By Kayla DeKraker
Netflix’s home page is getting an update, but are the changes worth the streamer’s rising price?
“This is not the first change we’ve made to our home page. We’ve been constantly improving it over the last 12 years, mostly behind the scenes, but now, thanks to a combination of new technology and the expansion of our entertainment offerings, we think it’s time to take a giant leap forward,” said Eunice Kim, Netflix’s chief product officer.
The changes will bring a more “modern” look to Netflix. The Hollywood Reporter explained, “Titles will receive callouts that highlight popularity, awards or other features, while shortcuts that had been relegated to the left side of the screen will now appear at the top.”
Kim added, “Our current TV experience was built for streaming shows and movies. This one is designed to give us a more flexible canvas now and in the future. We are always going to keep sight of what we think is the best experience for our members, particularly driving discovery and engagement with all of the movies and shows and live events and games that they love.”
Overall, the goal of the change is to improve customer’s experience.
“And we believe that the improvements to the member experience will ultimately drive lots of great outcomes for us as well,” she added.
Short-form videos continue to be the latest craze, and Netflix wants in on the action.
Related: Netflix Hikes Prices — What That Means for Your Subscription
“We know that swiping through a vertical feed on social media apps is an easy way to browse video content, and we also know that our members love to browse our clips and trailers to find their next obsession,” Kim explained. “So in the coming weeks, we’ll be testing a vertical feed filled with clips of Netflix shows and movies to make discovery easy and fun.”
The feature will also be available from the mobile Netflix app.
“You’ll see a row on your mobile home page, and the feed will feature clips from your top picks for you. From there, you’ll be able to tap to watch the whole show or movie immediately, or add it to my list, or share the title with friends.”
Netflix also plans to incorporate AI technology that will allow users to describe what type of show they want to watch and then provide them with options.
But despite the (hopefully) improved user experience, are the changes worth the recent price hikes?
Since gaining 19 million new subscribers last year, the company has increased subscription costs. Ad free is now $7.99 a month, while the no-ads premium plan is $24.99 a month.
Only time will tell if the money spent is truly worth what users pay for.
Read Next: ‘Just Getting Started’: Netflix Reaches 70 Million Users on Ad-Supported Tier
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