“Once upon a time part of why people were flocking to platforms such as Netflix was the promise of no interruptions to their viewing.” Not any more says streaming columnist NICK OVERALL. 

IN yet another blow to the wallets of many Aussies, Netflix has scrapped their cheapest option to watch movies and TV on the platform without ads.

The “basic” plan, which set streamers back $10.99 a month, has officially been axed.

It means those wishing to subscribe to Netflix are left with two options. For many, neither are either ideal.

Option one is the “standard with ads” plan, which costs a modest $6.99 a month but will interrupt viewers with commercials.

For those who don’t want ads, option two is the “standard plan” which skyrockets to $16.99 a month.

The platform’s most expensive membership, which includes HD video quality, remains at $22.99 a month. It also now costs users an extra $7.99 a month for every additional household they want to add to an account after Netflix cracked down on password sharing.

It’s not just Down Under to have copped the change. 

American, Italian, Canadian, German, Spanish, Japanese and British Netflix subscribers have all also lost out on the “basic option”.

The good news is that those who are currently subscribed to the “basic” plan won’t be affected. Yet.

“Nothing will change for members currently on the Basic plan at this time,” Netflix said in a statement.

Who knows how long that will last though.

The controversial shake-up follows rumours swirling in recent weeks that the platform will also be lifting the cost of all their subscription plans in the near future on the back of the Hollywood writers and actors strike, but at this stage the streaming giant is tight lipped on that front.

It seems Netflix’s bid to change to an advertising-based model is working though.

The company says the subscription options where users are forced to watch ads have grown nearly 70 per cent. The ad-based option also now accounts for 30 per cent of all new subscribers globally.

“Our immediate priority is building our ad membership so that Netflix becomes an essential buy for advertisers, which is key for advertising to become material to our business,” a Netflix statement said.

Those who are looking for a cheap, ad-free alternative to Netflix will notice the options are getting more slim.

Foxtel’s streaming service “Binge” now includes ads and from November Disney Plus is also introducing an ad-based membership in Europe and Canada after a “successful launch in the US”, making it very likely Australia is next in line.

There’s a sad irony in all of this.

Once upon a time part of why people were flocking to platforms such as Netflix was the promise of no interruptions to their viewing. Subscribers pay the money to watch content and in turn those profits help generate more content. Fair is fair.

This move to streaming platforms ushered in a new golden age of TV, offering viewers a more cinematic experience on the small screen. Now it seems Netflix is trying to push aside what set it apart.

What the traditional streaming model also did was almost eradicate internet piracy. For a modest monthly subscription fee, users could get access to a sweeping range of movies and television shows, meaning illegally downloading content became near obsolete.

Now it seems piracy is back on the rise.

One global study from research firm Muso found there were 215 billion visits to piracy websites in 2022. That’s an 18 per cent increase compared to 2021.

The past tells us people turn to illegally watching movies and TV when prices become too dear. It’s what happened with cable television, when viewers complained of paying too much for too many channels. 

Now, with every company attempting to launch its own streaming platform and with ads popping up right across the board people are having to pay upwards of $50 a month just to catch all their favourite programs and have them interrupted by commercials in the process. Sound familiar?

The trend paints a concerning picture for the industry. After the boom in streaming over the last decade, could it be reverting back to a model of entertainment it once so proudly and successfully broke away from?

While I’d say a move away from streaming is unlikely, it would be sad to see the epic battles of “Game of Thrones” interrupted by someone trying to sell you shampoo become the industry standard.