You cannot download content for offline watching, so if you are excitedly awaiting the launch of the low-cost, ad-supported Netflix subscription plan, you should be aware of this. It is, after all, a key distinction between Netflix's standard subscription plans and its ad-supported ones.
The ad-supported Netflix model will limit downloading.
According to a Bloomberg story, Steve Moser discovered that "downloads" are not supported on the ad-based plan after getting his hands on the Netflix app codes for iPhones.
To further clarify, Netflix's standard mobile, SD, HD, and HDR plans provide offline viewing. Users only need to download the content they wish to watch later, and then it will be accessible even if there is no nearby network. Contrarily, the ad-supported plan won't have this capability, thus users must be connected to the internet in order to watch material that has commercial breaks throughout. These advertisements cannot be missed, as should be obvious (similar to YouTube unskippable ads). When the commercials are playing, there won't be any controls available to users, which is how Netflix will finally make money.
Aside from that, the ad-supported plan will only have access to a portion of the region's content catalogue. This is yet another characteristic that sets apart Netflix's two types of plans. It is instead being offered as a trial for new Netflix subscribers so they can see for themselves how fantastic Netflix is before deciding to upgrade their free accounts to paid ones that would not only eliminate the advertising but also unlock all of the library's locked titles for the region in question.
Currently, Netflix India has four main subscription packages: Mobile, Basic, Standard, and Premium, priced at 149, 199, 499, and 649 rupees, respectively. Netflix offers three tiers in the US: SD for $9.99, HD for $14.99, and UHD for $29.99. at $19.99. The new ad-supported plan will go at the very start allowing users to pay almost nothing and try Netflix before upgrading.
The streaming giant has partnered with Microsoft who will act as its ads and sales partner thereby managing all the infrastructure required to support the ad-based plan on Netflix which is due to arrive in early 2023. It could probably help Netflix gain traction after its rivals have started hurtling through the chaos to becoming bigger than ever such as Amazon Prime Video among others.
