Netflix reportedly considers adding always-on channels
Summary
Netflix is reportedly exploring always-on channels and service bundles to address declining viewer engagement, similar to free ad-supported services like Pluto TV.
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Netflix is thinking about adding always-on channels that would stream specific shows and movies, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/netflix-is-exploring-live-tv-and-bundles-as-it-struggles-to-keep-viewers-hooked-e1eb28f6?st=S1LJye&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink">according to <em>The Wall Street Journal</em></a>. The move sounds like a Netflix version of always-on services like Pluto TV and Tubi, except the big hook for those is that they're free - because of the ads you have to watch. Netflix has seen success with its ad-supported tier, which is <a href="https://www.theverge.com/streaming/929627/netflix-ads-plan-upfront-2026">increasingly popular</a>, but it costs $8.99 per month after <a href="https://www.theverge.com/streaming/901833/netflix-subscription-pricing-increase-2026">a recent price hike</a>. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Netflix is also apparently considering selling bundles that would include other streaming services, something else that competitors like <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/800928/apple-tv-peacock-premium-plus-nbcuniversal-subscription-bundle">Apple TV</a> and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/streaming/911793/amazon-prime-video-apple-tv-plus-peacock-bundle">Prime Video</a> already offer. The company has bee …</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/streaming/963733/netflix-always-on-channels-bundles">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
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# Netflix reportedly considers adding always-on channels
Source: [https://www.theverge.com/streaming/963733/netflix-always-on-channels-bundles](https://www.theverge.com/streaming/963733/netflix-always-on-channels-bundles)
[](https://www.theverge.com/authors/jay-peters)
Jay Peters
is a senior reporter covering technology, gaming, and more\. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme\.
Netflix is thinking about adding always\-on channels that would stream specific shows and movies,[according to*The Wall Street Journal*](https://www.wsj.com/business/media/netflix-is-exploring-live-tv-and-bundles-as-it-struggles-to-keep-viewers-hooked-e1eb28f6?st=S1LJye&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink)\. The move sounds like a Netflix version of always\-on services like Pluto TV and Tubi, except the big hook for those is that they’re free — because of the ads you have to watch\. Netflix has seen success with its ad\-supported tier, which is[increasingly popular](https://www.theverge.com/streaming/929627/netflix-ads-plan-upfront-2026), but it costs $8\.99 per month after[a recent price hike](https://www.theverge.com/streaming/901833/netflix-subscription-pricing-increase-2026)\.
Netflix is also apparently considering selling bundles that would include other streaming services, something else that competitors like[Apple TV](https://www.theverge.com/news/800928/apple-tv-peacock-premium-plus-nbcuniversal-subscription-bundle)and[Prime Video](https://www.theverge.com/streaming/911793/amazon-prime-video-apple-tv-plus-peacock-bundle)already offer\. The company has been seeing signs of falling engagement, the*WSJ*says, so these new moves are ideas to try and help turn things around\.
The news follows*Bloomberg*’s[recent report](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-07-05/netflix-viewers-are-abandoning-shows-after-one-season)that Netflix has been trying to figure out why second seasons of its shows are experiencing significant viewership drops\. \(My colleague Charles Pulliam\-Moore[has a few ideas](https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/962382/netflix-season-two-viewrship-dropoff-beef-avatar-one-piece-tiktok)\.\) Netflix has been bringing on new types of content as of late, including[video podcasts](https://www.theverge.com/news/861971/netflix-original-podcasts-pete-davidson-michael-irvin)and[videos from](https://www.theverge.com/streaming/962528/netflix-digital-media-brands-streaming)digital media brands like BuzzFeed and Condé Nast, that are easy to turn on and leave running in the background and don’t require the dedicated focus of a prestige series\.
Netflix spokesperson Adrian Zamora declined to comment\.
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- Jay Peters
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