Netflix has finally done it and added ads now. Netflix is also known as the streaming service that offers a wide variety of award-winning TV shows, movies, anime, documentaries, and more on thousands of internet-connected devices. And can you believe it? 

Netflix has always been considered a good streaming service to many. But it has also been known for doing stupid things, like removing their best movies and shows to add ones that nobody will watch. Is was not much of a problem since it would have still kept some good Netflix original shows like Arcane, Breaking Bad and even Shameless and that kept subscribers since no ads were involved and it was worth the price. But now they’ve really done it this time. Starting as of January 2024, in the US. Netflix now has multiple plans, the standard plan with ads starting at $6.99 monthly, regular standard at $15.49 monthly, and premium at $22.99 monthly. Expensive just to have no ads, right?

With the $6.99 standard plan you get good video and sound quality with a resolution at 1080p (Full HD) with supported devices such as your TV, phone, tablet, or even computer. But you get ads. The $15.49 regular standard monthly has all the same rules applied, but instead you’d be getting no ads. With both payments you can only stream and download on 2 devices, pretty sad if you’ve got a bigger family, right?

That’s where the premium subscription comes to show. For $22.99 a month you’ll get the best video quality they can offer with a resolution of 4k (Ultra HD), Spatial sound included, and the biggest surprise yet. Instead of only being able to share and download with two devices max. You will get to share with six devices, and download with four! But is that worth the $22.99 a month? Let’s see.

Senior Rigby Harding said, “I believe because of all the things happening during 2023, they’re losing customers rapidly, so they have to make up for it, but paying for streaming with ads is basically just like paying for cable.” This is true. Netflix has been a main source of boycotting with the Israeli and Palestine situation happening due to having shows with people like Noah Schnapp, and the Company admitting themselves that they support Israel. So because of that, they’ve lost a lot of customers to the boycotting and not just the ad’s situation. But that comes for another story.

Another senior, Elleanna Eastwood, added, “I hate Netflix for having ads. It’s a waste of time and money as well paying for something that’s not expensive and still having ads.”  A first-year-student Chordé Martin added, “I think Netflix ads are stupid because they are unnecessary. When you are paying money already for a subscription, nobody is paying $23 a month for no ads.”

It is not surprising to be frustrated that Netflix has ads now; it was the one and only streaming service without it for years, unlike Amazon Prime video which makes you pay monthly and has you rent or buy certain movies, and HBO Max which has always had ad plans. So Netflix became the one you relied on, it’s almost like a friend who’s stabbed you in the back. No warning or signals that they would have added ads like this. From $9.99 a month to $22.99 a month is just absurd! 

Guess we’ll have to stick with the free streaming services like Pluto TV, Tubi and Vudu. Or we can all pirate together. Not that I’m encouraging it…