Netflix is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its ad-supported tier by giving binge viewers every fourth consecutive episode ad-free. It is also making downloads available on its ad-supported plan, claiming to be the first streamer to do so in an advertising environment. While the binge perk won’t be available until 2024, downloads for both TV series and films are said to start immediately. Netflix said that in year one its bargain-priced tier with ad support has hit 15 million global monthly active users, touting its partnership with Microsoft as helping “to shape the future of advertising.”

The streamer explained in a news announcement that it is “working diligently to bring more measurement capabilities to our advertisers globally” and expects to “partner internationally with third-party providers to enable campaign verification in 2024.”

Netflix also said that sponsorships, which have been available in the U.S., are expanding globally in 2024, “with title, moment, and live sponsorships.”

Moment sponsorships will tap into “cultural moments” advertisers can leverage, such as regional holidays. These units will be made available in the U.S. this year and globally in 2024.

On November 14, T-Mobile, Nespresso, and others will be the presenting live sponsors for Netflix’s original live sports event, The Netflix Cup, teaming Formula 1 racers with golfers in a tournament at Wynn Las Vegas.

Engadget describes Netflix’s ad-supported plan as “by far the cheapest option after the streamer cut its Basic tier in mid-2023,” at $6.99 per month, compared to $15.49 for Standard and $22.49 for Premium.

“There are some other new ways your viewing experience will change if you have Netflix with Ads,” IndieWire writes, noting that “also in early 2024, Netflix advertising in the U.S. will be able to display QR codes.”

Regarding the steps toward global viewership transparency that is so important to advertisers and others, AdExchanger writes that while “Netflix has inched toward greater transparency in recent years,” the comparative analyses that have been providing thus far “is a measly replacement for the cold, hard cash tied to Nielsen ratings.”