Netflix confirms an ad-supported tier is coming

Co-CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed on Thursday that advertisement-supported streaming will be added to the streaming service for subscribers who are willing to watch ads for a lower monthly rate.

"We've left a big customer segment off the table, which is people who say: 'Hey, Netflix is too expensive for me and I don't mind advertising,'" Sarandos said during a panel at the Cannes Lions festival, reported by The Hollywood Reporter. "We adding an ad tier; we're not adding ads to Netflix as you know it today. We're adding an ad tier for folks who say, 'Hey, I want a lower price and I'll watch ads.'"

Sarandos' confirmation comes in the midst of a rough year for Netflix. As competition among entertainment services grows more intense, the streaming giant lost subscribers for the first time in a decade, faced a backlash for cracking down on password sharing, and laid off over 150 employees (or about 1.5% of its global workforce).

If news about ads on Netflix has you worried, you'd be glad to know that the streaming service won't be introducing ads across the board. It will limit ads to users who opt for the upcoming subscription plan. If you're on a more premium subscription tier, you won't have to bear with ads on Netflix. In addition to confirming the ad-supported tier, Sarandos revealed that Netflix is currently in talks with potential ad-sales partners for the new tier.

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