Netflix is ​​about to cut free service in Vietnam

Netflix will stop its free service package in Vietnam from November, forcing users to sign up for a paid subscription if they want to continue watching.

On the evening of October 2, many free Netflix users received a notice that they would no longer be members of the service and would no longer be able to use the platform unless they upgraded to a paid plan.

"If you want to cancel, you don't need to do anything. Your membership will be automatically canceled when your free service ends," Netflix's announcement said.

The free plan is a service package provided by Netflix since November 2021, exclusively for domestic Android phone users. At that time, the platform said that Vietnam was one of its priority markets and the second country in the world to use the free service, after Kenya.

Free package provided by Netflix in Vietnam from November 2021 on Android phones. Photo: Luu Quy

Specifically, when using the Netflix application on Android phones, users do not need to enter a payment card but can still watch all original content (Netflix Original) and some other content, but the quantity is not much. The limitation is that they cannot use the account on devices other than the phone.

The platform has now stopped accepting new membership registrations for the above package and is preparing to completely terminate it after two years of implementation. If users want to continue using it, they can switch to a paid package, with subscriptions starting at VND70,000 per month.

The change comes as Netflix is ​​looking for ways to increase revenue and subscribers. Since mid-July, the company has also tightened account sharing in Vietnam. Users of the TV app will be required to verify that they live in the same household as the account holder before they can continue watching movies. This has had a major impact on the sharing habits of Vietnamese people, who often gather in groups of four to share a subscription package worth VND260,000.

The platform recognizes account sharing through IP address, device ID, and user activity. If the user is not in the same address as the account owner, the user will continuously receive verification notifications and will not be able to watch the movie.

Previously, Netflix also applied a restrictive policy in some markets in the Americas. According to the financial report on July 19, Netflix affirmed that this change has brought positive signals. In the second quarter of 2023, the platform attracted 5.9 million new accounts, of which 1.17 million were in the US and Canada - the largest increase since 2021. From that success, the company announced that it would expand the new policy to the remaining markets.

Liu Gui

Vnexpress.net