T-Mobile customers already benefit from a range of free entertainment subscriptions, including access to Apple TV+, MLB TV, and MLS Season Pass. Netflix is also part of the benefits package but while it used to be a free subscription to the Basic Plan the carrier has announced it will move over to the Standard with Ads plan from January 24. In better news, some T-Mobile customers will also gain access to Hulu from January 24.
Netflix Gets Ads
Netflix will cease to offer Netflix's Basic plan with its ‘Netflix on Us' perk in favor of the Standard with Ads plan which, as you can guess, brings ads into your viewing experience. T-Mobile calls it an upgrade, and in some ways it is, but the addition of ads surely changes the dynamics of the perk. On a positive note, the viewing experience will benefit from an actual upgrade thanks to the streams being of 1080p (FHD) resolution instead of the 720p offered by the Basic plan. That's something, right?
Also, the number of devices able to stream simultaneously has doubled to two, which means you'll no longer have to fight over whose turn it is to watch Netflix. This is particularly handy if you have a teenager who doesn't appreciate your love of documentaries.
If you were already paying for the Netflix Standard plan, you'll see no change in viewing experience or expense with T-Mobile continuing to foot the bill.
Hulu (With Ads)
New and existing T-Mobile customers who are signed up to the Go5G Next plan will gain free access to Hulu as part of their subscription. Worth $96 over a calendar year, the Hulu (With Ads) subscription goes live on January 24 for eligible users.
“As the Un-carrier, we go beyond delivering the incredible service that customers expect from America’s 5G leader. T-Mobile customers get the best value and the best entertainment streaming bundle in wireless — just for being customers, without having to pay a penny more,” said Mike Katz, President of Marketing, Strategy and Products at T-Mobile. “In addition to Apple TV+, Netflix and MLB.TV, Go5G Next customers now also get a subscription to Hulu … all four on us. That’s over $400 a year in streaming benefits, from the very best services in the market, all included in your plan at no extra cost.”
T-Mobile
The addition of Hulu (With Ads) to the Go5G Next plan brings the value of free entertainment subscriptions to $35 each month, Given how many times T-Mobile mentions Go5G Next in their press release, it's unlikely that other plans such as Magenta Max will gain access to Hulu (With Ads).
Depending on your perspective, the addition of Hulu (With Ads) could offset the addition of ads to your Netflix experience, along with being able to stream the service on two devices in 1080p resolution simultaneously. Let us know your thoughts on T-Mobile's announcement in the comments below and if it will influence your decision to stay with the carrier in the future.
Hulu with ads is no benefit. More of a disappointment as they throw a lot of ads at you. Not an enjoyable viewing experience.
Losing Netflix as it was meant to be, which is no ads, is a downgrade and may run off some customer to T-mobile who stayed for that great perk.
T-mobile raising rates and reducing the quality of perks isn’t good for customer retention.
I’m a Magenta Max customer and they just offered me the Hulu (with ads) benefit. However, it seems as if this will be only a one-year free subscription then it goes to regular price ($7.99). That’s like their previous offer of Paramount+…