If you have an Apple TV and were thinking about upgrading to Netflix’s new ad-supported plan, you should probably wait for now. The less expensive version of the service (the “Basic with advertisements” tier) isn’t presently available on Apple TV devices, including the new Apple TV 4K.
“Basic with advertisements plan support for tvOS is not available at launch but will be available shortly,” Netflix said in a statement. According to a Netflix support website, you can only watch Netflix on Apple TV if you have a subscription to the Basic, Standard, or Premium levels. Otherwise, you’ll have to use a separate device to access Netflix.
Netflix could not explain why the Basic with Ads plan does not currently operate on Apple TV, although it seems to be a mistake. It had intended to launch the $7-per-month tier in early 2023, but it has now bumped the date ahead to this month. It wants to get a head start before Disney+’s ad-supported plan begins in December.
Netflix’s ad-supported plan is now available in the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and Spain. On Tuesday, it became accessible in Canada and Mexico. Aside from the addition of commercials, the plan has certain other drawbacks compared to Netflix’s higher tiers, such as video quality caps at 720p (the same as the ad-free Basic plan), some material being inaccessible, and there is no offline streaming.
