Netflix has announced it is scrapping its cheapest ad-free plan in several countries, including Australia, from next week. New and rejoining customers will need to fork out an extra $6 to sign up for uninterrupted viewing, but the streaming giant said members currently on the $10.99 Basic Plan can continue to use it. The move was revealed on Tuesday in a letter to shareholders which cited the recent writers’ and actors’ strike as causing stress on the industry.
The Basic plan is the only one that currently offers a streaming resolution below 1080p, and a less than “great” video quality. “We’ll be making the same change in Germany, Spain, Japan, Mexico, Australia and Brazil next week,” the letter said. “Our immediate priority is building our ad membership so that Netflix becomes an essential buy for advertisers.