Netflix begins ads plan...5,500 won in Korea

▲This photo, a captured image from Netflix website, shows basic with ads plan. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- Online streaming service Netflix has begun basic with ads plan in nine countries including Korea on Friday.

Netflix has implemented ads plan in Korea along with USA, Brazil, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Australia starting 9 a.m (UST).

The plan, named "Basic with ads," has lowered the price of monthly subscription in return for including adds on contents, 5,500 won in Korea and 6.99 in U.S.A.

Introduced in 12 countries first, the plan was applied in Canada and Mexico last Jan, and it will begin the service starting Nov. 10 in Spain.

The plan is 4,000 won cheaper than basic plan in Korea, but average of 4-5 min ads have to be watched for an hour of video.

15-30 seconds ads are exposed at the beginning and middle of content.

Ad plan consumers can watch contents through Laptop, TV, Smartphones, and tablet at 720p/HD quality like the basic plan.

However, Ad plan does not include content download service unlike other plans.

Some contents in which licensing issues have been raised over the right to display advertisements cannot be viewed temporarily under the ad plan.

Wall Streeet Journal announced that Netflix is currently under negotiation with Disney, NBC Universal, Sonic Pictures, Warner Bros. to solve this issue.

Foreign press says that among the programs that are currently negotiating are popular american dramas "Breaking Bad," "The Big Swindle," and "Grey's Anatomy."

Netflix anticipates that the new plan will bring good performance.

The service, through last quarter report, said, "Advertisers are showing positive response," adding, "More choices for price-sensitive customers will increase the sale and profit.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Jiwon Woo.)

(END)

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved