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Hey Snackers,
The bots are coming… to save you $$. DoNotPay (think: a "robot lawyer" app) launched an AI-chatbot feature that could help users negotiate lower bills and cancel subscriptions — no annoying hold music required.
Stocks ticked up slightly yesterday to break a four-day losing streak. Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan surprised investors by saying it would gently ease away from its super-relaxed monetary policy.
Pause
Netflix's ad-supported plan arrived with a thud as streamers battle inflation and subscription fatigue
Skipping the intro… and the ads along with it. Netflix's new advertising-supported tier, launched early last month, accounted for only 9% of November sign-ups, according to estimates. The $7-a-month plan represents the Flix's bid to diversify revenue and pull in more subscribers with a less expensive offering. It came toward the end of a roller-coaster year for the streamer, which included subscriber losses and layoffs. Now, some early results are in:
- Press save: 43% of new ad-tier subscribers downgraded from an existing Netflix plan.
- Cord and cost cutting: The other 57% of sign-ups were a combo of brand-new subscribers and people rejoining after previously canceling subs.
Binge-watching… your fave 30-second commercials. Netflix isn't the only streamer to offer an ad-supported tier, but it is arriving late to the party. As of last month, more than 20% of rival HBO Max's subscribers were estimated to be on its ad plan (which launched mid last year). That # is 57% for Hulu subscribers, and 90% for Peacock. Still, Netflix has lots of room to grow: it boasts 223M subscribers (as of September) vs. HBO Max owner Warner Bros. Discovery's 95M — both of which dwarf Peacock's 18M.
Ads are a vital tool in streamers' arsenals… if they can figure out how to wield them. Companies like Netflix are battling pervasive subscription fatigue and inflation headwinds (picture: higher prices squeezing customers' entertainment budgets). Ad-supported tiers represent a way both to woo on-the-fence viewers and to retain those looking for the exits. But as Netflix's early #s suggest, they can cut both ways: cheaper options might cannibalize existing premium customers. Meanwhile, the Flix said it's "very early days" for its ad-supported plan, suggesting the ad-based streaming surge is only just beginning.
What else we’re Snackin’
- Charge: The CFPB ordered Wells Fargo to pay $3.7B because of banking practices that harmed 16M+ customer accounts over 10+ years. At issue: wrongful overdraft fees and illegally seized homes and cars.
- Deliver: USPS is buying 66K electric vehicles to build one of the largest EV fleets in the nation. The postal service is expected to spend $9B+ to hit its EV goal, with $3B coming from the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Stick: Post-it maker 3M said it will stop using controversial PFAS (aka “forever chemicals”) by 2025. FYI: PFAS are in everything from cellphones to cookware, and have been linked to cancer and heart problems.
- Follow: Twitter rival Mastodon has gained more than 2M users since October — bringing its total to 2.5M. Meanwhile, Elon Musk is said to be hunting for someone to replace him as Twitter's CEO.
- Bite: General Mills beat sales expectations in its latest reported quarter, as shoppers splurged on name-brand cereal. But the stock fell more than 4% as investors looked at flat sales growth for its pet-food line.
Wednesday
- Earnings expected from Carnival Corp. and Micron Technology
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