Posted on 01/15/2019 8:01:31 AM PST by EdnaMode
Netflix subscribers in the United States are about to see a price hike across all subscription tiers.
The service’s most popular plan will increase from $11 to $13 per month for HD streaming. Netflix’s most expensive plan, which offers 4K content and up to four simultaneous streams on different devices, will increase from $14 to $16. And the service’s basic plan, which doesn’t offer HD, will raise from $8 to $9.
These price hikes will affect all new subscribers immediately, according to AP, with current subscribers set to experience the hike over the next three months.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has said in the past that incremental price hikes will be needed as the company invests more money in original series and licensing popular programming.
“Price is all relative to value,” Hastings said in late 2017, the last time American subscribers saw an increase. “We’re continuing to increase the content offering and we’re seeing that reflected in viewing around the world.”
Original series and licensed content don’t come cheap. Netflix reportedly spent $100 million on retaining the streaming rights to Friends, one of the streaming service’s most popular series, according to various reports. The streaming service is also investing heavily in building its own exclusive library. It had approximately 700 original shows in 2018 alone and is expected to develop more this year.
As other streaming services like Hulu — and new platforms like Disney+, WarnerMedia, and NBCUniversal’s recently announced service — start to flood the landscape, Netflix will have to continue investing in original content and films to keep subscribers interested. Netflix currently has 58 million domestic subscribers, according to the company’s most recent investors meeting, with close to 80 million international subscribers.
Developing a slate of foreign TV series and films, like the Golden Globe winning Roma, directed by Alfonso Cuarón, is also a top priority for the company. Netflix has amassed approximately $8 billion in longterm debt as of September 2018 — a cost of investing so heavily and so quickly in original content. Jon Landgraf, FX Networks president, told a group of reporters in 2016 that Netflix’s rapid growth seemed unsustainable.
“I think it would be particularly bad if anyone in one company, and I don’t care what company that is, if they were able to seize a 40 or 50 or 60 percent market share in storytelling,” Landgraf said at the time. “They can’t double again and double again and double again because the entire earth’s surface would be covered in Netflix shows in 20 years.”
The Verge has reached out to Netflix for additional details.
Fauxahontas accusing them of being price gougers and exploiting the little people coming in 3......2.....1....
They have to find $$$ to pay for Obama’s help.
Obama: “Russia, Racism, Hate. Global Warming, Gays”
Obama: “That will be $100M in a Swiss Bank, thank you”
When they gave Obozo big money I dumped them immediately.
I am unwilling to pay that.
We’ve been Netflix subscribers since we first heard of them in 2006 as a disc rental outfit and then started to stream in 2011.
As of late we watch very little, it’s too PC and geared for the liberal crowd.
Right now we spend more TV time at Classic Reel, Tubi and The Roku Channel. Tubi has an unbelievable selection of non-PC shows that Netfix would never touch.
Haha...just dumped them last month
I’ve been thinking of switching from Netflix to Hulu.
I’ve been thinking of switching from Netflix to Hulu.
I am-—worth every penny.
.
Gotta pay for obamaumao and moochelle’s new careers as “film directors” and producers. Since they couldn’t count on Net Neutrality to insure their profits through the intel cabal of Amazon,gooooooooogle, farcebook, and instantcrap.
totally agree— see how they respond to redistribution of THEIR wealth. Same old game.... monkey see, monkey say but monkey NOT do.
I don’t use Netflix anymore for the same reason I haven’t watched the NFL in years: I’m not willing to put my hard earned money in the pockets of people who loathe everything I believe in.
Still cheaper than cable. Netflix is a good value.
obama is having his Russian money laundered thru Netflix and book deals. The Clintons thru their foundation/charity.
I have the old fashioned Netflix: home delivery of DVDs.
I have the “2 DVDs at once plan.” Costs $13/month. Price hasn’t changed in the 14 years I’ve been a member. Certainly costs less than going to a movie theater.
Why switch? drop them all and get a skystream 3 plus, everything is free.
Practically everyplace is run by people who don’t believe as we do.
The way that I look at it is if I want a product or service and if they can provide I’ll pay for it.
I’m sick of beating my head against a stone wall.
.
Exactly! Versus cable it is a bargain.
We dumped broadcast and cable and went to Netflix a while ago because broadcast and cable had all the entertainment value of an open sewer.
We recently dumped Netflix and other streamers because they quickly dropped to the same level.
“Developing a slate of foreign TV series and films”
This is my issue with Netflix. They advertise their new original movie or series and then you find out it’s all subtitles or worse yet dubbed in English. It’s like watching Japanese Godzilla movies.
Other than that we have our shows that we watch and do enjoy most of their original movies with named actors that are now taking these roles for streaming movies.
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