Netflix advert-supported and account-sharing new facts – cash grab
There is much misinformation about new rules for Netflix advert-supported and account-sharing. It spells the end of password sharing and uses in multiple households, which will upset those who travel or have a holiday home.
Here is what we know about Netflix advert-supported and account-sharing. We include information not found elsewhere, so read closely.
Netflix plans (Australia)
| Item | Basic with approx. four minutes per hour | Basic | Standard | Premium |
| Monthly fee | $6.99 | $10.99 | $16.99 | $22.99 |
| Video quality (1) | Good | Same | Better | Best |
| Resolution (2) | Up to HD 1280 x 720p SDR | Same | Up to FHD 1920p x 1080 SDR | Up to 3840 x 2169 (4K + HDR, Dolby Vision/Atmos) |
| License (3) | 1 x IP Address | Same | Same | Same |
| Concurrent users (4) | One TV only | One device | Two devices | Four devices |
| Downloads | No | Yes x 1 device | Yes x 2 devices | Yes x 4 devices |
| Catalogue | Limited – see later | Full Australian | Same | Same plus 4K |
- Video quality essentially relates to the size of the internet ‘pipe’. The more you pay, the larger the pipe and the potential for buffering and jitters/pixelation are reduced.
- Resolution 16:9 format. As most smart 4K TVs upscale content, you will see it at the TV’s panel capability. SDR means standard dynamic range (same as free-to-air TV). HDR means high dynamic range and reveals more details in the image’s dark and brightly lit areas. SDR content does not scale to HDR and can look blotchy where the detail is supposed to be. It also depends on the device – non-certified Netflix devices and mobile devices, in particular, may be limited to 720 or less.
- Licence: Now based on a single IP address in use. This means you can travel and use the Netflix login at another IP address if the primary address is not in use.
- Concurrent users. This means a Netflix-certified TV, tablet, PC, mobile phone, gaming console or streaming dongle with the Netflix app. For example, Basic means one device using Netflix at a time.
- Downloads allow selected ‘off-line’ content to download to a device for local non-internet connected viewing. Downloads are time limited.
Internet speed/bandwidth versus quality – relates to (1)
| Resolution | SD (<720p) | HD 720p | FHD 1080p | 4K 2160p |
| Minimum Internet download speed | 1Mbps | 3Mbps | 5Mbps | 15Mbps |
| GB Per hour | 300MB | 700MB | 2GB | 7GB |
While these appear to be far less than the 20/2, 50/10, 100/20Mbps NBN speeds, remember that this is shared with all devices on the home Wi-Fi network. You will get better, stutter-free viewing if you can connect the TV to the Router using an Ethernet cable. Note that Netflix defaults to ‘Auto’, which monitors the speeds delivering up to your subscription level.
Mobile devices can use from 250MB to 3GB per hour (FHD SDR). Mobile data is expensive. You can use Wi-Fi instead.
Basic with Advertisements
Advertisements are personalised based on your interactions with Netflix (such as your preferred content genre) and the information you provide to Netflix (age, gender address, TV metadata etc.).
Premium
You are paying for the fastest download and titles with HDR, HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision/Atmos (DV/A). These depend on the title’s availability in that format and your device’s capability. For example, if you don’t have a DV/A TV and DA soundbar, Netflix will only stream what your TV supports – generally dropping back to FHD SDR.
Limited catalogue – it is getting worse
Netflix cannot show ad-supported shows if its in contravention of its contract rights. We understand that around 10% of the catalogue will not be available to advert-supported users.
TV Shows
| Arrested Development | House of Cards | Peaky Blinders | New Girl |
| The Magicians | The Last Kingdom | The Sinner | Good Girls |
| Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous | She-Ra and the Princess of Power | All Hail King Julien | Dawn of the Croods |
| The Good Place | Knight Rider | Queen of the South | Marlon |
| Friday Night Lights | Ash vs. Evil Dead | Wynonna Earp | Stargate: SG1 |
| Van Helsing | Uncoupled |
Movies
| Oblivion | Man on a Ledge | Robin Hood | Steve Jobs |
| The Butler | Skyfall | Casino Royale | Vampires vs. The Bronx |
| Uncharted | Pineapple Express | The Zookeeper’s Wife | Paddington |
| Nocturnal Animals | Sorry to Bother You | A Knight’s Tale | Labyrinth |
| Hell or High Water | The Hurt Locker | If Beale Street Could Talk | Won’t You Be My Neighbor |
| Crimson Peak | It Follows | The Green Inferno | Raw |
| Resident Evil | Resident Evil: Retribution | Resident Evil: Apocalypse | Umma |
| Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark | Quantum of Solace | 28 Days | Rambo |
| Darkest House | Made of Honor | The Imitation Game | Wanted |
| Legend | Blue Jasmine | A Monster Calls | Sing 2 |
| Morbius | Road House | The Mist | A Good Old Fashioned Orgy |
| Phantom Thread | Contraband | Tully | Vice |
| The Hateful Eight | The Bad Guys |
Issue – The hope of buying additional IP addresses – gone
All subscriptions are for a single IP address (home) at a time. You will need multiple subscriptions if you
- Have multiple homes, and you intend to use Netflix at all of them at the same time
- Travel with a Chromecast (or similar) TV dongle (or PC/Mac/Mobile/Tablet) and use Netflix at the same time as your home address.
We understand that Netflix has backed away from implementing an extra user account at a different IP address.
If you are in this situation or share your password with others outside your household, keep doing so until Netflix cuts the extra IP address or users off. There are unconfirmed reports that it still works if you don’t respond to warnings.
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