After revealing it was working on a cheaper ad-supported plan in May, Netflix on Wednesday announced it is partnering with Microsoft for its global advertising technology and sales to deliver the new tier.
The new lower-priced ad-supported plan will join the existing ad-free basic, standard, and premium plans giving customers more options to choose from. While no official launch date has been announced yet for the new tier, in the announcement post, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Product Officer at Netflix Greg Peters writes; “it’s very early days and we have much to work through. But our long-term goal is clear. More choice for consumers and a premium, better-than-linear TV brand experience for advertisers. We’re excited to work with Microsoft as we bring this new service to life.”
In a blog post, Microsoft’s Mikhail Parakhin wrote that “marketers looking to Microsoft for their advertising needs will have access to the Netflix audience and premium connected TV inventory.” He also added, “all ads served on Netflix will be exclusively available through the Microsoft platform. Today’s announcement also endorses Microsoft’s approach to privacy, which is built on protecting customers’ information.”
Microsoft and Netflix have built up a close relationship over the years, and it would be recalled that HD Netflix streaming on consoles first came to the Xbox 360.
