Netflix used to not have ads, now it’s ‘celebrating’ two years with them

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The streaming service revealed that its cheaper, ad-supported tier hit 70 million monthly users just days ahead of the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight.

By Emma Roth, a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.

Nov 12, 2024, 3:40 PM UTC

Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge

Netflix’s subscription plan with ads has reached a new milestone: it hit 70 million monthly users since its launch two years ago. That’s a big jump compared to the 40 million monthly ad-supported users Netflix reported in May.

Additionally, the streaming service said that the ad-supported plan accounted for 50 percent of all new signups in countries where it’s available. Netflix rolled out its ad-supported tier in the US, Australia, Brazil, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and others in November 2022.

It’s no surprise that the ad-supported plan has seen such growth, as the streamer has started nudging users toward the $6.99 per month option by discontinuing its cheapest ad-free tier. The company has also started to build out the plan’s features, adding better resolution and the ability to watch up to two streams simultaneously.

Netflix has launched its own advertising technology platform in Canada as well, with plans to launch it globally throughout next year. The streamer currently partners with Microsoft to sell ads that not only appear across its basic plans but will also show up during the live football games it’s streaming on Christmas Day.

As part of its earnings results last month, Netflix reported an increase of 5 million subscribers, bringing its global total to 282.7 million. The company is also set to air its live boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul this week, which all subscribers will have access to for free.

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