Netflix users in Nigeria may soon be without the streaming platform’s Basic ad-free plan as users in the United States and the United Kingdom have had the option to subscribe for the plan removed. While no official announcement has been made, Netflix’s plans and pricing page no longer offers the option to sign up for its Basic plan in the US and UK.
That means that the Basic plan, which bridged the gap between its $6.99 / £4.99 per month ad-supported tier and more expensive Standard ad-free plan of $15.49 / £10.99 per month, is no longer available to new or rejoining subscribers.
However, anyone that is already on the Basic plan, which costs $9.99 / £10.99 a month, can remain a subscriber at this tier until they choose to switch plans or cancel their account completely, Techradar reports.
As a result of the change, there will now only be three options to choose from. New subscribers are now limited to the Standard plan with adverts, Standard without ads, and ad-free Premium, based on what’s available on the company’s plans and pricing page for both the US and UK.
Read also:Netflix’ successful crackdown on password-sharing and what it means for Nigerian users
Netflix looking to increase signups and revenue
There were indications that the streaming platform didn’t want its users to sign up for its ad-free basic tier and would be removing the option as early as the start of the year. That was when it started redirecting people to its ad-supported Standard plan instead.
There were also reports in June that the company might drop its cheapest ad-free subscription after it made the move in Canada, removing it completely without informing its users. The move is seen as part of its strategy to increase revenue and signups on the platform, which also involves account-password sharing.
In April, Netflix informed subscribers, particularly in the U.S. that it will begin cracking down on U.S. viewers who share someone else’s account from Q2. This was after it beat Wall Street earnings estimates for the first quarter but offered a lighter-than-expected forecast.
The approach seems to be working. According to Netflix’s first-quarter shareholder letter released in April, since it launched its ad-supported option in November 2022 in Canada, the US and several other countries, its subscriber numbers have grown.
“In Canada, which we believe is a reliable predictor for the US, our paid membership base is now larger than prior to the launch of paid sharing and revenue growth has accelerated and is now growing faster than in the US,” Netflix said.
With the successes recorded with password-sharing clampdown and removal of the ad-free basic plan both in the US, the UK and Canada, it seems Netflix may soon extend it to its African and Nigerian users.
Out of a total population of around 1.2 billion people, Netflix was predicted to have 2.6 million users throughout the entire African continent by the end of 2021. By 2026, the company expects its subscriber base in Africa, which is presently at 2.6 million, to more than double to 5.8 million.
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