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Okay THAT'S funny.
 
Still worth it. They’ve been releasing some really good stuff lately. Plus it seems like everyday they’re announcing the release of a new movie or TV show.

They have great licensed content (for now, until all their respective owners start their own streaming service) and they have really good originals as well.


agreed, stranger things, bird box, haunting of hill house, all of those have been hits.
 
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Netflix's business model is inherently flawed.
They make an amazing show and then its a years long wait until the next season.
By which time enthusiasm for it has dropped massively.

Look at the recent predicted ratings for the Marvel shows.

They have to keep making new shows to try and fill the gap but now there is a over saturation of their content and with everyone making their own streaming services they will hemorrhage users.

And just like Apple prices increase will be made to fill that gap.
 
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Price hike should be accompanied by new features. When Amazon increased Prime membership without adding new perks, the membership growth rate decreased.

I think Netflix should upgrade 1-screen plan to HD ($8 plan that will now cost $9), 2-screen plan to UHD ($11 plan that will now cost $13), and 4-screen plan ($14 plan that will now cost $16) with some features, such as occasional international travel access.
 
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I agree with a earlier poster.

Go back a few years and the model for video content consumption was to pay a large amount per month (relatively speaking) for cable or satellite.

Now it seems that are multiple content providers who want around $10 a month, with the majority of people still subscribing to cable.

These price increases are only small but there will surely be a breaking point where people come to believe they’re simply paying too much, overall, for content. There’s simply a finite number of hours per month in which to consume content and therefore there must be a ceiling cost.

It will be interesting to see how far Netflix think they can push the price up before customers start turning away.
 
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True. The bigger point is, come on HBO, get it together and upgrade to 4k. Or are they worried it would eat into their UHD sales? I've been tempted to rewatch GoT from the beginning in 4k (esp since I watched much of the earlier seasons on my phone or on hotel room TVs), but I don't want to buy it one season at a time...

Well yeah that's a big issue and they are behind. One of the biggest reasons why I am pro Netflix is how they handle content. I completely dig the fact they even set the requirements down to the cameras used(no 2.8k ARRIs and then up-scaling even though that still looks fine). With that said Netflix stinks from UHD releases

I don't think its to protect UHD sales. Content providers like HBO and Netflix never give precedence to physical disks. I suspect HBO GO's lack of 4k either something to do with infrastructure or not to rock the boat with the cable networks that carry HBO's channels.
 
I agree with a earlier poster.

Go back a few years and the model for video content consumption was to pay a large amount per month (relatively speaking) for cable or satellite.

Now it seems that are multiple content providers who want around $10 a month, with the majority of people still subscribing to cable.

These price increases are only small but there will surely be a breaking point where people come to believe they’re simply paying too much, overall, for content. There’s simply a finite number of hours per month in which to consume content and therefore there must be a ceiling cost.

It will be interesting to see how far Netflix think they can push the price up before customers start turning away.
An advantage (for me at least) with these per month subscriptions is that it is easy to cancel and you don't have to worry about contracts or anything. Trying to cancel a cable subscription is an absolute pain. Back in April I cancelled DirecTV in favor of DirecTV Now. I still get calls monthly asking why I cancelled and if theres anything they can do to get me back. If I want to take a month away from Netflix all I need to do is login and cancel. No need to call in and go through their song and dance. I also really like that everything is always with me. I can watch on my phone from anywhere.
 
If The UK gets this price hike too, I’m done. We already have barely 100th of the content of USA Netflix. Paying more for less content? No thanks: I’ll just go back to getting it for free.
 
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THIS is what will save cable. All these content providers are bailing on Netflix. Making their own services. This is going to back fire and push people back to a single all inclusive provider. Like cable. Whether it be a streamer version(most likely) or the old box. The majority are not going to pay $8 and $10 or more a month for each network/studio’s content. That’s ridiculous. Imagine shelling out $50 a month for just five networks plus your internet provider. Now you’re doing this while making $13 an hour.

I knew this was going to happen a few years ago i talked to someone who was a cable content provider exec why dont we have alacart and they said many times that the cable model was cheaper because you really are paying for the staple channels and the extras are bundled in. This has become a mess and with disney being a behemoth and starting their own service etc. Its just going to get to the point that it makes no sense to have these services instead of cable. An netflix may just turn into a premium channel like HBO
 
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I knew this was going to happen a few years ago i talked to someone who was a cable content provider exec why dont we have alacart and they said many times that the cable model was cheaper because you really are paying for the staple channels and the extras are bundled in. This has become a mess and with disney being a behemoth and starting their own service etc. Its just going to get to the point that it makes no sense to have these services instead of cable. An netflix may just turn into a premium channel like HBO
Cable just plays too many games. The different contracts you get locked into. Then once the contract ends your bill gets jacked up. Being able to piece things together one provider at a time works better for me personally. If I want to cancel a service for a month or two it is easy to do.
 
I don't think its to protect UHD sales. Content providers like HBO and Netflix never give precedence to physical disks. I suspect HBO GO's lack of 4k either something to do with infrastructure or not to rock the boat with the cable networks that carry HBO's channels.
I agree. HBO has a lot more to gain from subscribers (much more consistent recurring source of revenue) than folks buying UHD (much more random).

HBO should offer 1080p HDR Dolby Atmos HEVC streams, which should consume considerably less space than current 1080p SDR Dolby Digital H.264 streams. Most effects laden contents these days are mastered in 1080p (or 2K) anyway, so I don't think it's all that beneficial to offer 4K streams.
 
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THIS is what will save cable. All these content providers are bailing on Netflix. Making their own services. This is going to back fire and push people back to a single all inclusive provider. Like cable. Whether it be a streamer version(most likely) or the old box. The majority are not going to pay $8 and $10 or more a month for each network/studio’s content. That’s ridiculous. Imagine shelling out $50 a month for just five networks plus your internet provider. Now you’re doing this while making $13 an hour.
The price of cable's equipment rentals alone could be many times the price Netflix.

IMO, even if Netflix and a standard cable tv service was the same exact price, I would much rather use Netflix.

I can't stand the UX of Netflix.
I agree.

I know a lot of people like the newer Netflix UI, but I much rather have the UI that was on the ATV3's version of Netflix.

Looks like I'll be taking a break from Netflix. Until the next season of "Stranger Things", at least.
This is the key to streaming services.

So many people complain about streaming services and how new ones are popping up all the time, but if someone subscribes to all of them, then complains about how much they are paying, it is their own fault.

Just subscribe to one for a few months, get caught up with your favorite shows, then cancel and move on to another one..... Unlike Cable, cancelling streaming services is very quick and easy.

In many(probably most) markets the taxes alone for cable cost more than what Netflix changes per month.

Luckily in my area, the taxes on Cable isn't higher than Netflix, but once you add on equipment rentals, just that alone could be many times the price of Netflix.
 
What a ripoff Notflix is already. I already have zero interest in most of your originals you took most of the Fox content off, Disney is going off this year, Dreamworks is moving to Hulu and these studios get most of my viewership for what more dumb original crap content.

I use to pay $10 for streaming and DVD's great licensed content with not an original in site. Now freaking $17/month for mostly dubbed foreign crap and mostly mature originals. Once T-Mobile stops subbing the payment which they will do because of the two already price increases I will finally drop them for good.
 
Mine's free through T-Mobile.. so charge whatever you want. If T-Mobile stops doing that, I'm canceling mine anyway. I never touch Netflix. It's all YouTube TV, Amazon Prime, or Hulu for me.
 
I do 2-3 months on, then 2-3 months off. Saves money and when I come back there’s a new batch of content to watch. I’ve been doing that for over a year.

I am pretty sure this will be how most people do it in the future. I can't see people continuously subscribing to 6 streaming networks at one time. People cut the cord to save money. I think people will rotate in and out of Netflix, Disney, Apple or whoever else is out there doing it.

It's all about binge and purge.
 
In many(probably most) markets the taxes alone for cable cost more than what Netflix changes per month.
You miss my point. With shows, studios, leaving Netflix, users will have to weigh paying for additional services to see the content they want. It can snowball. To a point where frustrated users just stick to Netflix (if original content is good enough) and a cable plan using a streaming app. Which more are offering. No box rentals, taxes. PSVue, YouTubeTV, Sling and even cable companies themselves. Spectrum offers a streaming app only version of their services.
 
It is still very cheap. Eventually it will be a cable priced service $40-45 for content. Netflix's costs are going to rise dramatically over the next 2-5 years.

I bought some stock yesterday and look at these comments and agonize over if I should just sell this rally. I don't see it being viable in the long run. $45 a month is way too much if that's what they need to go to profits. That's a 300% price hike and that is truly crazy. They also don't have anything unique anybody can get into the streaming game.

They report earnings Friday I heard and the news will be they have exceeded expectations of 7.5 million new subscriptions. I am thinking hold until Friday and if it soars again get out. Sorry for thinking out loud. I got in the market before it crashed and it can be hard knowing what to do with something that is winning. I don't think Netflix has a bright long term future though.
 
Except the app is complete trash.

True it’s not great. But like my sluggish smart tv, once you’re in the content you’re good

at least they are honest with ratings

instead of these "related to your preferences" percentages that are arbitrary and algorithmic tuned to recommend Netflix content you have no actual interest in watching, and designed to mask the crap quality
 
I don't think its to protect UHD sales. Content providers like HBO and Netflix never give precedence to physical disks. I suspect HBO GO's lack of 4k either something to do with infrastructure or not to rock the boat with the cable networks that carry HBO's channels.

IIRC, HBO's infrastructure is on BAMTech, which is one of the top streaming video providers. The fact that GoT streamed mostly without issue during last season's premier is work of technical marvel. So I don't think that is the limitation.

I suspect HBO just hasn't bothered to master much of their content to 4K yet. I read that the first season of GoT was not shot in 4K, and the UHD release is just a very good upconversion. So I think it's fair to assume most other HBO shows were not shot in 4K. When they have enough 4K content ready, probably all shows released in 2016ish and later, they will update to 4K. I've been told Westworld looks amazing in 4K.
 
I still get calls monthly asking why I cancelled and if theres anything they can do to get me back.

I get so annoyed when the Cable/ISP companies do this....

I am lucky enough to have a choice of two ISPs, Comcast and FiOS.

I regularly switch back and forth between them to always get the "new customer" rate. Before I switch, I would call the retention department with what ever ISP I would be switching from, and politely negotiate them keeping me as a customer if they keep my rates as low, or almost as low as I was paying before the automatic increase kicks in.

Until recently, I would always get the same bullcrap line stating that there is nothing that they can do, I am currently getting the new customer rate, and they cannot match that rate after the rate increases.

So I end up switching, only to have their "Elite Retention Team" (that is what they call themselves on the FiOS side), call me days and weeks after switching asking me what they can do to keep me as a customer, and they offer really low rates. I always tell them that there is nothing they can do now, and why didn't they offer me these deals before I went through the hassle of switching.

This did not happen with FiOS the last time I switched back in March, maybe they are actually working with the customer now instead of losing them to competitors.
 
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