Ads. Love them or hate them, you see them everywhere on phones, television, and now, on apps like Netflix. And while they can provide helpful information, they are often annoying and repetitive. The fact that Netflix originally had no ads made it popular among viewers who wanted uninterrupted entertainment.
However, Netflix officially introduced ads on Nov. 3, 2022, when it introduced its “Basic with Ads” subscription plan for $6.99, saving subscribers $3 per month if they were willing to live with ads. Now $7.99, the current “Basic with Ads” plan saves users a whopping $10 off the full tier, ad-free price of $17.99. Many people have mixed feelings about this change, with some feeling that the ads are taking away from the viewing experience.
“I hated the ads so much to the point where I stopped watching shows on Netflix,” said sophomore Aria Kern.
Netflix is creating new ways to make more money than ever before by omitting some shows or movies on the ad-subscription plan, putting them behind a pay wall and forcing people buy a higher subscription to access the content.
One reason some people watch Netflix with ads is that they don’t mind having to wait through the ads, either tuning out, hopping on their phones, or leaving the room to get something to eat. So for viewers who want to save money, the ad-supported plan makes Netflix more affordable.
“I think Netflix with ads isn’t even that bad, and people are overreacting. I’d rather pay less with ads than to pay $17.99 for no ads,” said sophomore Brooks Kaylor.
Others find the new ad-free paywall annoying. “I don’t like how they made the price higher, and I can’t really afford Netflix without ads now, so I’m forced to watch with ads. But it ruins my viewing experience with movies and shows,” shared sophomore Jimmy Navarro.
To some old-school Netflix fans, adding ads goes against what originally made Netflix different from traditional television services. But nearly all major streaming platforms have adopted ad-supported, lower-priced tiers. Competitors, including Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Max (HBO Max), Paramount+, and Peacock, have added ads to boost revenue and offer cheaper subscriptions.
n [Jan. 20], Netflix said 2025 advertising revenue exceeded $1.5 billion–about 3% of total full-year revenue for the streaming giant–and is expected to double this year. Overall company revenue jumped almost 16% percent for 2025, while net income rose 26%.”
