Netflix is planning to make their ad-supported tier even more annoying starting in 2026. The streaming giant will be introducing AI-generated ads and pausing ads in the middle of shows and movies. Users will have the pleasure of paying $8 a month for this wonderful experience as Netflix looks to boost its ad business.
The president of advertising at Netflix, Amy Reinhard, mentioned at a recent event for ad agencies that the company excels in both technology and entertainment. It’s unclear how the AI-generated ads will manifest or if they will be personalized for each viewer in real-time. However, Reinhard seems optimistic about the financial benefits of this strategy. She highlighted that viewers pay as much attention to mid-roll ads as they do to the content itself, making that attention worth about $10 a month. This is significant considering the cheapest plan without ads is currently $18 a month.
Starting in 2026, users on the ad-supported tier can expect to have their shows and movies interrupted by AI-generated ads. This move comes at a time when Netflix is increasing its prices and cracking down on password sharing. While initiatives like in-app TikTok-style feeds and Netflix Gaming are in progress, the focus seems to be on implementing intrusive ads. It’s unclear how subscribers will react to this change, but it’s clear that Netflix is prioritizing their ad revenue over user experience.
