Neowin News Feed for: Ad-free

European consumer watchdog again goes after Meta's ad-free subscription

Aditya Tiwari — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 14:04:01 +0000

Europan consumer watchdog BEUC has urged regulators to investigate Meta's updated ad-free subscription rolled out in the EU last year. Read more...

Amazon Prime Video to get 150+ PBS channels including PBS Kids

Sagar Naresh Bhavsar — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 14:26:01 +0000

Amazon struck a deal with PBS to bring over 150 PBS local station channels, including the PBS KIDS Channel, to Prime Video for free. Read more...

Meta offers to make ad-free Facebook and Instagram subscription cheaper in the EU

Aditya Tiwari — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 14:22:01 +0000

Meta could cut down its ad-free subscription fee in the EU by 40%. The social media giant has offered to reduce its subscription price amid rising criticism from consumer groups and regulators. Read more...

EU watchdogs are concerned about Meta's "Pay or Okay" model for ad-free subscriptions

Anushe Fawaz — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 14:08:01 +0000

Meta has a fee for consumers to reject sharing their data with advertising companies in Europe. However, today 28 EU privacy watchdogs have spoken against this ad-free subscription model. Read more...

Europe org says Meta breaches consumer laws with its ad-free subscription, files complaint

Karthik Mudaliar — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 09:16:01 +0000

Europe's consumer organization, the BEUC, has filed a complaint against Meta for breaching EU consumer laws claiming that Meta is forcing users to pay a fee to ensure privacy. Read more...

Meta will reportedly launch paid subscriptions for ad-free Facebook, Instagram

Omer Dursun — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 18:18:01 +0000

Meta reportedly considers an ad-free subscription for Facebook and Instagram in the EU. It could help the company address regulatory concerns about its reliance on analyzing user data to target ads. Read more...

Some YouTube creators can offer ad-free videos, suggestions, and quiz viewers

Alap Naik Desai — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 20:02:01 +0000

YouTube is offering a way to offer videos that do not have ads, recommendations, and external links. Content without distractions can help viewers focus, but only select creators will qualify. Read more...

Netflix ad-supported subscription could cost around $8/month with small ad breaks

Alap Naik Desai — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 05:08:01 +0000

Netflix seems to be fine-tuning its upcoming ad-supported subscription tier. The new plan could cost half of the Standard tier which offers ad-free 1080p streaming, and have small commercial breaks. Read more...

Netflix's new subscription tier with ads could restrict downloads for offline viewing

Alap Naik Desai — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 22:10:01 +0000

Netflix might restrict offline viewing of content for subscribers who opt for the ad-supported subscription. The company has already indicated it will impose restrictions on content. Read more...

Unified HBO Max/Discovery+ streaming service to arrive next year with an ad-lite tier

Alap Naik Desai — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 05:16:01 +0000

HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming services are merging. A unified service offering content from both platforms should arrive next year. The new service will have ad-free and ad-lite subscriptions. Read more...

YouTube Vanced to be shut down because of legal reasons, current version still working

Alap Naik Desai — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 21:28:01 +0000

YouTube Vanced, a modified app that stripped ads and sponsored content from videos, is shutting down due to legal reasons. The development team is on the Discord server, Telegram chat, and SubReddit. Read more...

Netflix will stay ad-free even if it means higher entry price point to streaming service

Alap Naik Desai — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 22:42:02 +0000

Netflix has confirmed that it will not insert ads to lower the entry price of subscriptions on its streaming service. The company could, however, explore an ad-subsidized model owing to competition. Read more...

YouTube may let you block ads for €6.99 per month in the future

Usama Jawad — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 06:54:01 +0000

YouTube is currently experimenting with a new subscription model in some European countries which allows users to block ads for the price of €6.99 per month. It is dubbed "YouTube Premium Lite". Read more...

Scroll is a new service that gives you ad-free internet for $5 per month

João Carrasqueira — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 20:12:01 +0000

Today, a new subscription service called Scroll has launched to the general public, giving users the ability to browse a wide range of online publications without ads while still supporting them. Read more...

Google Play Pass launches removing in-app purchases and ads for subscribers

Paul Hill — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 18:00:01 +0000

Google has announced that customers in the United States will be able to begin subscribing to Google Play Pass this week. The service gives users full access to apps without ads or in-app purchases. Read more...

Apple finally announces acquisition of Shazam weeks after EU gives green light

Paul Hill — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 17:06:01 +0000

Apple has finally announced the acquisition of the music detecting service, Shazam. The finalisation of the acquisition comes just weeks after the European Union said the deal could go ahead. Read more...