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Fret Not, Those Netflix Ads are Just a Test (For Now)

By on June 2, 2015

You might have noticed some quipping about ads showing up before Netflix content in the past week or so. You might even be one of the unlucky few subject to the testing grounds of one of Netflix’s latest – and many – micro-experiments with its streaming service. It’s true, ads for Netflix original content are popping up here and there. Though infrequent, it’s not difficult to imagine how people with an internet connection (all people who use Netflix) might react to such a thing.

Of course, Twitter rant number 3,324 about the purported advertisements is significantly overblown. A number of Netflix employees and representatives have already confirmed as much, revealing a plan much closer to what’s already happening on HBO GO and Showtime Anytime, the respective streaming platforms for those cable networks.

From an internal standpoint, this kind of self promotion is not advertisement. No profit is gained from it. The other thing to note: HBO gets away with putting an advertisement for True Detective before every episode of Veep because people like True Detective. Nobody enjoys seeing the completely unrelated Geico Gecko as they rev up for a new episode of whatever, especially when their eyes are peeled to the bottom right corner of the screen as the skip counter seems to bend the rules of time.

(Everything New to Netflix in June 2015)

So long as Netflix ads reflect the original content people actually enjoy, this will blow over. I can admit I’ll be happy to see Daredevil Season 2 flash across my screen while I’m ingesting House of Cards Season 4.

And, as the marketing people in Netflix are currently thankful to know now, people have proven to be immediately concerned with the potential abuse of such a system. It’s one of the reasons nobody mentions Hulu in a meaningful conversation about the business.

If you feel yourself climbing your high horse about it though, remember this: the monthly fee on Netflix will inevitably go up as its original content becomes more popular, especially without the introduction of advertisements. It’s one or the other. For now, Netflix and the public happen to agree.

About Trevor Ruben

Though I contribute to many online publications on a regular basis, including The Checkout, the crux of my writing lies in video games. When not writing, I'm often streaming a variety of games on Twitch.

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