Netflix has long made it a selling point that it doesn’t show commercials. But the streaming service’s growth is slowing, prompting the company to look for new ways to generate revenue. In April, it announced plans to start advertising.
Microsoft will be the partner for that project. The software company will be responsible for the technology and the sale of advertising space for Netflix. The choice for Microsoft comes as a surprise in the advertising sector. Advertising giants Google and Comcast seemed more likely, but those companies have services that compete with Netflix.
The option to watch Netflix without advertising will continue to exist, CEO Reed Hastings emphasized. Currently, Netflix in Belgium costs 8.99, 13.49 or 17.99 euros per month, depending on the options chosen.