Netflix’s Grandfathered Subscribers to See Monthly Price Increase From $8 to $10 for HD

[Marrakas]

Content providers don't charge the same for their product worldwide. No company does, including Apple. Nothing is going to change with that. So if that's the business model you're no longer supporting, you basically won't be buying anything. .

Kind of a big difference between digital content and physical products though. But yeah, it's easy to sit and defend the entire situation when you're american and get maximum value from your subscription.

The $50 a month for access to the entire library of netflix titles was just an example that I'm willing to pay for a good service, but content providers are as always doing their best to screw everyone over, and netflix allows it.

 

[sudo1996]

It's still super cheap compared to the old ways of cable and renting DVDs. Too bad I don't watch TV... or I mean good thing I don't watch TV because I don't have time for that.

 

[S.B.G]

Well I don't know about you...I don't think 9 bucks a month for limited selections are worth it.

To each their own of course. For me I find Netflix to be very well worth the money even the couple dollars extra.

 

[mw360]

Kind of a big difference between digital content and physical products though. But yeah, it's easy to sit and defend the entire situation when you're american and get maximum value from your subscription.

The $50 a month for access to the entire library of netflix titles was just an example that I'm willing to pay for a good service, but content providers are as always doing their best to screw everyone over, and netflix allows it.

Who are these content providers screwing everyone over?

There are content creators: production companies, studios etc. and content distributors: broadcasters, cinema chains, Netflix etc. None of these make obscene margins.

Content creators don't necessarily want to have to sell direct to the public, especially not overseas. They want to sell to distributors, because that's quicker, easier, and they can have them bid against each other. Content distributors use their local expertise and infrastructure to both maximise local sales/viewers, but also directly fund and influence the content the producers make.

The global network of distributors can't function if one distributor in one country can distribute direct to consumers worldwide. That hurts the local distributors, which ultimately hurts production. That's why Netflix, in every territory needs to bid against the local distributors, and in many cases it looks like they're losing or not even bidding. Who knows why, but in my estimation, their business isn't actually sustainable - they don't have enough money, infrastructure or talent to secure *and promote* good content in every territory. In other words, some regions are subsidising others. US Netflix needs a lot of money to finance those original productions, and the margins on the US service were surely already low before that started. Perhaps all the money is funnelling back there to keep the machine turning.

 

[kyjaotkb]

Netflix is more and more catering to couch potatoes, no wonder they are stealing customers away from cable. I can't cope with endless series that revolve around the same tricks at every episode and can't resolve to give away 12 hours of my life for one story.
I can get 2 excellent, memorable HD films rented from iTunes or Curzon or YouTube or whatever else for £7.00 in the month. To me it has more value than Netflix's mount of junk for £7.49. There are basically close to no great films or artistically interesting films on Netflix UK. Only a handful of appaling US comedies and blockbusters. No interest in that at all.

I have subscribed to Mubi, which gives me 365 art-house, European, Asian and independant films each year, for a meagre £40 upfront (paid £30 during the sale). It is absolutely fantastic value (and it's available on Apple tv and Chromecast). And for less "engaging" TV I use free catch-up TV apps from BBC, iTV, 4oD... It's already much more than I can deal with.

I guess it's like the difference between getting lunch at Subway every day and spending that food budget on making your own sandwiches but going to one amazing restaurant each month...

 

[69Mustang]

Kind of a big difference between digital content and physical products though. But yeah, it's easy to sit and defend the entire situation when you're american and get maximum value from your subscription.

The $50 a month for access to the entire library of netflix titles was just an example that I'm willing to pay for a good service, but content providers are as always doing their best to screw everyone over, and netflix allows it.

Your comment is all kinds of wrong. I didn't mention physical or digital, only you did. The argument still doesn't hold water. As evidence: iTunes content. It's digital and doesn't cost the same everywhere. So there's that.
Netflix has a catalog of approx. 14-15K titles worldwide. The American region has access to approximately half of that. Netflix would absolutely love you if you were willing to pay $50 a month for their content. They would do it in a heartbeat. Content providers try to maximize the value of their product just like everyone else. Netflix is not in control of their product so there is no "allow it".

 

[drinkonlyscotch]

So it begins. You had me at hello, and now you want to play with the price. $10 still isn't bad, but everything else on the whole planet seems to be increasing in pricing so it's another brick in the wall...

Yeah, well, you see, there's this thing called inflation, and it basically means currency is worth less than it used to be worth, so it takes more of it to buy the same things as before.

I don't understand all the whiny b*tches in this thread. Have you all never taken an economics course? Or are you like 15 years old and just don't understand how the world works yet?

 

[TechZeke]

Yeah, well, you see, there's this thing called inflation, and it basically means currency is worth less than it used to be worth, so it takes more of it to buy the same things as before.

I don't understand all the whiny b*tches in this thread. Have you all never taken an economics course? Or are you like 15 years old and just don't understand how the world works yet?

You should have seen all the Canadians bitching about Apple's price hikes due to the weakening CAD and actually think that Apple(a private company out to make money) should take a 25% cut in Canada out of good will.

 

[Marrakas]

Your comment is all kinds of wrong. I didn't mention physical or digital, only you did. The argument still doesn't hold water. As evidence: iTunes content. It's digital and doesn't cost the same everywhere. So there's that.

And I think it's still wrong that itunes have different prices for different regions, but if you wanna compare apples to oranges, what is happening for europeans is basically equal to if apple would charge more for an album in europe (which they already do) but you only get half the songs on the album. The rest is off limits no matter how much you're willing to pay. Sounds silly? Well that's what we have to put up with in netflix's case.

Discussion on this topic has probably run it's course, so all I can say is that I'm not paying for netflix again until they offer the same library everywhere. And if that is never happening because content providers are stuck in the bronze age and don't want my money, then I will just pirate instead. I'd prefer not to, but the ball is in their hands.

 

[GeneralChang]

What I meant to say is..it's limited.

I think your key error here is a lack of clarity. Because what you are saying is technically correct. Just like the duration of a day is limited. Like your lifespan is limited. Just like the Earth's atmosphere will inevitably be burned away by an expanding, dying star. Limits define existence. So no, Netflix does not have an unlimited catalog of content.

So your point is noted. Netflix conforms to the observable universe. Now did you have something rational to add? Or would you like to actually define what you meant by "limited?"

 

[ruck]

Discussion on this topic has probably run it's course, so all I can say is that I'm not paying for netflix again until they offer the same library everywhere. And if that is never happening because content providers are stuck in the bronze age and don't want my money, then I will just pirate instead. I'd prefer not to, but the ball is in their hands.

It will never happen because government. Netflix has nothing to do with it. Try unlocator.com to ease your butt hurt.

 

[matjamca]

unlocator.com

I use unlocator now. But this type of service is what Netflix intends to stop working.

 

[ruck]

I use unlocator now. But this type of service is what Netflix intends to stop working.

It's not a VPN service...

 

[matjamca]

It's not a VPN service...

I don't know what it is. All I know is that Netflix says it is going to stop us from accessing out of region content. With unlocator DNS settings active on my PS4, I cannot access Amazon Prime, so Amazon are blocking unlocator some how - I imagine Netflix will do the same thing.

 

[69Mustang]

And I think it's still wrong that itunes have different prices for different regions, but if you wanna compare apples to oranges, what is happening for europeans is basically equal to if apple would charge more for an album in europe (which they already do) but you only get half the songs on the album. The rest is off limits no matter how much you're willing to pay. Sounds silly? Well that's what we have to put up with in netflix's case.

Discussion on this topic has probably run it's course, so all I can say is that I'm not paying for netflix again until they offer the same library everywhere. And if that is never happening because content providers are stuck in the bronze age and don't want my money, then I will just pirate instead. I'd prefer not to, but the ball is in their hands.

Whaaa? Did you even read what you wrote? There's no apples and oranges comparison. It's a direct comparison about digital catalogs. You don't have access to Apple's entire digital catalog and you don't pay the same price in every region. Direct comparison. Yes it sounds silly because that's what you have to put up with regarding most international vendors selling physical or digital content. You seem to have a bugaboo about Netflix's 2 year delayed $2 increase. You're trying to paint it as Netflix is doing something completely out of the ordinary when in fact the opposite is true.

Pirate because of Netflix? Come on. That's about as weak an excuse as I've ever seen. If you want to pirate, freaking own it. Netflix isn't the only avenue for content so that's a half ass try at furthering the "they're bad" narrative. What exactly would you do with their entire catalog anyway? Unless you're a polyglot, a lot of the content they're keeping from you would be useless. You're right, the discussion has most likely run it's course. It's your right not to use Netflix. I'm sure your reasons are valid to you. It's been nice.

 

[rhoydotp]

It will never happen because government. Netflix has nothing to do with it.

more with cable companies' ties to government ... I can watch shows in offered US Netflix in Canada thru cable but it can't be offered thru Canadian Netflix?

 

[EdG_713]

Sure 2 dollars more is not much right now, but then what about the next price increase and the next and so on.

 

[C DM]

Sure 2 dollars more is not much right now, but then what about the next price increase and the next and so on.

So that means any change can't be rational since with the slippery slope approach it means that it will lead to an extreme or some kind that isn't good.

 

[EdG_713]

So that means any change can't be rational since with the slippery slope approach it means that it will lead to an extreme or some kind that isn't good.

I just don't want to pay more for the same service. Reminds me of a cable company.

 

[DaveN]

When they crack down on concurrent users having different IP addresses, I'm out. I see the service following the cable TV model. Low initial prices followed by accelerating price increases. I dropped cable TV last spring. I suspect that eventually I will drop Netflix either when I get tired of watching reruns or the price goes too high.

 

[C DM]

I just don't want to pay more for the same service. Reminds me of a cable company.

Things often get more expensive in life. Even just based on inflation. And it's not the same service really since they have certainly been improving over time and getting more content and all that. I'm not a fan of paying more, but it's just part of reality often enough.

 

[69Mustang]

Sure 2 dollars more is not much right now, but then what about the next price increase and the next and so on.

You may be dead by then. Who knows when they'll have another increase. This increase is two years old and finally being implemented. By the time the next one rolls around, the sun may have imploded.

 

[malexandria]

Not really gradfathered now, is it?

more like fathered...
[doublepost=1453401598][/doublepost]

But at least you will have a freedom in time schedule and smart resuming on multiple devices.

I have plenty of "freedom" with cable now. It's called a DVR, OnDemand and most cable companies offer free access to various streaming services. So how exactly is it benefiting consumers if Netflix suddenly started charging $30? It only benefits a small percentage of people who don't like tv anyway.

 

[macUser2007]

Already cancelled my account!

Wow! Because they are asking $2 more?! Do you not think that the content providers have been raising prices, or do you really believe that you should get the same $8 per month for life? What other service does this, please tell us?

At $10 pr month, Netflix is still an amazing deal compared to pretty much any other streaming service I am aware of. Or do you really prefer to pay $5 to Apple each time you watch recent masterpieces like Joy or Burnt?

The VPN restriction is most likely pushed by the content providers. I guess they would prefer people in smaller markets to use torrents to view their content, rather than Netflix....

 

[Marrakas]

Whaaa? Did you even read what you wrote? You seem to have a bugaboo about Netflix's 2 year delayed $2 increase.

Did you read what I wrote? Cause if you think this is even remotely about a price increase then clearly not. But yeah, it has been fun. Enjoy a good selection of content, cause as long as you have access to it, screw the rest of the world right?