Netflix is Testing a New 'Ultra' Tier of Service (cnet.com)

Netflix may be introducing a new, higher tier of service. From a report: Known as Ultra, the new tier would allow four devices to receive Ultra HD video and audio streaming simultaneously, according to Italian blog Tutto Android. Netflix currently has three subscription plans: $7.99 Basic, $10.99 Standard and $13.99 Premium. Basic allows users to watch Netflix on one screen at a time; Standard allows viewing on two screens; and Premium allows four screens. Screens can be TVs, laptops, tablets or smartphones. "We continuously test new things at Netflix and these tests typically vary in length of time," Smita Saran, a Netflix spokeswoman, said in an email. "In this case, we are testing slightly different price points and features to better understand how consumers value Netflix."

Comments

They Forgot the $0 No Service Plan

[Anonymous Coward]

The one that more people are subscribing to because they're tired of Netflix's nonsense.

Re:They Forgot the $0 No Service Plan

[pots]

I'm a $0 tier member myself, so I guess I can't dispute your claim, but what nonsense is this? I have and still think of Netflix as the least-bad streaming option. i.e.: a single fee covers everything, no rentals, no paying extra to be add-free or to gain access to all of the episodes of a show. Netflix does track you, which is bad, but way less than Amazon or the conglomerates that Hulu represents, which is less-bad. And their own programming is consistently critically acclaimed.

So, what's the deal? There's room for improvement of course, but what's so bad about Netflix?

Re:They Forgot the $0 No Service Plan

[hcs_$reboot]

I wish that pricey service include the films and shows I want to watch,

Re:They Forgot the $0 No Service Plan

[Freischutz]

I wish that pricey service include the films and shows I want to watch,

That is a wonderfully non-specific demand. Do you mean all the old classics from the 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s? Those are owned by various entities that sell access to them to the highest bidder in an insanely complicated web of licensing deals that result in you not even getting a consistent catalogue of content on Netflix as you move from country to country. Or maybe you mean that you want all the latest Hollywood blockbusters to be available on Netflix? Same problem basically. Making it sound like Netflix does not want you to have access to this stuff is kind of unfair. There is never going to be a situation where you can sign up for a single streaming service and get access to all movies ever made, entertainment industry politics make that impossible.

Re:They Forgot the $0 No Service Plan

[mccalli]

All you said is true, but they're problems for the *business* owner, not the consumer. At the end of it, I want my £7.99 to give me access to the things I want to see. At the beginning of subscription, it pretty much did. These days, unless I'm interested in Netflix originals, it pretty much doesn't. Now as it happens I *am* interested in a couple of Netflix originals - Stranger Things, A Series Of Unfortunate Events. So I keep subscribing right now. It's getting more tenuous to justify though.

Re:They Forgot the $0 No Service Plan

[AmiMoJo]

There are two main issues with Netflix, neither of that all that bad really.

The selection of 3rd party stuff has decreased over the years, especially movies. The licences expire and they all have their own streaming services now, so those titles vanish from Netflix. It's quite frustrating but not really Netflix's fault. The solution is to ignore other streaming services until they go out of business and give Netflix a new licence.

The second problem is DRM. Netflix uses DRM in a futile attempt to protect its video streams, which always appear on The Pirate Bay within an hour or two of being posted to Netflix. The DRM results in poor video quality on many devices because Netflix limits them to 480p. It also limits your ability to download and watch stuff why flying etc.

Overall I'm reasonably happy with Netflix and subscribe from time to time, when there is stuff I want to watch.