In a report this week from Bloomberg it has been uncovered that the upcoming ad-supported Netflix tier will not allow subscribers to download anything to use offline. For a long time on every Netflix plan, the company allows users to download selected movies and tv shows for use offline, such as on a plane journey.
However, a new restriction referencing the upcoming plan has been found within the code on the iOS app. It said “Downloads available on all plans except Netflix with ads.”
Netflix is not planning on launching the new ad-supported plan until early 2023. Bloomberg also mentioned that there will be certain restrictions whilst ads are on screen. For example, users wont be able to skip ads or pull up the media controls. Netflix has also confirmed in the past that some content wont be available to users on the ad-supported plan, instead reserved for ad-free users.
Currently, Netflix costs $9.99/month for 480p, $15.49/month for 1080p and $19.99/month for 4K HDR. As of writing, Netflix is the only streaming platform that actually charges more for HD and 4K content. Apple TV+, Disney+ and Amazon Prime all offer 4K HDR at no extra cost.
Prices in the UK are £6.99, £10.99 and £15.99 for 480p, 1080p and 4K HDR respectively.
