This could be the best thing to come to Netflix since Hot Frosty. The service's free trial is back, after a six-year hiatus. And it includes the Premium tier with 4K and HDR.
According to Android Authority, the free trial is available in multiple regions around the world, but not the UK and US. The trials offered vary between seven and 30 days in duration, though some users claim to have cleared their web browser's cookies or opened the same link in an incognito window to get the maximum 30 days.
You have to select a tier before getting the free trial period, and if you don't cancel, you will be charged the full amount from that month onwards. Like most streaming services, you can cancel Netflix with just one month's notice.
Interestingly, the Netflix support page for the UK and US says that it doesn't offer free trials, but in various other countries (including those in Europe and Asia) it reads: "Netflix is offering a limited free trial to eligible new members in certain countries. If you are eligible, the free trial option will automatically appear during sign-up. If you don't see it, the free trial option is not currently available for your location or device."
Not to be outdone, Disney+ is reportedly considering making some of its content available for free. Business Insider reports the service is mulling over hosting certain content on Disney+ without a paywall in order to compete with free services like YouTube, according to people familiar with the matter.
Product and tech chief Adam Smith reportedly floated the idea during a town hall meeting on Thursday.
So are we entering a new era of streaming? Music streaming service Spotify still offers a free, ad-supported tier, and if competition increases, the film and TV streamers could be forced to offer something similar.
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