Many Popular Shows, Movies Unavailable on Ad-Supported Netflix Plan
By Movieguide® Contributor
Many movies and shows are still unavailable to watch through Netflix’s ad-supported plan despite the tier debuting over a year ago.
Customers noticed that THANKSGIVING, a popular 2023 horror movie, was not available to stream through the ad-supported Netflix plan. According to Variety, this is “because of licensing restrictions.”
Netflix has not commented on the absence of certain titles for subscribers that opted for commercials, but per their website, all content that isn’t available is “due to licensing restrictions. These titles will appear with a lock icon when you search or browse Netflix.”
In addition to THANKSGIVING, other Sony movies like SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, NO HARD FEELINGS, MORBIUS, 13 GOING ON 30 and WHIPLASH are not available.
Shows unavailable to stream include THE WALKING DEAD, PEAKY BLINDERS and HOUSE OF CARDS.
Netflix chief operating officer Greg Peters commented on the absence of certain titles, telling Variety, “[A] limited number of movies and TV shows won’t be available due to licensing restrictions, and we’re going to be working on reducing that over time.”
Peters also said that, depending on the country, 5-10% of titles will not be available on Netflix, and subscribers using the ad plan are unable to download movies or shows to watch offline.
Movieguide® previously reported on Netflix’s ad-supported plan:
Netflix plans to launch an ad-supported subscription option with Microsoft in early 2023 so the company can reach a broader customer base.
“We’ve left a big customer segment off the table, which is people who say: ‘Hey, Netflix is too expensive for me and I don’t mind advertising,’” Netflix Co-CEO and Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said during a panel at the Cannes Lions Festival.
This announcement comes after major subscriber losses over the last two quarters. In the second quarter, Netflix lost nearly 1 million subscribers.
While this was only half the expected loss, CEO Reed Hastings explains that “our excitement is tempered by the less bad results.”
Sarandos explains, “We adding an ad tier; we’re not adding ads to Netflix as you know it today. We’re adding an ad tier for folks who say, ‘Hey, I want a lower price and I’ll watch ads.’”
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