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Tag: video

  • Netflix discontinues the Basic plan in the US and UK

    Netflix discontinues the Basic plan in the US and UK

    Netflix is going ahead with its strategy to completely remove the Basic plan to force customers into choosing more expensive plans or ads. Back in June, Netflix quietly removed the Basic tier in Canada, a move that was expected to extend to other regions in the coming months.

    Earlier today, Cord Busters noticed that that the Basic plan has been discontinued in the UK and US. New customers in these two countries will no longer be able to choose the cheapest Netflix plan starting today, although Basic tier subscribers get to keep their plan until they change to another tier.

    The information has been confirmed by Netflix on its support page: “the Basic plan is no longer available for new or rejoining members. If you are currently on the Basic plan, you can remain on this plan until you change plans or cancel your account.”

    Netflix launched its ad-supported tier in late 2022 as “Basic with Ads” for £4.99 / $6.99 per month, but its name was changed a few months ago when it received a few upgrades like video quality from 720p to 1080p and two simultaneous streams.

    The renamed Standard with Ads plan offered almost the same perks as the Basic plan, but with one big difference: it forced subscribers to watch several minutes of ads per hour. Other differences between the two plans are the number of simultaneous streams and the video quality.

    With the removal of the Basic tier, customers in the UK and US will now have to pay at least £10.99 or $15.49 per month if they want Netflix in their homes or on the go without having to watch ads. It’s pretty clear that Netflix wants more customers to choose its Standard with Ads tier rather than a plan that doesn’t run ads, unless it’s one that’s priced a lot higher.

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  • Facebook announces important video-related improvements

    Facebook announces important video-related improvements

    With Facebook Watch discontinued, Meta is trying to improve the video capabilities of its social app. The same editing tools from Reels will be made available for all Facebook videos, while the Video tab is getting a long-overdue redesigned that makes it the central hub of everything related to videos on Facebook.

    Starting today, the Reels editing tools are coming to Feed to make it easier for users to create dynamic videos on Facebook. Previously available on Reels, audio, music and text layers are now available on Meta Business Suite for reels and for video on Feed.

    Also, Facebook users will be able to speed up, reverse or replace their clips. With the new editing tools, it will also be possible to create the right sound for your video by adding music and audio clips, recording voiceovers and reducing unwanted noise.

    Last but not least, Facebook users are getting the ability to upload HDR videos from their phones to Reels and for that video to playback in full HDR.

    Previously known as Facebook Watch, the Video tab has just received a new look and many new functionalities. For starters, the Video tab now features new horizontal-scroll reels sections that highlight recommended reels.

    If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, the redesigned Video tab is available as a shortcut bar at the bottom of the app. Android users will find the same Video tab as a shortcut at the top. Keep in mind that the tabs in the shortcut bar change based on the part of the app that’s used more frequently.

    On the same Video tab, there’s a redesigned Explore section where you can find popular video topics. The Explore section can be accessed by tapping the search icon in the Video tab. According to Meta, the company is using a mix of human curation and machine learning to select topics and videos that are popular.

    Another useful change introduced today is the ability to view and write comments on Instagram Reels without needing to switch between apps. And this appears to be just the beginning, Meta claims.

  • Spotify reportedly plans to add music videos to its app

    Spotify reportedly plans to add music videos to its app

    Spotify is working on a new feature that will allow users of its music streaming services to watch and listen to full-length music videos in its app. While the company hasn’t confirmed the information, it’s common for Spotify to thoroughly test new features before making them official.

    According to a new report by Bloomberg, Spotify is considering adding music videos to its app, but that doesn’t mean that the feature is already being tested. The move is meant to put Spotify in a better position against competitors like YouTube and TikTok.

    Currently, Spotify is looking for partners that will help it bring music videos to its streaming service, at least according to people familiar with the company’s plans. If the rumor ends up being accurate, it will confirm what seems to be a trend for Spotify: complete focus on video content.

    Spotify is trying to keep up with other players in the market by adding features that proved to be very popular among users of competing services. In that regard, Spotify launches “clips” at the beginning of the year, a new feature that would allow artists using its music streaming service to publish videos shorter than 30 seconds as a means to keep in touch with their fans.

    After heavily focusing on podcasts until a few months ago, it looks like Spotify has turned its attention to video content in an attempt to appeal to different audiences. Either it will succeed or not, it depends on its approach and how well its partners will react to Spotify’s business proposal.

    Although it might not be something that will bring to many customers to the platform, it could convince those that are already subscribed to not consider switching to other music streaming services due to lack of new features.

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  • Instagram enables download of public Reels in the US

    Instagram enables download of public Reels in the US

    Instagram introduced Reels in 2020, and since then, this feature’s popularity has grown, reaching over 2.35 billion monthly active users. Now, Instagram is rolling out a new feature for its users in the US.

    Adam Mosseri, CEO of Instagram, announced on his broadcast channel that the company will allow users to download Reels to their camera roll. The process is simple: just tap the share button and select the download option.

    It’s important to note that only Reels from public accounts can be downloaded, and even if you have a public account, you can choose to turn off the Reel download option.

    Mosseri did not mention whether the downloaded Reels would have watermarks, but based on the picture he uploaded, it is safe to assume that downloaded Reels will indeed bear watermarks, much like they do right now.

    Currently, every Instagram user can download and share their own Reels on different platforms. However, with this new feature, users will also be able to share other people’s Reels on platforms like TikTok, for example.

    TikTok has had this feature for years, and videos with the TikTok logo are now prevalent on various social platforms, contributing to the Chinese video-sharing app’s increasing popularity.

    It’s worth noting that although videos with TikTok’s logo are no longer promoted by Instagram’s algorithms, their number on the platform remains substantial. With this new update, there is a chance for Instagram’s logo to appear frequently on its rival platforms as well.

    While it is likely that this feature will eventually be available for users worldwide, the exact timeline for its global release remains unknown. We will have to wait and see when that happens.

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  • Netflix’s crackdown on password sharing has just begun in the US

    Netflix’s crackdown on password sharing has just begun in the US

    Netflix promised to take drastic measures to prevent customers from sharing their passwords. Today, the first step toward making people pay extra if they want to share their Netfix subscription with others has been made.

    If you have a Netflix subscription and live in the US, you should get an email containing updates on sharing between households. The streaming service announced Netflix customers in the US will receive emails informing them that if they want to share their account outside of their household, they must pay for it.

    Basically, Netflix tells you what options you have if you’re already sharing your account with someone outside your household and how much it will cost you to continue doing it.

    • Transfer a profile. Anyone on your account can transfer a profile to a new membership that they pay for.
    • Buy an extra member. You can share your Netflix account with someone who doesn’t live with you for $7.99/month more.

    After encouraging its customers to share their passwords with friends and family outside their household, Netflix backtracks on its initial statements and now says in a blog post that “an account is for use by one household.”

    We’re not sure what’s going to happen if you don’t start paying for extra membership if you’re sharing your password, but chances are that the people you’re sharing your service with won’t be able to access it. It’s probably just a matter of time before Netflix will start cutting access to these accounts (if that’s even technically possible).

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  • HBO Max rebrands itself and relaunches on May 23

    HBO Max rebrands itself and relaunches on May 23

    As expected, Warner Bros. Discovery revealed its plans regarding the HBO Max streaming service. The company announced earlier today that the service will be relaunched on May 23 under a different name: Max.

    According to Warner Bros. Discovery, Max is an enhanced version of the current streaming service, and will include a massive library HBO Originals, Warner Bros. movies, Max Originals, the DC universe, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, lots of kids-friendly content, as well as popular programming across food, home, reality, lifestyle, and documentaries from brands like HGTV, Food Network, Discovery Channel, TLC, ID, and more.

    Once Max launches on May 23, three new pricing options will be available for customers, which seem to be tailored for just about every scenario. Here is how much you’ll have to pay if you want to join Max:

    • Max Ad-Lite ($9.99/month or $99.99/year): 2 concurrent streams, 1080p resolution, no offline downloads, 5.1 surround sound quality
    • Max Ad Free ($15.99/month or $149.99/year): 2 concurrent streams, 1080 resolution, 30 offline downloads, 5.1 surround sound quality
    • Max Ultimate Ad Free ($19.99/month or $199.99/year): 4 concurrent streams, up to 4K UHD resolution, 100 offline downloads, Dolby Atmos sound quality

    As far as existing HBO Max subscribers go, they will be given a minimum of a six-month grace period during which they will be able to continue to use their current plan. Eventually, they will have to switch to one of the newer Max plans, where they will find that their profiles, settings, watch history, “Continue Watching,” and “My List” items will be automatically migrated.

    In related news, Max provided first looks at additional upcoming titles, including Max Originals The Penguin, HBO Original drama series The Sympathizer, HBO Original limited series True Detective: Night Country, HBO Original limited series The Regime, Max Original six-part docuseries SmartLess: On The Road, Max Original kids’ series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, and a first look at HGTV’s four-part Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge.

    Max will only be launched in the United States on May 23, but Warner Bros. Discovery plans to expand the availability of the streaming service to other countries in 2024.

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  • YouTube Premium rolls out in Vietnam

    YouTube Premium rolls out in Vietnam

    YouTube Premium, the Google pay service to watch YouTube videos without ads, has become available in Vietnam, starting at a price of VND49,000 ($2.09) a month.

    Google’s initial offering of YouTube Premium services has been available only to select customers from Wednesday, before the mass rollout begins next week.

    The monthly subscription fee for individuals is VND79,000, and VND149,000 for families, which can include up to 5 accounts. Students can subscribe monthly for VND49,000.

    Users can pay directly by connecting their Google account with an international payment card, similar to how they buy Google Drive storage. iOS users can also make payments via iTunes.

    YouTube Premium is a premium account package with more benefits than the free version, including no ads, picture-in-picture mode, background playback, video downloads, and uninterrupted YouTube Music services.

    Previously, Vietnamese users have reported being bombarded with ads, even illegal ones, like those for fake medicines and herbs, on their free accounts. Some users have bought Premium overseas or from third parties for VND30,000-35,000 per month. The latter option will add them to a family group with five other users to use a family Premium account.

    However, this method is only helpful for eliminating ads, but other features are not available.

    There are also risks from sharing names, addresses and profile pictures with other people in the group, and users may get scammed when buying from third parties

  • Useful new features are coming to YouTube Premium

    Useful new features are coming to YouTube Premium

    YouTube Premium offers features such as ad-free YouTube and YouTube Music and the ability to keep both services running in the background instead of closing down when you open another app. The premium version of YouTube and YouTube Music also allows subscribers to download content to play at another time, possibly when there is no cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity available.
    YouTube Premium is adding some new features, including one that will allow FaceTime users to view YouTube videos with others at the same time. This is similar to the Google Meet Live Sharing that is already available for Android users. In the coming weeks, YouTube Premium will be adding SharePlay support. Some services already offer support for SharePlay, including Hulu, HBO Max, TikTok, Apple Fitness Plus, Twitch, Spotify, and ESPN Plus.

    Also on the way to YouTube Premium subscribers using iOS is a feature called “1080p Premium” which delivers 1080p HD video to subscribers with an enhanced bitrate. This will make videos “extra crisp and clear.” Google hopes to bring this to YouTube Premium subscribers using an Android-powered device. Google says, “Whether you’re an avid sports fan or locked in on the latest gaming videos, this new feature will bring our members an even deeper visual quality!” There are no changes to videos being viewed in 1080p using the free version of YouTube.

    Starting today, YouTube Premium subscribers will be able to use the Queue feature on phones and tablets. Queue temporarily saves videos for users to view later. Unlike “Save to Watch later” or “Save to playlist,” which saves content on subscribers’ devices, videos and tunes can be put in a queue by tapping the three-dot menu to the right of videos (excluding Shorts) and selecting “Play last in queue.” In the Queue list, you can change the order of the videos in line to be played or remove videos from the queue.
    YouTube Premium members are also getting a feature called “Continue watching.” If you begin viewing a YouTube video but don’t finish watching it, the next time you open YouTube.com, you’ll see a prompt in the bottom right corner of the display that when tapped, will start the video you had been viewing from the exact point where you left off. And with Smart Downloads, YouTube will automatically download recommended videos for offline viewing.
    An individual subscription is priced at $11.99 per month and you can sign up for a year in advance for $119.99 which works out to $9.99 per month. A family subscription that adds up to 5 family members (13 years old and up) costs $22.99 per month, and a student subscription (which needs proof that you are a student) costs $6.99 monthly. All of these subscriptions offer a one-month free trial and you can learn more about subscribing to the service by going to www.youtube.com/premium.
  • Netflix will be blocked without local office

    Netflix will be blocked without local office

    An official said that providers of cross-border over-the-top (OTT) television services such as Netflix and iQiYi will be blocked and sanctioned if they do not establish legal entities in Vietnam.

    “If a cross-border OTT television service provider does not have a legal entity in Vietnam, the Ministry of Information and Communications will coordinate with telecommunications enterprises to block access to it,” Nguyen Ha Yen, deputy general director of the ministry’s Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, said at a conference on the issue Monday.

    He noted that five cross-border OTT television service providers are operating in Vietnam, including two from the U.S. and three from China.

    According to a new policy on communications media management that came into effect at the beginning of the year, pay television service providers operating in Vietnam must have a representative office in the country that falls under the management of Vietnamese authorities.

    According to the ministry, the policy is to ensure fairness between international and domestic enterprises in the pay television service market.

    “The world’s OTT giants attract a large amount of advertising but do not comply with Vietnamese regulations. That’s not fair to domestic OTT businesses,” said Tran Van Uy, chairman of the Vietnam Pay Television Association.

    Uy said that if OTT television services are not managed, there is a risk their content could upset a variety of cultural, political and legal norms.

    Many films that are not allowed to be shown via Vietnamese OTT services due to violations of certain regulations are still broadcast by Netflix, he noted.

    “There should be sanctions on both hardware devices and applications. Many TV sets sold in Vietnam have Netflix built into their operating systems, so people can use the service simply by pressing a single button on the remote,” he said.

    Huynh Long Thuy, general director of VieON Corporation, the owner of the Vietnamese OTT app VieON, said that over the past five years, cross-border OTT service providers have directly charged users in Vietnam, and have many times shown content that distorts Vietnamese history and infringes on the country’s sovereignty.

    The streaming services did not remove the content until Vietnamese authorities asked them to do so. If Vietnamese OTT services provide such content, they will be punished immediately, Thuy said.

    According to ministry statistics, revenues from OTT television services in Vietnam stood at VND1.55 trillion (US$65.68 million) in 2022, up 27.2% over 2017.

    The number of OTT television subscribers reached 5.5 million, an increase of 26.2% compared to 2017.

    Vietnam currently has 22 local and foreign pay television service providers, including Netflix, iFlix from Malaysia, and WeTV from China.

    Netflix is expected to open an office in Vietnam late this year.

  • Netflix lowers subscription prices in nearly three dozen countries

    Netflix lowers subscription prices in nearly three dozen countries

    We now have the full list of countries where Netflix has decided to lower subscription prices has just been published courtesy to Ampere Analysis: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, British Indian Ocean Territory, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Christmas Island, Comoros, Congo – Brazzaville, Congo – Kinshasa, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Palestinian Territories, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, St. Barthélemy, St. Helena, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

    Netflix is expected to lose some subscribers due to crackdown on password sharing this year. Although it lost a few million subscribers in the first quarters of 2022, the streaming service gained nearly 8 million subscribers in Q4 2022, a number that exceeded its initial losses.

    In an attempt to avoid potential losses in customer numbers, Netflix announced plans to reduce subscription costs in over 30 countries.

    Unfortunately, Netflix didn’t provide the complete list of countries where subscription prices will be lowered, but we some of the locations where these changes will be introduced. For example, Middle East countries like Yemen, Jordan, Libya, and Iran will benefit from major discounts.

    The same goes for at least three countries in Easter Europe, such as Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovenia. As far as Latin America goes, we know of three countries where Netflix plans to cut subscription prices: Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Last but not least, customers in several countries from Africa and Asia will be getting cheaper Netflix subscriptions, including Kenya, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

    While Netflix confirmed that it’s updating the pricing of its plans in certain countries but didn’t offer specific details regarding prices. As mentioned earlier, price reductions will differ based on location, so you’ll probably have to check with your local Netflix branch for more details.

    This is a major decision that somewhat contradicts Netflix’s most recent statements that announced plans to raise prices rather than lowering them. It’s important to mention though that these changes will only be introduced in some countries where prices were already too high.

    As competition from other streaming services becomes fiercer, Netflix is taking steps to make sure customers remain loyal to its products no matter where they live.

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  • Netflix’s crackdown on password-sharing extends to more countries

    Netflix’s crackdown on password-sharing extends to more countries

    After announcing its plan to prevent its customers from sharing their accounts with friends and family, Netflix started to trial new changes to password sharing in several countries from Latin America, including Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Argentina, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic.

    Earlier this week, Netflix announced that the changes to account sharing revealed last year will be rolled out in more countries. Detailed at the beginning of this month, these changes are now introduced in four countries before being rolled out globally in March.

    Starting today, changes to account sharing are rolling out in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain. If you live in any of these countries and share your account with one or more people, you’ll have to pay extra. But first, customers in these four countries will be asked to set their primary location, allowing them and anyone who lives in the household to use the Netflix account.

    Next, Netflix customers who’d like to provide access to their account to someone else will be able to do so from the Manage Access and Devices page. Another important change involves the ability to transfer a profile to a new account, which is paid for, thus keeping personalized recommendations, viewing history, My List, and saved games.

    Don’t worry, even after setting your primary location, you will still be able to watch Netflix on your personal device or log into a new TV when you’re not at home.

    The most important part of these changes is the option to buy an extra member. To continue to share your account with others, you will have to pay for each extra member who uses your account. Netflix customers subscribed to either Standard or Premium plan and live in one of the four countries mentioned can add an extra member sub account for up to two people they don’t live with.

    Each sub account comes with a profile, personalized recommendations, login and password of their own. As far as the price goes, a sub account costs CAD$7.99 a month in Canada, NZD$7.99 in New Zealand, 3.99€ in Portugal, and 5.99€ in Spain.

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  • Netflix executive explains why it can charge premium ad rates for its ad-supported tier

    Netflix executive explains why it can charge premium ad rates for its ad-supported tier

    After a news report back in November said that the new Netflix “Basic with Ads” service tier was off to a slow start, the company denied that the ad-supported service was failing to meet expectations. The streamer’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos said at a conference last month, “Advertising for us is ‘crawl, walk, run.’ We just turned it on, and it works.” But data from Antenna showed that in the first four weeks of availability, the ad-supported tier was responsible for only 9% of U.S. subscriptions.
    Not only was the “Basic with Ads” the least popular service tier for November but only 0.1% of existing Netflix subscribers switched from another plan to the streamer’s ad-supported service. The latest update on how this tier of service is doing came during CES in Las Vegas when Netflix President of Worldwide Advertising, Jeremi Gorman, was being interviewed at Variety’s Entertainment Summit.
    The executive was talking about the quality and the diversity of advertisers when she said, “It’s really across the board. We’re seeing CPG companies, luxury companies, automotive companies…[and] retail. We’re seeing a broad swath. There’s a wide variety of advertising types, and I think we’ll continue to see that.” The breadth of the industries represented in the ads is considered good for subscribers to the “Basic with Ads” service since they won’t see have to sit through several boring car ads in a row.
    Gorman says that the initial ads in Netflix’s mix for “Basic with Ads” includes automotive spots, ads for consumer packaged goods, and commercials for retail and luxury marketers. Because Netflix originally launched without an ad-supported tier of service, many of the deals it made for content to stream didn’t include AVOD rights (advertising video on demand). This gives Netflix limited ad inventory limiting revenue opportunities although the company is working on the licensing situation.
    Some of the complaints about the ads come from advertisers who aren’t happy about what they call “Super Bowl CPMs.” CPMs, or cost per thousand, is the price charged for 1,000 impressions of an ad on a website or app. Calling them Super Bowl CPMs is a way of complaining that Netflix is charging advertisers too much money. Gorman isn’t denying that Netflix charges what she calls “premium” rates. She says that they are justified.
    “From a supply-demand perspective, the premium CPMs are reflective of two things: one is that we just couldn’t take that many advertisers. We certainly didn’t want to disappoint anybody.” She continues, “Then secondarily, the premium content environment in which the ads run I think warrants a high CPM.” She also states, “I think we’re certainly humble enough to very much understand we’re top of market, and in addition to that, the market will more or less dictate to us what are reasonable CPMs.”
    Right now Netflix is running traditional 15-second and 30-second ads but is considering offering other types of sponsorships in the future. For example, eventually a particular show could have a single sponsor. Netflix could also allow advertisers to target the placement of certain ads depending on the content or based on demographics such as age and gender.
    The “Basic with Ads” service is $6.99 per month and video streams in HD (720p) resolution over a single device. The company describes it by writing, “Basic with ads is a great way to enjoy movies and TV shows at a lower price. You can stream your favorites on any device with limited ad breaks. This plan does not allow downloads and a limited number of movies and TV shows are not available due to licensing restrictions. Some location and device restrictions also apply.”
    The ad-supported tier is available in the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia, Japan, Korea, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico.  At the moment, there are no plans to expand the reach of the service. While Gorman’s comments don’t mention how well the tier is doing in terms of subscribers, from the standpoint of attracting different advertisers in various industries, it sounds like a success for the company.
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  • Netflix vows to put an end to free password sharing in 2023

    Netflix vows to put an end to free password sharing in 2023

    Netflix has been trying to limit the use of password sharing since 2019 when its researchers informed the higher-ups that this is a major concern for the service’s revenues. However, Netflix’s willingness to stop the problem took a pause when COVID-19 started to spread worldwide.

    Now that the pandemic is over and because Netflix’s market share stalled, the streaming service is actively looking for ways to end password sharing without “alienating” its customers. One of the steps toward achieving this has already been made, as Netflix now offers a much cheaper alternative to those who can’t afford to pay for the basic plan.

    The new $6.99 ad-supported Netflix plan is a solid alternative for those who are currently getting the service for free thanks to password sharing. In the next couple months, however, things will become even more serious.

    According to the report, more than 100 million Netflix viewers currently watch the service via password sharing, which is quite a lot of revenue that the service is not getting. Netflix now revealed plans to end password sharing starting 2023, so those who are now taking advantage of the feature will be asked to pay for the service.

    Since Netflix is able to track down viewers who use password sharing, it will start rolling out changes to the service in the US early this year. One thing that Netflix is worried about is that customers will not like the chances, so it’s probably now trying to find ways to make it worth paying for the service.

    One possible solution would be to gradually pressure customers into dropping password sharing, which should prevent some backlash. However, that would mean offering them something in return for their willingness to start paying for the service.

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  • Netflix denies accuracy of report that says its new ad-supported tier is off to a sluggish start

    Netflix denies accuracy of report that says its new ad-supported tier is off to a sluggish start

    According to data released by Antenna, Netflix’s new ad-supported monthly service is not off to such a great start. The lower-priced service launched on November 3rd and for the month, the “Basic with Ads” plan was responsible for only 9% of U.S. sign-ups in November. Last month, 0.1% of existing Netflix subscribers switched from another plan to the streamer’s ad-supported service.
    The data posted by Antenna shows that in the U.S. from May through October of this year, 29% of Netflix subscribers were signed up for the Premium service, 31% were members of the Standard tier, and 40% were subscribers to the Basic plan. At the end of last month, when the “Basic with Ads” service had been around for about four weeks, the plan made up 9% of Netflix’s total subscriber count in the states.
    The new ad-supported plan reduced the percentage of Premium subscribers to the platform by 14% to 25%. The Standard plan was hit the hardest as the percentage of U.S. Netflix subscribers signed up to that plan declined by 23% to 24% from 31%. The Basic tier actually added 3% to 41%. Antenna computes its numbers from millions of raw transaction records including online purchases, and credit and banking data.
    According to LightReading, Antenna “cleans and models” the raw data to compute the numbers you see in this article. But the Journal says that Netflix doesn’t believe that the data presented by Antenna is accurate. A Netflix official stated, “[it’s] still very early days for our ad-supported tier and we’re pleased with its launch and engagement, as well as the eagerness of advertisers to partner with Netflix.”
    Still, Netflix reportedly had to return some ad revenue back to advertisers after failing to meet viewing estimates for its “Basic with ads” service. This was the subject of a report published earlier this month by Digiday. According to unnamed agency executives, in some cases, Netflix delivered approximately 80% of the expected audience. “They can’t deliver. They don’t have enough inventory to deliver. So they’re literally giving the money back,” said one agency executive.
    Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-CEO, said at the UBS Global Technology, Media & Telecom Conference earlier this month, “Advertising for us is ‘crawl, walk, run.’ We just turned it on, and it works.” Calling advertising a “long-term initiative” for the streamer, the executive hinted that there will “likely” be more than one ad-supported tier of service available to Netflix customers in the future.
    The “Basic with ads” service is $6.99 per month. Netflix describes it this way: “Basic with ads is a great way to enjoy movies and TV shows at a lower price. You can stream your favorites on any device with limited ad breaks. This plan does not allow downloads and a limited number of movies and TV shows are not available due to licensing restrictions. Some location and device restrictions also apply.” Video streams in HD resolution with this plan.
    The Basic service is priced at $9.99 per month and while content is also available on just one supported device at a time, with Basic you can download content. Subscribers to the Basic tier see Unlimited movies, TV shows, and mobile games in HD resolution.
    There is a big jump between the $9.99 monthly cost for the Basic plan and the next tier up, Standard. The latter is priced at $15.49 per month and delivers content to two supported devices at a time in Full HD resolution. Subscribers can view Unlimited movies, TV shows, and mobile games and download them.
    For $19.99 per month, Netflix offers its top-tier service called Premium which allows content to be viewed by four supported devices at a time. The content, which includes Unlimited movies, TV shows, and mobile games, is streamed in Ultra HD resolution.
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  • Telegram adds voice-to-text for video messages

    Telegram adds voice-to-text for video messages

    Telegram announced a new update that brings some new features for Premium users and some visual changes available to everyone. The most significant change included in the update is the addition of voice-to-text for video messages, which is now available for Telegram Premium users.

    Previously, subscribers could convert any voice message to text, but the latest update adds the same functionality to video messages. If you’re paying for Premium, you’ll now be allowed to get an instant text transcript of a video message.

    Apart from that, Telegram introduced Topics in Groups, a new feature that allows groups with over 200 members to enable topics and create separate spaces for any subject. The new feature works as individual chats within the group and supports their own shared media and notification settings.

    Another interesting new functionality included in the update, a collectible username, is meant to make it easy for others to contact Telegram users or find their public groups in channels. Besides one basic username, Telegram users can now assign multiple collectible usernames to each of their accounts and public chats. These can be less than 5 characters long and can be traded via blockchain.

    Once again, Telegram is showing emoji fans a lot of love. The latest update adds 12 new emoji packs available for Premium users, some made specifically for Halloween.

    Telegram users on iOS will be getting a redesigned Night Mode. Dark themes have been updated to make colors more balanced with better blurring effects as users scroll in chats and the chat list.

    As far as Android users go, the update introduces new options to resize text. If you want to increase the size of chat text, including link previews, reply headers and more, you’ll find the new functionality in Chat Settings.

    Finally, some minor design improvements have been implemented too. For example, a new animation has been added when swiping left to reply. Also, tapping a user’s phone number in their profile page will now open a new menu with several call options.

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