Netflix builds cheaper offering with Microsoft

Netflix, the world's largest streaming service, has announced that it is beginning a partnership with Microsoft to create a cheaper, ad-powered subscription option. For years, Netflix's management insisted that the company never introduce advertising on its platform. As recently as January 2020, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings asserted that there was no "easy money" in advertising by the presence of a lot of competition.

"We have a much simpler business model that focuses on streaming and customer…