Netflix has been testing new ways to promote its own original programming for a while now, including recommendations, trailers, and other featured selections on its homepage, and now, it is using pre-roll video previews that play before the show you’re about to watch, as pointed out by TechCrunch. The video adverts promote Netflix original series or movies that are either live or coming soon, matching your interests.
According to a Netflix spokesperson:
“At Netflix, we conduct hundreds of tests every year so we can learn what helps members quickly find and start their next great binge. We’ve already seen the positive effect of the video previews we rolled out last year. Now we’re experimenting with video based on personalized recommendations for shows and movies on the service or coming shortly. If we don’t test, we won’t learn and we’ll never get better, and who wants that?”
Netflix has confirmed that this is an A/B test of personalized video recommendations, one of hundreds of tests it conducts throughout the year. Those who are seeing the previews are reporting that the video previews are 30-seconds in length, and can be skipped by fast-forwarding. A number of ads have been spotted on the web and select TV platforms, like Roku and game consoles.
Earlier this year, Netflix also rolled out a screensaver for its TV app, highlighting its original programming.
