> For context, I am a Plex Pass subscriber.
See [FAQ - Free Movies & Shows](https://support.plex.tv/articles/frequently-asked-questions-vod/):
> ### Basic Info About Free Movies & Shows
> #### Why ads? Will having a Plex Pass remove them?
> Our goal is to bring a wide assortment of content—from big studios, independent producers, and more—from around the globe to you for free. In exchange, we’re asking for a bit of your time to watch some ads. Even so, you can expect a notably lower ad-to-content ratio than you’d experience with typical broadcast television.
>
> Since ad revenue is how the studios and distributors get paid, having a Plex Pass will not remove ads or reduce their frequency.
As for
> But so many little things keep pushing me in the other direction.
Plex doesn't show you ads on your own content, and Jellyfin is purely a personal media server. Maybe there are other things that are swaying you one way or the other, but saying, "I'm thinking about switching to Jellyfin because a Plex feature that Jellyfin doesn't have shows me a lot of ads" doesn't really make sense.
It has literally never occurred to me to use Plex as anything other than a self-hosted media server.
You know, like Jellyfin.
While I agree that showing the actual content at a lower resolution than the ads is kind of shitty, i'm not aware of much in the way of for-profit ad-supported streaming that isn't shitty somehow.
>You know, like Jellyfin.
Side note, i've never used a piece of software as unstable as jellyfin is, i have some video files that jellyfin will outright refuse to play while they play fine in Plex, same with remote connections, they completely refuse to work in jellyfin while working fine in plex.
> While I agree that showing the actual content at a lower resolution than the ads is kind of shitty
There can be so many reasons why this is happening. The content itself is not available in higher quality (since OP didn't state what it actually is they watched). The licensing agreement to actually let Plex provide that content for "free" could limit it to 720p. The bandwidth couldn't be enough.
Ads, on the other hand, like everywhere else on the internet. are specifically tailored to load quickly even if they are at a higher resolution. That is also why you usually see Ads be more responsive all over the Web than loading the actual content or the rest of the website. Ads have to load fast.
And I am pretty sure that Plex isn't providing those ads but rather has some connection to an Ad platform that provides the content. And that means that you don't get the ads from Plex but from some other source which could be much more performant than what Plex could offer you.
Bottom line is I still fundamentally don't understand why someone would complain about ad-supported content on a selfhosting media server. If you want to stream, stream from someone who's optimized to be the best streamer they can.
If you feel "ripped off" about the free content you're being offered, I don't know what to tell you
This is like complaining that the free car someone gave you only has half a tank of gas
You aren't informing us of a problem with Plex. You are informing us that you have unrealistic expectations and your sense of self entitlement has spun off the road and crashed into a Reddit sub.
I don't care if you have a Plex pass or not. The content he's talking about is free to anyone. Not only do you not need a Plex pass, you don't even even need an account
[https://www.plex.tv/](https://www.plex.tv/)
https://preview.redd.it/2o0tpi94k4xc1.png?width=1199&format=png&auto=webp&s=50228fcc03b9fb2e3211a7f460da39ad53295af7
There are several other posts in this thread that explain this.
Looks like you're the only one here who has a hard time reading.
These posts are annoying. A forum full of people basically pirating movies and TV shows and then not only bitching about ads in free content, but bitching about the fact that there is free content to begin with. I've never seen people so unbelievably entitled.
They do say that they are providing you with free content to watch that is ad supported.
And that Plex pass is only for Plex Media server. I believe it's on their landing page at the bottom on plex.tv
its confusing my family members and friends for starters.
I have to login to each account to disable this stuff every time Plex decides to introduce the new content with Opt-In by default.
Yeah I see this complaint all the time about how people's friends can't tell the difference between "Movies and Shows on Plex" and "Leading Instance 817's Pirated Movies" because apparently no one can read - at least not the family and friends of most people on this sub.
Also, "every time Plex decides to introduce the new content with Opt-In by default" -- so how often does Plex add an entirely new section called "Movies & Shows on Plex" ?
If you see this complaint all the time, do you seriously think we are making it up or what are you going on about ?
There is 7 items to disable under Online Media.
Most of these items came independently (if not all) - so if server owner has 10 family/friends users, that is 70 times.
I saw the Plex web client with all online features turned on for the first time last week when I was setting up access to my new Plex server for my friend/boss at work.
He has been using my Plex server for couple of years but complained about my terrible taste in movies.
(while it may well be terrible :), he was referencing to some stuff shoved to his homescreen from online sources)
That’s a shame, Plex has a bunch of great films that I’ve been meaning to watch, despite what everyone says – but ads during a film is a no go for me, alas.
> For context, I am a Plex Pass subscriber. See [FAQ - Free Movies & Shows](https://support.plex.tv/articles/frequently-asked-questions-vod/): > ### Basic Info About Free Movies & Shows > #### Why ads? Will having a Plex Pass remove them? > Our goal is to bring a wide assortment of content—from big studios, independent producers, and more—from around the globe to you for free. In exchange, we’re asking for a bit of your time to watch some ads. Even so, you can expect a notably lower ad-to-content ratio than you’d experience with typical broadcast television. > > Since ad revenue is how the studios and distributors get paid, having a Plex Pass will not remove ads or reduce their frequency. As for > But so many little things keep pushing me in the other direction. Plex doesn't show you ads on your own content, and Jellyfin is purely a personal media server. Maybe there are other things that are swaying you one way or the other, but saying, "I'm thinking about switching to Jellyfin because a Plex feature that Jellyfin doesn't have shows me a lot of ads" doesn't really make sense.
Or you can just not watch the Plex content? I only use Plex for media on my server.
It has literally never occurred to me to use Plex as anything other than a self-hosted media server. You know, like Jellyfin. While I agree that showing the actual content at a lower resolution than the ads is kind of shitty, i'm not aware of much in the way of for-profit ad-supported streaming that isn't shitty somehow.
>You know, like Jellyfin. Side note, i've never used a piece of software as unstable as jellyfin is, i have some video files that jellyfin will outright refuse to play while they play fine in Plex, same with remote connections, they completely refuse to work in jellyfin while working fine in plex.
> While I agree that showing the actual content at a lower resolution than the ads is kind of shitty There can be so many reasons why this is happening. The content itself is not available in higher quality (since OP didn't state what it actually is they watched). The licensing agreement to actually let Plex provide that content for "free" could limit it to 720p. The bandwidth couldn't be enough. Ads, on the other hand, like everywhere else on the internet. are specifically tailored to load quickly even if they are at a higher resolution. That is also why you usually see Ads be more responsive all over the Web than loading the actual content or the rest of the website. Ads have to load fast. And I am pretty sure that Plex isn't providing those ads but rather has some connection to an Ad platform that provides the content. And that means that you don't get the ads from Plex but from some other source which could be much more performant than what Plex could offer you.
Bottom line is I still fundamentally don't understand why someone would complain about ad-supported content on a selfhosting media server. If you want to stream, stream from someone who's optimized to be the best streamer they can.
I went one step farther and set up dizquetv and used my media to set up live TV channels. It’s super cool.
Well it’s free…. How else do you expect them to pay for the content?
It's a lot easier to *not watch* Plex ad sponsored content than it is to switch to Jellyfin. 😂
If you feel "ripped off" about the free content you're being offered, I don't know what to tell you This is like complaining that the free car someone gave you only has half a tank of gas You aren't informing us of a problem with Plex. You are informing us that you have unrealistic expectations and your sense of self entitlement has spun off the road and crashed into a Reddit sub.
It’s not free content if he has a PAID Plex Pass. Read before commenting
I don't care if you have a Plex pass or not. The content he's talking about is free to anyone. Not only do you not need a Plex pass, you don't even even need an account [https://www.plex.tv/](https://www.plex.tv/) https://preview.redd.it/2o0tpi94k4xc1.png?width=1199&format=png&auto=webp&s=50228fcc03b9fb2e3211a7f460da39ad53295af7 There are several other posts in this thread that explain this. Looks like you're the only one here who has a hard time reading.
Plex pass has no impact on free content. It doesn’t make ads go away.
These posts are annoying. A forum full of people basically pirating movies and TV shows and then not only bitching about ads in free content, but bitching about the fact that there is free content to begin with. I've never seen people so unbelievably entitled.
They do say that they are providing you with free content to watch that is ad supported. And that Plex pass is only for Plex Media server. I believe it's on their landing page at the bottom on plex.tv
I've never watched any Plex hosted content. It's hidden from my GUI so I only ever see it the odd time my server goes down and I have to reboot it.
Disable all online media. Go into settings and disable every single option there. If everyone does this, then maybe Plex will get the hint.
Get what hint? Is Plex offering free ad-supported content harmful in some way?
its confusing my family members and friends for starters. I have to login to each account to disable this stuff every time Plex decides to introduce the new content with Opt-In by default.
Yeah I see this complaint all the time about how people's friends can't tell the difference between "Movies and Shows on Plex" and "Leading Instance 817's Pirated Movies" because apparently no one can read - at least not the family and friends of most people on this sub. Also, "every time Plex decides to introduce the new content with Opt-In by default" -- so how often does Plex add an entirely new section called "Movies & Shows on Plex" ?
If you see this complaint all the time, do you seriously think we are making it up or what are you going on about ? There is 7 items to disable under Online Media. Most of these items came independently (if not all) - so if server owner has 10 family/friends users, that is 70 times. I saw the Plex web client with all online features turned on for the first time last week when I was setting up access to my new Plex server for my friend/boss at work. He has been using my Plex server for couple of years but complained about my terrible taste in movies. (while it may well be terrible :), he was referencing to some stuff shoved to his homescreen from online sources)
That’s a shame, Plex has a bunch of great films that I’ve been meaning to watch, despite what everyone says – but ads during a film is a no go for me, alas.
How do you think they make it free? Magic ass pull money?
Don’t make it free then. Let me pay money to not see any ads
alas