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Netflix button on the remote control: The service will soon also be available with commercials
Photo: Jenny Kane / dpa
The decline in its subscriber numbers is forcing Netflix to restructure its business model.
After 15 years without its own advertising business, the streaming service will soon be running commercials.
It can't be long: As the companies have now announced, Microsoft and Netflix have entered into an advertising partnership.
The software giant has all the necessary skills, said Netflix manager Greg Peters, who is responsible for operations, on Wednesday.
In April, the video streaming leader announced that it would develop a cheaper, advertising-financed version of its service in view of the declining number of customers.
For paying subscribers, however, there should still be ad-free offers.
Some streaming competitors already offer variants of their flat rates with commercials.
Amazon wants to launch a free advertising-financed offer in Germany this year.
Netflix founder and co-CEO Reed Hastings said in April that the ad version would be "fixed in a year or two."
According to media reports, Netflix was also considering YouTube parent Google and NBC broadcaster Comcast as technology partners for the ad version.
Microsoft has long been anchored in the online advertising business.
In 2007, for example, the group delivered ads to the fledgling social media platform Facebook before Mark Zuckerberg set up his own advertising business.
Netflix emphasized that Microsoft offers an advertising model that does not invade viewers' privacy.
tmk/AP/dpa