The age of streaming is well and truly here, and with it comes a whole host of different options. Whether it’s Hulu, Disney+, Netflix, HBO Max, or Quibi (heh), the sheer wealth of services available to undecided consumers can be pretty overwhelming. So it seems Netflix has decided to get a jump on everyone else by offering up a selection of shows and movies that will be available to everyone, at the sweet sweet price of $0.
Stranger Things is the heavy hitter, being one of Netflix’s most successful and acclaimed original shows, though it does have a caveat: non-paying customers only get the first episode. This goes for every show in the free lineup, each of which will prompt the user to subscribe once they finish their sample. Movies, however, are completely free from start to finish, including films like Bird Box and The Two Popes. All Netflix asks is that viewers watch a 30 second ad beforehand, but even that is skippable.
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As with many of its experimental features, Netflix has been testing the free viewing option for some time in limited markets around the globe. This latest roll-out worldwide seems to indicate that the company was happy with whatever results they found, and likely believe this strategy will lead to an increase in subscriptions. It does make sense to entice an audience with a sample, especially when trading off original content that may not have a pre-existing reputation or fanbase.
The feature is available to anyone using a web browser, with no account necessary. Netflix has indicated that Android users can also access the free content via the web, but iOS audiences will unfortunately be locked out for the time being. All the user has to do is navigate over to the “watch free” page and they can instantly begin streaming whatever Netflix has chosen to make available free of charge. While the company has made other shows free in the past, such as Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, this is the first time free shows can be streamed directly from the website. Though the company has not announced any plans to open up additional free content, it’s a great opportunity to check out a few shows and movies audiences may have been interested in but not sold on quite yet.
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Source: TechCrunch