Netflix announced that will no longer offer its basic subscription to Canadian subscribersa move that follows the increase in prices for account sharing.
The basic plan, which costs CAD 16.49 per month, allows you to watch content on only one device at a time and without ads. The same plan, in Italy, costs €12.99 per month.
Engadget explains that those who already have an active basic subscription will be able to keep it until they change their plan or cancel their account. However, new users will have to choose between the other types of subscription, namely the one with advertising and Premium (available in Italy at €5.49 and €17.99 per month, respectively).
Will Netflix cancel the basic subscription also in Italy?
Netflix’s decision seems to be motivated by the will of maximize your profitspushing towards more expensive (Premium) or cheaper plans for users but with a diversification of income for the company (advertising).
It is important to note that Netflix decides to always experiment with its new products in Canada. Right there, in November 2022, the giant had launched the plan with advertising, which then also arrived in Italy.
It is therefore difficult to think that this new business model will remain confined only to Canada. So yes: we can hypothesize that in the short term the basic plan may also disappear in Europe, and consequently in Italy.
In the meantime we know for sure that Netflix, even in Italy, is trying to push users to subscribe to plans with advertising. The dynamics led the streaming giant to end up in the crosshairs of the antitrust.