, Netflix has picked up the pace lately and revealed new partnerships and new games coming to its subscribers soon. After announcing it has teamed up with Exploding Kittens for a mobile game and an animated series, Netflix confirmed that several new mobile games are coming in May.

    Previously without a release date, Exploding Kittens – The Game is now expected to arrive on May 31. Netflix also revealed that future version of the game will have an exclusive expansion pack of cards that will be themed around the Netflix animated series coming in 2023.

    Three other games will be joining Netflix’s mobile games collection on May 24: Dragon Up, Moonlighter, and Townsmen – A Kingdom Rebuilt. All three games are available for free to all Netflix subscribers regardless of what mobile platform they favor.

    To download the new games, Android users must head to the dedicated game tab where they can select which game to download. The same goes for iOS users. According to Netflix, these games should pop up in the Netflix mobile app on the day of release at 10 am PT.

  • Netflix is working on launching a live streaming feature

    Netflix is working on launching a live streaming feature

    Netflix could be working on a new way to keep you as a subscriber. After rapidly losing subscriptions, the streaming giant added a mobile gaming platform, is reportedly planning to introduce an ad-supported tier, and — now — it is looking to broaden its content with live streaming shows.

    Netflix has confirmed to Deadline that it’s in the early stages of launching live streaming for its unscripted shows and stand-up specials. This might allow Netflix to broadcast reunions of some of its series and provide live voting for competitive productions such as Dance 100.

    The new feature could also be used to broadcast live comedy specials. For example, Netflix recently held an in-person comedy festival called Netflix Is a Joke Fest, which featured over 300 stand-up performances. The company will make recordings of around 12 of them available to watch soon. But if it decides to organize the festival again, instead of releasing only a fraction of the event, it could broadcast the whole thing while it is happening, thus letting its subscribers get the full experience.

    Having live shows will allow Netflix to stay in the race with major competitor Disney+, who is already acquiring and broadcasting multiple live shows — like Dancing with the Stars and the Academy Awards. It is highly likely that Netflix is also planning to develop other formats, specifically designed for the live setting.

    At the current moment, we don’t have any information on when exactly the platform plans to launch this new feature.

  • Netflix to boost its mobile games offering to 50 titles by the end of 2022

    Netflix to boost its mobile games offering to 50 titles by the end of 2022

    Netflix has been slowly building its games offering in an attempt to keep subscribers engaged with the service beyond movies and TV shows. Currently, the streaming service completely focuses on mobile, so don’t expect any PC or console games to come to Netflix anytime soon.

    That being said, Netflix offers 18 mobile games to its subscribers, which can be downloaded directly from within the app. To show its commitment to this part of its service, Netflix recently bought a few game developers, including makers of Oxenfree, Night School Studio, Boss Fight Entertainment, and Next Games, the studio behind Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales.

    Last month, Netflix announced a partnership with Exploding Kittens for a mobile game and an animated series. Netflix is looking for “content opportunities around video games from every direction.”

    The report also states that Netflix plans to expand its mobile games offering up to 50 titles by the end of the year. Netflix is one of the few streaming services that decided to invest a lot of resources into video games adaptations. The Witcher, Cuphead, Castlevania, League of Legends, and more recently Exploding Kittens, are among the most popular TV shows offered by Netflix, which are based on video games.

    It looks like Netflix was quite content by how these TV shows were received by subscribers, so it’s now trying to “build out a games business that can create synergy between what people watch and what they’re playing.” That seems like a great idea, but only if you’re into gaming.

  • Netflix may abandon its “no ads” policy in a push for cheaper subscription plans

    Netflix may abandon its “no ads” policy in a push for cheaper subscription plans

    Netflix, the world’s largest streaming platform, seems to be having a major change of heart with regards to ads. For a long time the company was adamant in refusing to introduce ads, but the need for cheaper subscription options may force it to relent.

    The decision to explore this path has not been taken lightly. The gradual shift in Netflix’s stance on ads has been taking place for quite a while. What started off as a decisive “no”, then became a “never say never” before moving through the “maybe” phase and could now be a reality in the next couple of years.

    Direct competitors to Netflix have long profited from ad revenue, which has allowed them to sustain more competitive prices. Hulu for one offers an ad-supported option for just 6.99$ per month, in comparison to the 9.99$ per month asked from Netflix for its entry-level subscription plan.

    It should be noted that the inclusion of ads allows Hulu to slash a full 6$ from the price of what is an almost identical service as the ad-free one (which comes at 12.99$ instead). If Netflix were to replicate the model and slash 30-40% of the price they could have a very tempting offer in their hands.

    And Netflix is in desperate need of such an offer. Dwindling subscription numbers and plummeting share prices have pushed the business model of the company to its limits. The suspension of the service in Russia and the war in Ukraine have also done their fair share of damage.

    Not so long ago, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Netflix was in its prime (Amazon did well too). Now, for the first time in a decade, the company is losing subscribers. Perhaps a cheaper alternative will be able to change that.

  • Netflix loses a quarter of its value after reporting a shocking figure for the first quarter

    Netflix loses a quarter of its value after reporting a shocking figure for the first quarter

    Netflix shares lost more than a quarter of their value this evening after the company released shocking news about the video streamer’s first-quarter earnings. For the first time in over a decade, the company reported a quarterly loss in the number of subscribers which totaled about 200,000 users. Netflix blamed the drop on password sharing, increased competition, inflation, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
    The last time Netflix reported a decline in subscribers was in October 2011. And the bleeding is going to continue with the company forecasting a further decline of two million subscribers for the current quarter that wraps up at the end of June.
    The report was released after regular trading hours on NASDAQ where Netflix shares had risen by $10.75 or 3.18% to close at $348.61 per share. But once investors saw the first quarter results and the forecast for the current quarter, they dumped the stock taking it down to $259 for a loss of $89.61 or 25.70% in after-hours trading. Netflix also took down the shares of fellow streamers like Roku, Disney, and Spotify, all of which declined thanks to Netflix. For example, Disney stock, which rose $4.40 during regular trading hours, gave it back and more when the report was released.
    In a letter to shareholders, Netflix wrote, “Our revenue growth has slowed considerably. Streaming is winning over linear, as we predicted, and Netflix titles are very popular globally. However, our relatively high household penetration — when including the large number of households sharing accounts — combined with competition, is creating revenue growth headwinds.”
    Netflix pointed out that there is plenty of growth potential ahead as half of the world’s broadband users still do not have a Netflix account. As the company stated, “while hundreds of millions of homes pay for Netflix, well over half of the world’s broadband homes don’t yet, representing huge future growth potential.”
    Looking to reduce the practice of password sharing which is eating into Netflix’s results, the streamer is looking to hike the subscription rate for plans that are shared between households. This could result in subscribers paying an extra $2.99 monthly to allow a family member who doesn’t live at the same address to share the account. Netflix Co-CEO Reed Hastings said that the company is considering offering lower-priced ad-supported tiers of service (similar to NBCUniversal’s Peacock).
    During the first quarter of 2022, Netflix took in $7.87 billion, up 9.8% on an annual basis. Net income declined 5.9% from $1.7 billion to 1.6 billion during the first quarter. Diluted earnings per share slipped 5.8% to $3.53. For this quarter, Netflix sees earnings per share of $3.00.
    The number of global streaming paid memberships declined from 221,840,000 to 221,640,000 from the 4th quarter of 2021 to the first quarter of 2022. Wall Street was expecting a 2.7 million increase in subscribers. The suspension of Netflix’s streaming service in Russia cost Netflix 700,000 subscribers. If not for that activity, Netflix would have reported an increase of 500,000 subscribers during the quarter.
    Netflix announced today that over 100 million global households use a shared password and that a global crackdown on this practice is coming. 30 million Netflix users in the U.S. and Canada are believed to be sharing Netflix passwords while over 100 million additional households worldwide are sharing the same passwords. Netflix told shareholders on Tuesday that, “Account sharing as a percentage of our paying membership hasn’t changed much over the years, but…it’s harder to grow membership in many markets — an issue that was obscured by our COVID growth.”
    Netflix said that originally it generously allowed users ti share passwords to help users get “hooked” to the service. But now, with the heavy competition that it faces from Disney+, Peacock, AppleTV+ and others, Netflix says that it is time for those getting the service for free to start paying for it.
  • Netflix adds a ‘Double Thumbs Up’ button to further improve its recommendations

    Netflix adds a ‘Double Thumbs Up’ button to further improve its recommendations

    In an attempt to better attune its recommendations to its users, Netflix introduced a third button to its rating system. Yes, from now on, Netflix will have not two, but three reaction buttons: a thumbs up, a thumbs down, and a double thumbs up button.

    According to Netflix, the thumbs-up button shows Netflix’s algorithms what movies and TV shows you like, but the double thumbs-up button shows which movies and TV shows you love. Based on which movies and shows received your double thumbs-up reaction, Netflix’s algorithms will better recommend similar movies and shows that “what you enjoy.”

    As Netflix explained, if you reacted with a double thumbs up to the TV show Bridgerton, the platform may even recommend you more movies or series starring some of the show’s cast or other movies and shows from the same production company, which in this case is Shondaland.

    Netflix’s double thumbs-up button is located next to the thumbs-up and thumbs-down buttons. You can see and use it now on the TV, web, and mobile versions of the service. And as Netflix said, “Don’t be shy. Express yourself and tell us what you’re loving on Netflix. You know you want to.”

  • Netflix subscribers are getting more free mobile games this month

    Netflix subscribers are getting more free mobile games this month

    Netflix’s games library is getting bigger every month, as the streaming service signs new partnerships with mobile game developers and publishers. The latest batch of games coming to Netflix subscribers include a variety of genres yet are made by just two studios.

    The first two games are hitting Netflix games platform today, while a third title will be available at a later date. Starting today, Netflix subscribers will have access to Shatter Remastered and This Is A True Story, developed by PikPok and Frosty Pop, respectively.

    Shatter Remastered is a brick-breaking game that mixes classic action with interesting twists and challenging boss battles. It seems to draw inspiration from the retro Arkanoid games. As the name suggests, this is an updated version of Shatter, a game that was originally released on PlayStation 3 back in 2009.

    This Is A True Story is a narrative puzzle game that tells the true story of a Sub-Saharan African woman’s daily struggle to get water for her family. According to developer Frosty Pop, the game is based on actual interviews and experiences and has been designed to allow players to explore beautiful scenery while surviving a windstorm or catching poachers.

    Finally, a third title, Into The Dead 2: Unleashed, is coming soon to Netflix. The sequel to hit zombie action game Into the Dead promises multiple chapters, dozens of stages, as well as hundreds of challenges.

    All games can be downloaded directly from the Netflix mobile app or from the Apple or Google app store. Also, all three are available on both iOS and Android platforms.

  • Netflix answers whether it will offer an ad-supported subscription plan

    Netflix answers whether it will offer an ad-supported subscription plan

    There is a very small probability that one day, in some possible future, you may be able to watch Netflix through an ad-supported tier. If this ever happens, you might be able to pay less for Netflix and watch your favorite episodes with some ads between them.

    Spencer Neumann, Netflix’s CFO, stated at an investor conference that although Netflix is not currently planning to introduce an ad-supported video on demand (VOD) subscription plan, the option is not fully ruled out either.

    Spencer Neumann said, “It’s not like we have religion against advertising, to be clear. But that’s not something that’s in our plans right now… We have a really nice scalable subscription model, and again, never say never, but it’s not in our plan.”

    Some of Netflix’s competitors are offering ad-supported subscription plans. Hulu, HBO Max, and Paramount Plus already have such a subscription plan. Even Disney Plus will roll out later this year an ad-supported tier.

    In response to a question about whether Netflix is also thinking of introducing an ad-supported tier, Neumann said, “It’s hard for us to kind of ignore that others are doing it, but it now doesn’t make sense for us.” He also stated, “Some other services are going low-price, but I think they’re also losing a lot of money. Netflix is focused on building a profitable business that, in terms of free cash flow, was breakeven last year and is projected to be free cash flow positive this year.”

    So, in other words, don’t expect Netflix to roll out a cheaper ad-supported subscription plan any time soon. Currently, the price of Netflix’s cheapest Basic plan is $9.99 a month, and the top tier Premium plan is $19.99 a month.

  • Netflix pauses streaming in Russia indefinitely

    Netflix pauses streaming in Russia indefinitely

    Netflix is the latest giant to take a stand in the Russia-Ukraine crisis, as the company announced last night that it is cutting off all of its streaming services to Russia. This is certainly no small decision, as Russia makes up nearly one million of Netflix’ massive 222,000,000 user base.

    Тhe decision was made public on Sunday, March 6, when the company announced that “Given the circumstances on the ground, we have decided to suspend our service in Russia.” While Netflix is still allowing current Russia-based subscribers to enjoy the streaming services until the end of their billing cycle, starting March 7, nobody will be able to sign up for a new membership within the country.

    This isn’t the first move Netflix has taken to make its position in the ongoing crisis clear. When Russia first began to invade Ukraine, Netflix immediately put a stop to all four of the Russian-language series it had been working on—all of them significant investments that had already reached mid- or post-production.
    One of them was the much-anticipated first-ever Russian Netflix original series, a neo-noir drama and mystery series called “ZATO.” After dropping all production work on ZATO, Netflix said it doesn’t plan to create any new Russian content indefinitely.
    Netflix is also far from the only company in the Big Tech that took such a drastic step against Russia in the current crisis. Other companies that have taken measures to sanction Russia in favor of war-torn Ukraine include Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, TikTok, Intel, and AMD—and others are sure to follow suit.
    Plenty of streaming companies have joined in the fray alongside these tech giants as well; Disney, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros, and Sony have all put new film releases in Russia on hold for an undetermined period of time.
    It is still unclear how Netflix’s decision to boycott Russia will impact its stock prices. Last month, the company reported a massive drop in Netflix’ stock value, to the disappointment of investors, despite recent U.S. price hikes and new original releases.
  • Twitter is testing the option to change video playback speeds

    Twitter is testing the option to change video playback speeds

    Twitter announced that it is testing a new option for changing the playback speed of a video, which is just like the playback option on YouTube, Netflix, and other video platforms.

    In the tweet from Twitter, we see that the new playback option may appear as a gear icon on top of the currently playing video. When tapped, a menu would appear with speed options varying from 0.25x to 2x, making it exceptionally useful for people who don’t have much time to watch videos or for people who need to slow the playback for some reason. Twitter also mentioned that the available speeds might differ based on whether you are watching the video on Android or the web.

    Currently, Twitter’s playback option is only available on the Android and web versions of the platform, and only certain people have access to it. In the future, the test option will be available for iPhones as well, and at this time, there is no information on when we could expect Twitter to make the new feature available for every Twitter user.

    The playback option would be available on ‘Tweet Videos, Amplify Videos, Voice Tweets, videos in DMs, and Video Live Replays, depending on their platform.’

    I was curious to see if I was one of the users who have access to the new playback speed option, and I indeed have a gear icon when I open a video on Twitter. When I click on the gear button, however, I only find playback speed options ranging from 1x to 2x in the browser version of Twitter and 1x to 1.75x with 200% as the maximum option in the mobile app of the platform.

  • Netflix indirectly confirms Exynos 2200 launch with Galaxy S22

    Netflix indirectly confirms Exynos 2200 launch with Galaxy S22

    The release of Samsung’s latest flagship series, the Galaxy S22 family, is just around the corner. This fact alone guarantees an increasing influx of leaks as the day approaches, and the latest one comes in the form of Netflix indirectly confirming the Exynos 2200 chipset in the Galaxy S22.

    Netflix has always kept a detailed list of specific chipsets, as well as mobile devices, that are supported by the streaming platform—and an Exynos 2200 has just been added to the mix, as XDA Developers reports.

    As far as we already knew, the Korean tech giant has been long in developing the Exynos 2200 processing chipset especially for use in the Galaxy S22 series, and Netflix has already more or less confirmed this fact. We can be sure that we’ll see the new chipset debut with the new series now, without fear of chip shortage-induced delays postponing the chip to a further generation.

    If Samsung keeps to tradition, the versions of the S22 series equipped with the Exynos 2200 processor will be available all throughout Europe, while the models sold in United States, China, and India will be “stuck” with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset.

    While the United States certainly aren’t getting the short end of the straw in this case, Verizon has been pressuring Samsung for the Exynos 2200 version for a while now. And if Samsung concedes, this means U.S. citizens will also have access to the revolutionary ray-tracing technology in the in-house chipset, which is a first in the industry.

    The release date of the Samsung Galaxy S22 has been officially set for February 9, and the company has even opened a “reserve” option for users who want to get their hands on Samsung’s latest and greatest. Reserving a model before the big day also guarantees you a $50 credit towards accessories.

    As for a quick refresher on the specs, the new series will pack displays ever so slightly smaller than the S21 series. The base model will have 6.1 inches of screen real estate, the middle model will have a 6.6-inch panel, and the Ultra will be a 6.8-inch giant—same as the S21 Ultra, in fact.

    The Galaxy S22 Ultra is rumored to be more akin to the Galaxy Note series than any S-series predecessor, packing an S Pen slot as well as a curved display. Remember, the S Pen is a defining characteristic of the productivity-oriented Galaxy Note family, and it will be more than interesting to see it with this top-of-the-line flagship.

    The Galaxy S22+, on the other hand, promises the perfect middle ground for the average user, who wants Ultra-level power and features, along with a much lighter and more compact form factor. Because let’s face it: the S Pen slot will add a very noticeable difference in girth and weight to the top model.

    As for the S22 batteries, they are known to be getting significant downgrades in terms of capacity—a fact which has left us questioning whether it will be truly compensated by the boost in more efficient and less power-hungry new chipset. According to reliable sources, the three models are expected to feature 3,700 mAh, 4,500 mAh, and 5,000 mAh batteries, respectively.

    We already know about the Exynos 2200 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset situation, so that leaves the S22 cameras. The S22 Ultra will feature a quad-camera setup with a 108MP main shooter, two 10MP telephoto cameras, and a 12MP ultra-wide lens.

    The Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus, on the other hand, will feature identical triple-camera setups with a 50MP main camera, a 12MP telephoto with OIS stabilization, and a 12MP ultra-wide.

    As per most leaks, it appears all the S22 models will keep more or less the same design as their S21 counterparts—save, of course for the deviant S22 Ultra.