Is Netflix really planning on becoming Hulu by adding advertisements? Well, not really. Despite a rumor that ran wild on the web Monday, Netflix clarified that we’re not going to suddenly see third-party ads while streaming.
The rumor started at Cord Cutters News, which reported that users began reporting to the site that they were seeing ads after shows on an XBox One. However, the site later received reports of ads showing up before shows began and also on the Roku and Tivo Netflix apps.
Even though the site noted that all the reported ads were for Netflix shows, people took to Twitter and elsewhere to complain about ads coming to Netflix. The company’s initial statement also didn’t seem to calm any worries.
“We are always testing new things via the service, many of which never see a rollout. We have nothing more to add at this point,” the company stated initially.
However, sensing that there was still a mess to clean up, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings wrote on Facebook that no advertising will come to Netflix. “Just adding relevant cool trailers for other Netflix content you are likely to love,” he wrote.
So it sounds like Netflix is moving towards becoming more like HBO and Showtime than Hulu. Both Showtime and HBO show trailers for their own shows before programs begin.
Still, don’t be completely surprised if, down the road, Netflix does have to consider ads. As the company adds more and more original content, the company will have to make back the money somehow, either by raising the monthly fee for users again or by adding ads that annoy us all.