Netflix Angers Users By Testing Ads Between TV Episodes

Viewers trying to binge-watch shows on the streaming service will now find their viewing interrupted by the interstitial commercials, which air after the end of one episode, before the next automatically begins.

'I've been predicting ads on these streaming sites for years, ' wrote a user called NubSauceJr woefully.

Netflix didn't confirm how long this testing period would last, or the likelihood of the ads becoming permanent.

It appears that only a select group of Netflix users will see the ads at first as the company tests out whether or not they're effective at getting people to watch more shows.

If that sounds similar to the sort of conventional TV commercial advertising that subscribers are paying between $8 and $14 per month to avoid, the viewers who say they've encountered the promos thought so, too.

"The company... is being mindful of "chatter on social channels" on how users are reacting to the change", Ivie reported.

However Netflix, which has about 130 million customers worldwide, says it runs hundreds of tests a year and a lot of them are never adopted.

"Rather than give me the option to skip to the next episode it came up with a full screen "up next" for Rick and Morty and 'but first.' and proceeded to play a full-screen trailer for it and I couldn't go to the next episode of R&M".

In the meantime, for Netflix subscribers who are anxious they will be affected by the test and other experimental features like it, the streaming service does offer a way for users to opt out. A couple of years ago, we introduced video previews to the TV experience, because we saw that it significantly cut the time members spend browsing and helped them find something they would enjoy watching even faster.

"It is important to note that a member is able to skip a video preview at anytime if they are not interested", the spokesperson added.