In Kenya, Netflix is releasing a new free Android mobile plan that allows customers to watch a restricted selection of its content, including whole seasons of certain series. The new ad-free Netflix mobile plan for Android will be available starting this week, and users will be able to join up without having to enter any payment information (though they will need to prove that they are 18 or older and will still need to submit an email address to create a login).
According to a Netflix spokeswoman, this is the first time the streaming service has offered a free tier. The free plan will cover around a quarter of its collection, and customers on this tier will be able to view full seasons of series. Netflix hopes that users who appreciate the service would switch to one of its paying subscriptions, which include the capability for streaming from TVs and computers.
Netflix has previously experimented with free-to-stream programming in order to entice new members. It had previously made some of its content available on YouTube, and after terminating its free trial period in the United States, it experimented with a free-to-watch portal with a modest selection of titles. HBO Max, which also cancelled its free trial ahead of the day-and-date premiere of Wonder Woman 1984 on the channel, has experimented with releasing limited episodes for free to improve subscription numbers.
