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

[AvisDeene]

Everything on TV and at the movies just seems overdone these days. It doesn’t feel like there is anything fresh or interesting on anymore. I don’t think it’s worth a subscription to watch a couple of movies or binge a forgettable tv show. I think it’s time for me to dust off my library card and start reading a book a week while renting a few free dvds here and there.

 

[Azeroth1]

I want HDR. Solid service. Good programming. I’d bite the bullet for this if necessary. Basically the cost of a single movie ticket once a month.

 

[TomaxXamot]

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!

Uggh. Making a Netflix article political.

 

[dojoman]

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

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]

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

I don’t have data caps in Texas.

Color info is just a metadata file which is unlocked by TV capable of displaying HDR. It does not require more bandwidth. Netflix actually was planning to stream 1080p content in HDR but the idea got scraped.

 

[Evan Davis]

This graph shows that the premium plan will keep the 4 simultaneous streams. The graph on the article showed 2.

Other websites with this article are also showing 4. I wonder where macrumors got this. Anyways, I hope it is 4 as in my household we use 3 and I don't want to pay more.

The image in the article came from my Spanish Netflix account. Perhaps they are trialling different 4K/HDR options in different countries.

 

[Bin Cook]

Thanks for reminding me to cancel it. Spent some time trying to find a movie at the weekend and the UI is just appalling.

With NowTV and Amazon Prime, struggling to see the value proposition in Netflix now they keep messing with the pricing and product.

Is the future customers going between services each month? There’s only so much disposable income to go around.

 

[tonyr6]

Agree and the new DC Streaming service looks good I will be singing up.
[doublepost=1530734263][/doublepost]

I want HDR. Solid service. Good programming. I’d bite the bullet for this if necessary. Basically the cost of a single movie ticket once a month.

And it is cheaper than a cup of coffee. Get real. NF is a joke. They raise rates because they can because instead of licensing good movies and TV shows they rather waste a lot of money on stupid originals which mostly bomb. We have to pay more for there falures.

 

[imageWIS]

They must have seen the news about AT&T raising their prices...

Wait until they add additional 'convenience' and / or 'administrative' fees, cuz f-you loyal customers!

 

[kugino]

i have the premium plan b/c of the HDR/4K. if they change it to "ultimate," methinks i'll start splitting my subscription with a friend/family member. but you do what you have to do, netflix.

 

[budselectjr]

I will cancel if they make HDR separate. With their debt situation it is understandable though.

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

Looks like this is the future for all of us.

Not all of us! Vote with your wallet - if you buy into this, they'll continuously do it. Treating customers like his is pure wrong, unethical, greedy and quite frankly, repulsive. I simply refuse to deal with companies like this.

 

[Plutonius]

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.

You forgot Pluto TV.

 

[KGBguy]

Uggh. Making a Netflix article political.

When you cut it out of its context, yes you made it political.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

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.

I strongly disagree. And my guess is you’ll be in the minority when you leave Netflix. People will stay reguardless of the price increase. Some people will leave thinking they are getting ripped off but Netflix will live on and I’ll enjoy my Netflix moving forward.

 

[acorntoy]

So sick of their total push towards burning money for original content while axing popular network shows in their catalog. Hulu’s ads sometimes bug the crap out of me but at least I can see new shows besides theirs.

 

[tonyr6]

I already watch very little Netflix as it is. Back in 2010-2012 when Netflix was great I only subscribed to it and I use to watch it over 6 hours a day. I was a wreck when I had streaming issues or the service was down. Then in 2013 they started with original programming. I did not mind because I though there will always be great licensed content. I refused to even look at Hulu and Prime Video to me was a waste. Well around 2015 NF stopped caring about licensing content and instead started with original content so I ended up with Amazon Prime after NF took off Doctor Who. Then in 2016 I got Hulu when they offered an add free version.

Now Netflix service is just about unwatchable. I now am lucky to watch the service a couple of hours a week. I look for something new to watch wasting nearly 30 minutes and end up finding some stupid dubbed movie, TV show or nothing then I give up. Everything I cared to watch is either gone or is going away next year and I spend a bulk of my evening watch Prime Video, Hulu and a few niche service like Twitch and Boomerang.

Too now increase the rates again but actually take away what we had before, less streams, lower quality and people are still happy to pay for this terrible service boggles the mind.

 

[dilbert99]

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.

Problem is Netflix are doing it in an sneaky way. If they want to raise prices then raise prices but don’t do it in a way that forces you on to a different plan.

I am currently on the middle plan which gives 2 streams, so rather than raise the price of that, they are taking away a stream forcing an upgrade in plan.

It’s akin to food producers increasing prices by reducing product sizes and keeping the price the same.

 

[Mediakip]

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.

Yeah, that’s just strange. People are confused enough about what 4K and HDR is (and the different types of HDR). I think most people aren’t that quality aware that they’ll pay more for ”better colors”. But they might for more sim views. Not sure I’d accept this price hike for Ultra to get what I already have in Premium. Hmm...

Hey, why not at the same time launch Netflix Light with SD in black and white... I wonder how the movie companies and directors feel about this. ”What? You wanna show our 4K HDR on peoples 4K HDR television sets without HDR..? Are you kidding?!”.

 

[jonnysods]

Well, they have us trapped, most of us aren't going anywhere if they mess with these tiers...

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Problem is Netflix are doing it in an sneaky way. If they want to raise prices then raise prices but don’t do it in a way that forces you on to a different plan.

I am currently on the middle plan which gives 2 streams, so rather than raise the price of that, they are taking away a stream forcing an upgrade in plan.

It’s akin to food producers increasing prices by reducing product sizes and keeping the price the same.

Here’s what’s great. Netflix is a choice. If you don’t like it, don’t subscribe.

 

[lec0rsaire]

I understand why Netflix is looking to raise prices again. They’re about to lose Disney for good. Content is costing more and more money. After they lost Sony, Universal, MGM and WB they were in a really tight spot. They salvaged the situation by producing their own content and getting the exclusive rights to foreign TV shows.

For a while fans of blockbusters and commercial movies found nothing to watch on Netflix. They started having tons of foreign and independent movies. As a fan of those I was happy to be able to watch stuff that has been traditionally hard to find in America. It seems they’ve lost a lot Korean, Cantonese and Japanese movies in the past 2 years.

This price hike will probably allow them to secure better content that their customers want. In the beginning (2009-2010) they had tons of great content because studios didn’t realize how popular Netflix would get. Once they saw how cheap Netflix licensed their content for, they asked for a ridiculous amount of money once the contracts expired.

 

[CWallace]

In the beginning (2009-2010) they had tons of great content because studios didn’t realize how popular Netflix would get. Once they saw how cheap Netflix licensed their content for, they asked for a ridiculous amount of money once the contracts expired.

And now they won't license it period because they want it for their own streaming services.

 

[Shirasaki]

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

Let me check:
Office 365 E3.
Adobe suite sub.
Grammarly
The Economist

Hmm. Mine looks manageable. But YouTube is usually enough for video watching.

 

[lec0rsaire]

And now they won't license it period because they want it for their own streaming services.

And it is a damn shame. Customers just do not want to subscribe to dozens of services. That defeats the purpose of ditching cable if you end up paying nearly the same amount of money. The overwhelming majority are willing to pay for 2-3 including Netflix, Hulu as well as Amazon Prime or HBO.

IMO HBO is only worthwhile for their original content. The movies they tend to have are the commercial ones. The stuff that people either saw in the theater, rented when it was available and catalog titles that any serious movie fan who is over 25-30 has already seen. Much of this is true of Netflix as well. All of the award winning or critically praised stuff they have I’ve seen a long time ago. This makes finding stuff I haven’t seen that is worth my time extremely frustrating.
[doublepost=1530760601][/doublepost]

Let me check:
Office 365 E3.
Adobe suite sub.
Grammarly
The Economist

Hmm. Mine looks manageable. But YouTube is usually enough for video watching.

The Economist is worth subscribing to. It really is an excellent publication.

 

[HiRez]

If this happens, I'll actually downgrade to the HD plan or cancel Netflix altogether. $3/month just for for HDR is insane. And I've got a 65" OLED that can handle it as good as possible, but come on.