Netflix Testing New 'Ultra' Tier of Service That Cuts Premium Plan Streams From Four to Two

[easy4lif]

Lets see here...

Netflix
Hulu
Prime video
DC universe
Disney Streaming
Sling
Hbo now
Spotify
Apple music

Ugh, too much streaming choice
[doublepost=1530713809][/doublepost]Personally id keep premium with 2 streams but any more price increases would make me cancel seevice

 

[autumnpatchouli]

Netflix, and really all the streaming services, drive me nuts with taking off content, then in the next month or two, adding it back labeling it NEW. This comprises the largest number of "new" monthly offerings. Actual studio produced movies have become almost extinct on the service. Less than 50% of Netflix "original programming" is worth watching. But they own it, and don't have to pay studios to run it. We have Netflix, most every cable channel, and Amazon Prime. We could easily do without Netflix.

 

[Mabus51]

Hold it!

Premium has 4K but will no longer offer HDR? You can only get HDR from from the new Ultra plan?

That’s some shady nonsense there. No service I can think of has ever uncoupled 4K and HDR wherever available.

Does it really matter? With the ISPs enacting data caps 4K streaming is pretty much dead. Sadly, and all thanks to the FCC, I’d rather have a non 4K plan.

 

[aaronhead14]

This would be awful! I already have the premium account, and this would increase my monthly bill by $6 if I wanted to keep all my features. Bad idea, Netflix! You will infuriate customers!
[doublepost=1530715530][/doublepost]

what the article doesn‘t mention is that „ultra“ will offer 4K HDR and 4 simultaneous streams.

here‘s the whole overview (thanks @cordcutting):

Premium already offers that though. (At least in the US). Literally this "ultra" plan is no different than the current premium plan. Just a price hike and a new name.

 

[GizmoDVD]

Too many streaming options now and more in the future...

Just gonna be more people canceling them until a show they want pops up.

 

[littyboy]

Look no one likes price increases but let’s be serious here people. You all want original content, that comes at a cost. Price increases happen. If you don’t like it, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Netflix won’t notice you’re gone.

I don't mind a slight increase price ($1-2 is more reasonable), that comes with the cost of content like you said. However, this looks like they short-changed you on the premium tier and adding "another" tier to justify the major price hike. Pretty shady tbh.

 

[coolfactor]

What I find most frustrating is the difference in video quality through the tiers.

Why? HDR requires significantly *more* bandwidth than standard definition. Someone has to pay that cost.

 

[edvj]

Does it really matter? With the ISPs enacting data caps 4K streaming is pretty much dead. Sadly, and all thanks to the FCC, I’d rather have a non 4K plan.

That’s only a problem in the USA though,no data caps in the EU.

 

[CarpalMac]

Lets see here...

Netflix
Hulu
Prime video
DC universe
Disney Streaming
Sling
Hbo now
Spotify
Apple music

Ugh, too much streaming choice
[doublepost=1530713809][/doublepost]Personally id keep premium with 2 streams but any more price increases would make me cancel seevice

For now. It's only a matter of time before some "consolidation" occurs.

Compared to the likes of Sky, Netflix is still excellent value - to me at least.

Don't tell them that I said so though...

 

[jfplopes]

Netflix either offers good value or not. And it is quickly approaching a point where the price starts to be too high to justify. It will be hard to recover a client once he cancels a subscription because he won't know what he is missing even if Netflix improves the service. I will only continue to subscribe to Netflix if I can get 4K HDR content at a acceptable price. Curremt price is not acceptable by the way. And I've been resisting the urge to cancel it as I thing that 10 € is the highest this services should cost.
If Netflix reduces the features of my current subscription it gives me the justification I need to cancel.

 

[timber]

They should come up with something (cheap and useless is OK) so that price increase is easier to sell.

In the end it probably won't mean much. People who want 4 streams are sharing accounts and 1/4 of that increase is not much.

 

[dojoman]

Why? HDR requires significantly *more* bandwidth than standard definition. Someone has to pay that cost.

You’re incorrect. HDR does not require more bandwidth, only 4K resolution does.

 

[CWallace]

Does it really matter? With the ISPs enacting data caps 4K streaming is pretty much dead. Sadly, and all thanks to the FCC, I’d rather have a non 4K plan.

My data cap with Xfinity is 1TB and I can stream Netflix 4K HDR via my cable box without impact on my data cap, though I am "limited" to HDR-10 versus Dolby Vision via my AppleTV. So I use Xfinity for non-DV shows and my ATV for DV shows so my data cap is more than sufficient.

I have an OLED TV and HDR is a major reason I bought it so having to pay even more to keep HDR in addition to 4K would be a disincentive for me to continue forward with Netflix. I'n fine with being reduced from 4 to 2 simultaneous streams.

 

[germulus]

If Netflix raises the price anymore I will drop their service which is mediocre at best. It’s current video offerings are lacking at least for our family.

 

[tallscot]

There's so much free content to watch on Tubi TV, Crackle and even VUDU, that besides the original content, it may make no sense to pay for Netflix.

There is a lot of crap on Netflix and they got rid of the star rating so you don’t have a clue what’s good and what sucks.
[doublepost=1530721623][/doublepost]

You’re incorrect. HDR does not require more bandwidth, only 4K resolution does.

Really? It has more color info in the same amount of data?
[doublepost=1530721688][/doublepost]

That’s only a problem in the USA though,no data caps in the EU.

I don’t have data caps in Texas.

 

[EM2013]

Greed, greed, greed.

I’ll cancel and stick to streaming everything online, including Netflix content without an account.

 

[Apple blogger]

Netflix is reportedly testing a new tier of service for subscribers that supersedes the existing top tier Premium plan, according to Italian blog Tutto Android.

Titled "Ultra", the new plan would allow up to four devices to receive Ultra HD and HDR video, and audio streaming at the same time. In Italy, the tier is priced at 16.99 euros, or approximately $19.80.

Image credit: Evan Davis​

Netflix has three subscription plans at present: Basic ($7.99), Standard ($10.99), and Premium ($13.99). Basic subscribers can watch Netflix on one screen at a time, Standard enables simultaneous viewing on two screens, and Premium allows up to four screens to be used at once to stream the service.

Commenting on the story, Netflix provided CNET with the following statement:
Saran went on to say that not all Netflix subscribers would see the Ultra tier currently being tested, and the company many never offer the plan and its features to a wider base.

Promotional screens suggests that HDR would be exclusive to the Ultra plan, while the above screenshot implies that the number of simultaneous streams for existing Premium users would get reduced from four to two, with only Ultra subscribers getting four at the higher price. Similarly, users on the Standard plan appear to be getting only one stream instead of the usual two.

If the Ultra tier was ever to be officially adopted, it would essentially mean existing Premium users having to pay around $6 more for the same level of service they're used to.

Netflix has increased the price of its subscription plans in the past. Back in November the company hiked its Standard plan by $1 and its top Premium plan by $2.

Article Link: Netflix Testing New 'Ultra' Tier of Service That Cuts Premium Plan Streams From Four to Two

That’s pure BS... that’s just a workaround for increasing prices... they know they make good shows that people will pay for.. what they don’t know is that, not everyone can afford it.. which means there will be less viewers, meaning more shows getting canceled because of less viewership.

 

[cmwade77]

Sounds good to me and my Netflix stock.

I would get out of that stock now, if this goes through people will be leaving en mass. Netflix is already at the tipping point for me to consider cancelling it all together.

 

[Capeto]

Unless they plan on grandfathering existing Ultra plan members, I won’t be upgrading - and I will also seriously consider keeping Netflix if they go ahead with this plan and hike up their prices even further.

 

[Enclavean]

Yes, it will be interesting to see how losing this content this affects their memberships. I don't know what percentage of people signed up for Netflix because they added Disney/Fox content, but I don't think losing this content will really negatively impact their subscriber numbers.

People might not even know its from Disney/Fox, they will just search for their favorite movies and realize netflix doesnt have them.

 

[KGBguy]

Look no one likes price increases but let’s be serious here people. You all want original content, that comes at a cost. Price increases happen. If you don’t like it, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Netflix won’t notice you’re gone.

Most folks have become socialists, man. You gotta pay for service, and if you don’t like it, you can go somewhere else. But it’s hard to swallow for many. Lol furthermore they will whine and go to their government officials to make Netflix to drop prices. That’s the mentality of Statists, which is the majority of today’s US population.

Good point!

 

[LinusR]

Why don't they just get rid of tiers completely, have a basic fee and add pay-per-addon? 4K? 3$ extra. Another live stream? 2$ per screen. HDR? Add another buck.
Of course, this is going to be a terrible deal for (most) consumers, but is the logical extension of what they've been doing so far.

 

[oldhifi]

Still worth every penny

 

[Westside guy]

That’s only a problem in the USA though,no data caps in the EU.

Actually the folks I see complaining regularly about data caps are Canadians and Australians.

BTW there are many more people in the world who don’t live in the EU or the US than who do.

 

[tonyr6]

Look no one likes price increases but let’s be serious here people. You all want original content, that comes at a cost. Price increases happen. If you don’t like it, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Netflix won’t notice you’re gone.

No I don't want or care about original content. Original content is what ruined NF. They just realized that there last few originals bombed wasting money that could have been used on licensed content so they are finding another BS excuse to raise your rates.

Right now there is nothing on NF to watch except Disney and Dreamworks but wait Disney is going away on there own service and Dreamworks movies and new series are moving to Hulu. Also FOX is just about gone will be gone next year again on Hulu so there is nothing but there new crappy Millarworld deal.