A Marketer’s Guide to Netflix Advertising

Writer: Kerri O’ Connor
Date: April 7, 2026

As streaming continues to dominate how people watch TV, one platform consistently stands above the rest: Netflix. With 57 million monthly ad-supported viewers in the US, Netflix offers advertisers a premium, brand-safe environment to reach highly engaged audiences at a massive scale. It’s not just another streaming app; it’s where culture happens, where new shows become global phenomena, and where viewers spend hours at a time fully immersed in content.

From binge-worthy originals to global hits that dominate the Top 10, Netflix content drives conversations, shapes trends, and keeps viewers coming back for more. Individuals aren’t casually scrolling through Netflix; they intentionally choose it, creating a viewing experience where attention is high, distractions are low, and advertisers have a much greater opportunity to be seen, heard, and remembered. For brands, that means something powerful. Your messaging isn’t just delivered. It’s embedded into moments that audiences genuinely care about.

And thanks to Netflix’s ad-supported plan, this premium environment is not just reserved for the largest national brands. Today, advertisers of all sizes, from regional and multi-location businesses to emerging brands, can access the same high-quality inventory and engaged audiences that were once only available through traditional TV buys. Netflix has made premium streaming advertising more accessible, giving brands the chance to show up in one of the world’s most valuable and influential viewing environments.

UNDERSTANDING NETFLIX ADVERTISING

Netflix was built to put the viewing experience first, and its advertising model reflects that. Ads on Netflix are delivered within professionally produced shows and movies that viewers are actively choosing to watch. This creates a controlled, high-quality setting where advertising feels more like part of the viewing experience than an interruption.

Because Netflix operates as a subscription-based platform with an ad-supported option, its ad environment is controlled and thoughtfully designed. Ad loads are lighter, placements are more intentional, and content standards are consistently higher. That means brands benefit from fewer competing ads, less noise, and focused viewing.

In practice, this means your ad isn’t fighting for attention alongside pop-ups, banners, or endless commercial breaks. It isn’t buried as the third spot in a long string of ads or surrounded by distractions pulling viewers away. As a result, Netflix creates space for each message to stand out, giving brands a clearer moment to connect with viewers when they’re already engaged with what they’re watching.

Within this thoughtfully designed advertising environment, brands can easily access streamlined buying opportunities that are available through always-on deal structures. Targeting options include:

• Content Genre: action, comedy, drama, home improvement, romance, travel, and more
• Age & Gender: adults 18-24, 25-34, 35-49, 50-64, 65+, and male or female
• Run of Network: targeting all available Netflix inventory
• Advanced Demo: families with children, household income, and homeowners
• In-Market: auto, food & dining, home & garden, and travel
• Interests: auto, business & industry, education, health & fitness, science & tech, and sports

These opportunities make it easy for advertisers to activate Netflix into their advertising strategies through accessible deal-based buying options, while still aligning campaigns to meaningful audience and content signals.

WHY NETFLIX INVENTORY MATTERS TO ADVERTISERS

Netflix’s audience isn’t just large; it’s deeply engaged. Streamers spend meaningful time on the platform, building regular viewing habits around the shows and movies they love.

According to Netflix’s internal data:

• 60% of new Netflix subscribers choose the ad-supported tier
• The average viewer watches 44 hours of Netflix per month
• 80% of ad members watch Netflix every week

That level of engagement means advertisers aren’t just buying reach; they’re connecting with people who are actively immersed in content for hours each week. Netflix viewers are focused, attentive, and emotionally invested in what they’re watching, making brand messages feel more impactful and memorable.

This is what sets Netflix apart from many other content platforms. Ads appear in a focused, full-screen viewing experience. They’re delivered within stories, scenes, and moments that viewers are already tuned into. The result is advertising that doesn’t just get seen, it gets noticed.

PREMIUM STREAMING ISN’T JUST FOR BIG BRANDS ANYMORE

For years, advertising on premium streaming platforms was often tied to large upfront commitments and national television budgets. That limited access to only the biggest advertisers, leaving many brands on the sidelines. Netflix now makes advertising on its platform accessible to a much wider range of clients, including regional and multi-location brands, emerging companies, and local advertisers.

This shift gives brands of all sizes the ability to show up in the same high-quality environment that was once reserved for only the largest names in advertising– without relying on traditional TV-style buying models or massive commitments.

For growing brands, this is especially powerful. Appearing on Netflix helps establish credibility, elevate brand perception, and create the feeling of being part of the cultural conversation. Netflix brings prestige, scale, and relevance to advertisers who want their brands to feel established, trusted, and ready to compete on a bigger stage.

THE POWER OF PREMIUM STREAMING ENVIRONMENTS

Where your ad appears is just as important as who sees it. Premium streaming publishers like Netflix create an environment designed to elevate both content and advertising. They deliver:

• Higher viewer trust
• Stronger brand perception
• Better ad recall
• More attentive viewing
• Lower ad clutter
• Brand-safe placements

When your brand appears on Netflix, it benefits from the same polish and quality as the content itself, making your message feel more credible, more memorable, and more impactful. In a crowded digital landscape, this kind of premium context is what helps brands stand out.

ACCESSING NETFLIX THROUGH SIMPLI.FI

Netflix advertising becomes even more powerful when paired with Simpli.fi’s programmatic expertise.

Through Simpli.fi, advertisers can access Netflix’s premium streaming inventory as part of a broad, performance-driven media strategy. Netflix serves as a high-impact foundation for awareness, while Simpli.fi helps extend that exposure across programmatic, social, search, and more, driving engagement and action.

This creates a connected approach where premium Netflix placements work alongside other advertising channels to reinforce messaging, expand reach, and guide audiences further down the funnel.

By combining Netflix’s unmatched audience engagement with Simpli.fi’s proven advertising technology, brands can reach the right viewers, in the right places, and turn premium exposure into real business results.

Netflix delivers the spotlight, and Simpli.fi is here to help you make the most of it.

 
Make Netflix part of your media strategy with Simpli.fi. Connect with us on social media for the latest trends or start the conversation by reaching out to us at hi@simpli.fi.

Kerri O’Connor Senior Manager, Content Marketing | Simpli.fi Kerri O’Connor is a strategic product marketer with deep expertise in digital advertising, audience engagement, and campaign performance. As a Senior Manager of Content Marketing at Simpli.fi, she leads go-to-market strategy, messaging development, and product adoption for innovative ad tech solutions. Kerri brings a strong background in programmatic media, digital strategy, and client enablement, translating complex industry trends into clear, actionable marketing. She excels at blending data with storytelling to drive results and help brands connect with the right audiences. A passionate storyteller and data-driven marketer, Kerri is committed to helping brands navigate the evolving digital landscape and maximize their marketing impact.