Netflix’s ad-supported plan, plus a bogus cord-cutting trend
This week on TechHive: The “Great Rebundling” isn’t what you think
For as long as I’ve been writing about cord-cutting, people have been insisting the whole effort is pointless.
Ah, but you don’t really want to pick and choose your own streaming services, these wise industry observers have told us. What you really want is one big subscription that ties everything together—you know, like cable.
This attitude seems to be the driving force behind “The Great Rebundling,” an industry buzzphrase that suggests a return to cable-style packaging for streaming services. The term most recently appeared in a Wall Street Journal story last week, which suggested that the thing you hated most about cable is now coming back.
A closer examination reveals this claim to be bogus. Despite what you may have read, consumer choice in streaming TV remains alive and well. Read the full column on TechHive.
Weekly rewind
Netflix’s ad-supported plan: Netflix will dip its toes into ad-supported streaming on November 3, launching a “Basic with Ads” plan for $7 per month with 720p video on one screen at a time. That’s $3 per month less than the current Basic plan, which is also getting a free upgrade to 720p resolution.
For now, Netflix won’t offer ad-supported versions of its Standard (1080p) or Premium (4K) plans, which offer two and four streams, respectively. The ad-supported plan also has a couple other caveats: It won’t support offline downloads on mobile devices, and it’ll be missing 5% to 10% of the ad-free catalog due to licensing restrictions.
One notable takeaway: Unlike Disney+, whose upcoming ad-supported tier is just cover for across-the-board price hikes, Netflix is using ads to bring its cost of entry down. Of course, we’ll have to see how long that lasts.
Roku’s smart home push: Roku is making a surprise foray into smart home gadgets, partnering with Wyze on Roku-branded doorbell cameras, security cameras, lights, and smart plugs. You’ll be able to control those gadgets and view live camera feeds through Roku streaming devices, while a new Roku Smart Home app will enable controls from your phone. Hands-free control via Alexa and Google Assistant will be available as well.
It is, I suppose, a logical outgrowth for Roku, which has also expanded into home audio through its speakers and soundbars. And on some level, I appreciate that it’s taking a small-scale approach even as other companies try to connect myriad devices with mixed results. But if you’re already invested in smart home gear on other platforms, there’s not much different here to pull you away—not yet, at least.
More catch-up
- iOS 16 breaks AirPlay support on pre-2015 Apple TVs.
- No TBS or TNT on FuboTV means no ALDS, unless you watch in Spanish.
- Roku forces apps to support its new “Continue Watching” feature. Good!
- Samsung will license its smart TV software to other companies.
- It’s finally the end of the road for Slingboxes.
Save more money
It looks like Peacock’s $20 per year deal wasn’t limited to September after all. Through November 19, new subscribers can once again sign up at the discounted price, saving $30 off the first year of an annual subscription.
You can also still grab the Roku Streaming Stick for $30 (down from $50) and the Apple TV 4K for $110 (down from $180).
Check out my big list of streaming deals on the Cord Cutter Weekly website for even more ways to save.
Thanks for reading!
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Until next week,
Jared