Six months after the landmark debut of its ad-supported subscription tier, Netflix said the plan has hit 5 million monthly active users globally.
Netflix's recently launched ad-supported tier reaches nearly 5 million active users per month, executives said on Wednesday in a pitch that emphasised the breadth of its programming to potential advertisers.
The streaming video pioneer launched a $7-per-month option
with commercials last November in 12 markets, including the US, as an
alternative to ad-free plans that start at $10 a month. It was designed to
attract more customers and add a new revenue stream as competition for online
viewers intensified.
On Wednesday, Netflix made its first presentation to
advertisers at the annual ritual known as the upfronts, where networks aim to
lock in ad commitments for upcoming shows. Walt Disney, Comcast and other
companies also are vying for digital ad dollars.
Netflix executives stressed the company's wide range of
programming, from sci-fi hit Stranger Things to Korean drama Squid Game and
upcoming action movie sequel Extraction 2.
"No other entertainment company aspires to create great
movies and shows across so many genres in so many countries, and for such a
broad, diverse audience," said Bela Bajaria, chief content officer for
Netflix.
Jeremi Gorman, Netflix's president of worldwide advertising,
said that global monthly active users had reached 5 million. Monthly active
users count all adult profiles used on one account with ads. Children's
profiles do not run commercials.
Netflix reported 232.5 million paying subscribers around the
world as of the end of March.
Executives said they wanted to work with advertisers to
create new types of advertising that could only be done on a digital service.
For instance, a 30-minute commercial could play out over several days, with a
story unfolding each time a viewer watches a show on Netflix, co-Chief
Executive Ted Sarandos said.
"You can't do that in linear TV because people don't
live on one channel," Sarandos said.
Netflix had planned to make the ad presentation live in New
York but switched to a virtual event to avoid protests from striking members of
the Writers Guild of America.
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