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Netflix Is Experimenting With Advertising
derekmead writes: Netflix is experimenting with pre-roll and post-roll advertisements for some of its users. For now, it's just pitching it's own original programming. However, many are concerned that they plan to serve third-party ads, but the company says they have no plans to do so. They told Mashable in a statement: "We are not planning to test or implement third-party advertising on the Netflix service. For some time, we've teased Netflix originals with short trailers after a member finishes watching a show. Some members in a limited test now are seeing teases before a show begins. We test hundreds of potential improvements to the service every year. Many never extend beyond that."
it's not necessarily double dipping. it could be half dipping for the subscription fee, half dipping for the ads. In total there is one full dip.
This is how magazines have been for 100 years, whether you buy them with a subscription or at the newsstand. Over time, a rich industry developed around this half/half dipping approach that resulted in a rich variety of content for people. you could get a fishing magazine, a mag on woodworking, on concrete, Indiana news, everything could work.
it's not an interently evil business model, it's just another business model.