Premium channel package Universal+ variant as a streaming platform has just added an ad-supported version. The new option, which was activated by NBCUniversal on March 1, is available only through Chilean operator VTR for the time being. All the company’s Pay TV subscribers will have access to the service at no additional cost, regardless of the plan they have signed up to.

In this way, Universal+ joins the new trend towards the inclusion of ad-based versions by SVOD streaming platforms, which is an already widespread phenomenon in the US market that is gradually reaching Latin America. Two cases are worth mentioning: Netflix launched an ad-supported plan in Mexico and Brazil in late 2022 and Warner Bros. Discovery activated an ad-based package in the whole region when its OTT HBO Max became Max a few days ago.

Called Universal+ Standard, the new version of NBCUniversal’s OTT offers the same five linear channels as the traditional version (Universal Premiere, Universal Cinema, Universal Reality, Universal Crime and Universal Comedy), as well as all its on-demand content.

“Chile is the first market to receive our Universal+ ad-supported version,” said Marcello Coltro, Senior Vice President, Affiliates, Marketing & Creative at NBCUniversal Networks International, who sees the new option offered by Universal+ as “an opportunity” for customers to try the platform and to end up signing up to “the ad-free premium version”.