Netflix Monster House Banners

Netflix issued a press release to announce an exclusive, 3-day banner campaign to promote the upcoming Sony movie Monster House.

"Launching banner advertising is the next logical step in the evolution and expansion of our advertising program," said Peggy Fry, vice president of advertising sales for Netflix. "We're pleased to have such a strong partner as Sony for this launch and excited to feature the truly engaging creative they've developed for 'Monster House.'"

Tidbits from the story: Netflix ships more than 7 million envelopes per week, and more than one third of Netflix households have kids.

How do you feel about banner ads on the Netflix Web site?

Comments

[gir]

BOO! I'm paying for NetFlix service. It isn't a free site. Recomendations and targeted e-mail, okay (especially if I can opt out), but I shouldn't have to see adds on a site I pay for.

[Hunter McDaniel]

By the same logic, you shouldn't have to see commercials on the cable channels you pay for.

I'm ok with these banner ads, so long as they stay in the background and don't require any kind of 'click to continue'. The envelope ads don't bother me either.

What I'm not OK with would be any kind of promotion that artificially influenced the ratings and recommendations system. But I've never heard any reason to believe there was such a thing.

[gir]

"By the same logic, you shouldn't have to see commercials on the cable channels you pay for."

Yes, or put another way you shouldn't have to pay for channels that have commercials. Broadcasters manage to make a profit off of local advertising. Cable companies should too.

I do realize that not enough people care enough to boycott though, so I'm not holding my breath waiting for things to change. Still, that's no reason to roll over and let advertising invade every aspect of life. I feel justified in objecting.

[NetflixShill]

I agree with gir, for once. There should NOT be ads on things you pay for, and you should not pay for things with ads. DVDs should not have ads (previews) you are forced to watch, either. If they get money they from ads, the service should be free or much cheapter. And we should be able to pay the normal price to get a service without ads. I recommend that all NFLX users download firefox and install the AdBlock plug-in, plus FlashBlock and any thing else that will prevent this violation.

[priv8pete]

In a time of rising commodity prices, a constant subscription rate actually makes the service "cheaper" in a nominal sense. If Netflix was to introduce banner ads AND raise prices then I could see the discontent. However, I see this as an attempt to keep our subscription rates at their current level while still meeting investor's profit expectations.

[zenubio]

What a poorly placed at? Right at the top and annoying! I'm a web developer and I've always admired Netflix's ability to design their interface. It looks like they just plopped that advertising on the top of their page and made the whole site ugly. Does it have to be on every page? How about just the home page? Advertisers, LEAVE US ALONE!

[Aron]

priv8pete, your *balanced* logic is not wanted here.

Netflix "should" deliver every movie ever made, with no delays, no advertising, and at no charge to the customer. Studios "should" do nothing inconvenient to protect their multi-million dollar investments from freeloaders and pirates. Chomsky "should" be the king-god of all entitlement generation college kids. The word should "should" be used earnestly and abundantly.

That being said - the banner doesn't strike me as particularly clever nor personalized to the user (as I had initially expected it to be). In general, however, customers prefer (through voting with their feet and wallets) ads over direct price hikes so I suspect that this move does help to keep prices low.

[Super-Bat-Man]

I work in advertising and I hate it.

I don't mind that they put an ad on the site but it does bother me that it is on every page. it really should just be on the homepage or the reccomendations page. I pay $30 dollars a month to Netflix, and Like many others I've gotten a few of my friends to join. They really should think about their customers.

but on the other hand Dreamworks or whatever probably offered some ridiculous amount of money to have this visible all the time (at least I would hope Netflix is making out good on this).

So, if they must put an ad put an ad on here it should be off to the left or the right. it should not change the layout of the page as this one is doing. Infact I will go as far to say that I would prefer to see ads on the left of the pages instead of just red space. maybe a list of new movie trailers. but nothing on the queue page or my account page.

[Draconis]

If it means that they won't throttle my movies, then I say go for it! I don't mind a banner at the top of the page.