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Netflix is Testing Even More Expensive Subscription Prices (bgr.com)

Posted by msmash on from the shape-of-things-to-come dept.

An anonymous reader shares a report: Every once in a while, we see Netflix test new plans in certain markets, and most of them involve price hikes. The same goes for the latest test that was spotted over in Italy, where the streaming giant is toying with a couple of different scenarios. First spotted by Italian-language blog SmartWorld, the tests suggest that Netflix is toying with the idea of either raising Standard and Premium subscription, or increasing all of its prices across the board.

Right now the default monthly Netflix streaming prices for Italy and other countries in the European Union are at Euro 7.99, or ~$9.1 (Base), Euro 10.99, or ~$12.5 (Standard), and Euro 13.99, or $16 (Premium). One of the tests that Netflix is currently conducting proposes that the Base subscription stays the same, but the Standard and Premium plans go up to Euro 12.99, or ~$14.8 and Euro 17.99, or ~$20.5 respectively.

80 of 143 comments (clear)

  1. You know, at some point soon... by cayenne8 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    ....they're gonna start really losing people.

    They have less and less content on there, and yet they keep raising their prices?

    For what exactly are we getting for this increate of money paid in?

    Original content is ok, some of it is pretty good, but they hardly ever these days have a modern movie I want to watch, which is why I subscribed to them int he first place!!!

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    1. Re:You know, at some point soon... by nanospook · · Score: 3, Informative

      Lately, though they provide a lot of good original content. E.g. Altered Carbon, Umbrella Academy, ..

      --
      Have you fscked your local propeller head today?
    2. Re:You know, at some point soon... by jellomizer · · Score: 3, Informative

      I have to pay $2.00 in a soda machine for a bottle of Coke. 10 years ago I needed to pay $1.50 and 20 years ago it was $1.00.
      It is like its price rises 3% every year.

      However the biggest problem with Subscription services, is that over time, they will need to raise their prices, however people have the money for the services budgeted. So Price rises tend to cause outrage. Vs having a DVD and then getting one at a higher price in the future. This doesn't cause as much outrage.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    3. Re:You know, at some point soon... by pr0fessor · · Score: 1

      That was quick, wasn't there just an article about how they are loosing money to pirates because kids continue to use their parents account even after they move out.

    4. Re:You know, at some point soon... by cayenne8 · · Score: 3, Informative

      I have to pay $2.00 in a soda machine for a bottle of Coke. 10 years ago I needed to pay $1.50 and 20 years ago it was $1.00.

      While I get your point...I have to say WOW, where do you buy your cokes?

      I've seen it that high at places like airports where you expect to be gouged, but in regular life, I don't regularly see coke machines THAT expensive. Hell, I don't pay that much in a convienience store...

      Most places where I live, yes, I guess about $1 or $1.25 is the norm, although you can at times find them slightly less...but where do you live? Is everything around you really expensive?

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    5. Re:You know, at some point soon... by supremebob · · Score: 1

      Somewhere along the line, I got annoyed enough with the soda machine prices to start bring in my own soda.

      It makes me wonder what the breaking point is for me when it comes to Netflix subscription costs? $20 a month? At some point, switching over to Hulu or HBO Go will seem like a better option.

    6. Re:You know, at some point soon... by wyattstorch516 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There is a difference between paying more money for the same thing and paying more money for less. Netflix loses content each time their licensing deals expire. Soon you will be paying for their originals and not much else.

    7. Re:You know, at some point soon... by cayenne8 · · Score: 2

      hat was quick, wasn't there just an article about how they are loosing money to pirates because kids continue to use their parents account even after they move out.,

      LOSING, not loosing....HTH.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    8. Re:You know, at some point soon... by sexconker · · Score: 1

      For what exactly are we getting for this increate of money paid in?

      Stranger Things, Bird Box, and content from Michelle Obama.

    9. Re:You know, at some point soon... by petes_PoV · · Score: 1

      ....they're gonna start really losing people.

      They have less and less content on there, and yet they keep raising their prices?

      Sure, but if their marketing improves even faster than their quality drops, why would they care. While there is a finite number of suckers on the planet, they aren't going to run out soon. Finding new ones, or persuading old ones to come back - that's what their marketing department is for.

      --
      politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
    10. Re:You know, at some point soon... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Product sizes get smaller all the time.

      https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4908742/Coke-shrink-size-cans-price-change.html

    11. Re:You know, at some point soon... by Shaitan · · Score: 1

      They did for a minute. Now it seems like everything is foreign language and subtitled or dubbed and they aren't clearly labeled as such either. They don't even provide a good way to block that crap.

    12. Re:You know, at some point soon... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Wanna watch ghostbusters? Download the Ghostbusters App! Wanna watch Futrama? Download the Futurama app!

    13. Re:You know, at some point soon... by Shaitan · · Score: 1

      I don't think people would object so much if they had good content. For a minute Netflix at least made some good original content. Then it seemed like they went crazy and flung shit at the wall hoping something would stick. Now they produced all kinds of foreign crap and mix it up with real content. It's one thing if they carry foreign content and that content is foreign language but I have a serious issue with them spending the money I'm paying on foreign language crap.

      If they use only foreign funds to produce foreign content and let me block the crap then I don't care but I don't want to subsidize what could have been a good movie ruined because it is dubbed or subtitled.

    14. Re:You know, at some point soon... by Shaitan · · Score: 1

      not the way those kids hit it

    15. Re:You know, at some point soon... by Shaitan · · Score: 3, Interesting

      "people were tired of that model and wanted a less immense set of content for far less money."

      huh? No, no they don't. They want an immense set which includes all the good content from all the offerings for the price of any one of the offerings. Hell, I'd pay as much as $50 (without bullshit add on fees/taxes) for a one stop shop that includes streaming of all the new release movies (high grade remux quality) and commercial free shows including the premiums as well as sports with titles never disappearing from the catalog. The shows could even keep the commercials so long as everything is fast-forwardable.

      The last thing I want is 14 little mini apps I have to hunt between looking for what I want each nickel and diming me and adding up to more than I paid for cable.

    16. Re:You know, at some point soon... by terrycarlino · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You act like that's Netflix fault. It's not like they went to Disney and said "Go start your own streaming service. We don't want your content." It's not even like Netflix was too cheap to pay for it. They paid $100 million to keep streaming Friends, which while not my cup of tea is hugely popular among certain groups.

      Netflix doesn't have first run movies because the studios won't give Netflix streaming rights over them. In most cases those movies aren't available for streaming anywhere but Amazon, where you'll pay a price equivalent to buying the DVD for them, and have no guarantee they won't evaporate eventually.

    17. Re:You know, at some point soon... by JesseMcDonald · · Score: 2

      Makes no sense .... funnily loose is not red underlined, seems my spelling correction accepts it somehow.

      "Loose" and "loosing" are perfectly valid words—as in "the knot is loose" or "Mr. Burns deals with unwanted visitors by loosing his hounds." A spellchecker only flags words which aren't in the dictionary; it can't tell when you use the wrong word.

      --
      "The state is that great fiction by which everyone tries to live at the expense of everyone else." - Bastiat
    18. Re:You know, at some point soon... by Fieryphoenix · · Score: 1

      Many countries won't allow them in if they don't spend money to make local language programs.

    19. Re:You know, at some point soon... by Local+ID10T · · Score: 1

      what exactly are we getting for this increase of money paid in?

      Remember those EU laws requiring that Netflix stuff their catalog with a certain percentage of locally produced content?

      Gotta pay for that somehow.

      --
      "You want to know how to help your kids? Leave them the fuck alone." -George Carlin
    20. Re:You know, at some point soon... by r1348 · · Score: 1, Funny

      Oh look, an American realizing he's no longer the center of the world...

    21. Re:You know, at some point soon... by PsychoSlashDot · · Score: 1

      There is a difference between paying more money for the same thing and paying more money for less. Netflix loses content each time their licensing deals expire. Soon you will be paying for their originals and not much else.

      I'm okay with that. I don't accept eighteen subscriptions to eighteen different streaming services. So I pay the price asked by the one place where it was "all" at; Netflix. Everyone who pulls their content from there has failed to retain me as a customer. If they had negotiated a deal with Netflix such that the overall price had to go up somewhat... fine. If they negotiated a system where I had to pay for what I consume, again fine.

      I liken my opinion on this not unlike groceries. I am not interested in going to the bread store in addition to the egg store, or the Kellog's store in addition to the Kraft store. I'm going to one store, and if your products aren't there, I'm not buying them. I leave it as an exercise to the class to determine what torrential downpour of solutions might cross my mind at that point.

      It's been said for some time that the quality of the product - along with its distribution - is the driving factor for certain... activities. In my anecdote, it's true. I'd be okay with a $100/mo Netflix bill if all the other clowns would resume their licensing rights.

      --
      "Oh no... he found the .sig setting."
    22. Re:You know, at some point soon... by ITRambo · · Score: 1

      Whatchu talking bout Willis?

    23. Re:You know, at some point soon... by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      So add in other streaming channels, obvious examples, a music video channel (they can also create lots of new content, advertise for hopefulls to create performances, that they will get paid for) or a sporting replay channel (after the live stream, those live to air venues can onsell that content). Can't charge much for either but they would not be that expensive and become an effective add on, to ramp up the subscription fee. I tried the higher definition stuff but even with the supposed bandwidth the Australian strangleband NBN turned it into a stuttery mess. Well at least they could buy a share of NTT Docomo with the NBN in a Japan Australia economic union and let the Japanese redo Australia's NBN properly, come out smelling like roses, even though they have more akin with the fertiliser than the flowers.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    24. Re:You know, at some point soon... by crypticedge · · Score: 1

      Some of those are really good, but they need to put an easy indicator of what you're going to be watching so you can know exactly how much attention you need to pay to the screen vs doing multiple things with it on and half watching.

    25. Re:You know, at some point soon... by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      Oh look, an American realizing he's no longer the center of the world...

      Well, for US citizens, watching streaming from a US company...we do kind of expect the absolute majority of the content to be US content, or at the very least, speaking English.

      When it comes to watching entertainment, WTF should we have to watch foreign content with subtitles?

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    26. Re:You know, at some point soon... by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      Remember those EU laws requiring that Netflix stuff their catalog with a certain percentage of locally produced content?

      Gotta pay for that somehow.

      Well, then only charge the EU countries more...let them pay for it, if they are requiring it.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    27. Re:You know, at some point soon... by RespekMyAthorati · · Score: 1

      You shouldn't.
      And you shouldn't have to do none o' that there book-learnin' neither.

    28. Re:You know, at some point soon... by vinsci · · Score: 1

      Already doing this, manually, in part as a protest of the price hiking practice, effectively nullifying it. Don't want to spend too much time on any specific streaming service anyway. Pausing all streaming services is helpful to concentrate on book reading too, for those of us daring to try to make a dent in the reading list.

      What I'd really like to see happen though is for the content to become entirely disconnected from the distribution channels, i.e. streaming service brands, DVD & Blue-Ray manufacturers and sellers etc., so that we can get real competition for each level of the products and their delivery, rather than the current walled gardens (also known as vertical integration) where every streaming service put out seriously flawed player apps, for example (any competent software developer will understand). The barrier to market entry for new players is now artificially high, which further weakens the market and slows the rate of innovation.

      We have much better competition in other markets, most notably perhaps in the mobile phone system. For digital content, though, few of the hard-earned lessons from making the other markets work properly have been applied so far.

      Eventually the EU will fix this, too, as it always does. Maybe we then can actually deliver the full potential of the technology we developed, with full multi-lingual subtitle translations and optional dubbed audio of all content, without regional limitations.

      Just about every day I notice to my dismay that some content on cable TV that might otherwise be worthy of my time has been dubbed and the original soundtrack deleted rather than kept as an option. I frequently switch off instead. The similar problem exists on eg. Netflix, who leaves out seasons from the European market, although they are available from Netflix for the U.S. market - it makes no sense. An example of this on Netflix is the series The Good Place, where only season one is available in the EU. Season 2, while available in the U.S. now, was briefly available in the EU, but removed for some unexplained reason. Perhaps Netflix has some reason for this, such as not wanting to dub or translate the subtitles for a number of languages, but given that I don't even care about the translation for most shows anyway, and I am hardly alone in this, just let customers pick content from any language or region as they see fit instead of reimplementing the tower of Babel in digital imprimatur form for audiovisual content.

      The big picture is that this harms free movement in the EU by forming a kind of double cultural lock-in. You can't easily, in advance, familiarise yourself with a foreign language on a daily basis despite that the technology itself actually allows for it, and when you move to another region for studies or work, you are suddenly shut out from the content languages you know from before. It's all counter-productive, not to mention counter to the spirit of EU Fundamental Rights that include, in Article 45, the Freedom of movement and residence.

      --

      Trusted Computing FAQ | Free Dawit Isaak!
    29. Re:You know, at some point soon... by Shaitan · · Score: 1

      That is different. I mean it gets annoying at some point if there is going to be a ton of it and at some point it is nice if they switch to English after a period of that to establish the scene or whatever but for a few sketches of audio here and there the native speech and subtitling can add to rather than detract from the viewing experience.

      That is all the normal stuff. More and more though Netflix is producing films natively in foreign languages and in the US we are getting crappy dubbed or subtitled versions. I'm not talking about some classic indian or chinese story or what have you where it makes sense. I'm just talking about normal generic plot ideas that could have been produced wherever in any language mysteriously have dubbed English when you play them. It's like a flash back to old kung fu movies.

    30. Re:You know, at some point soon... by Shaitan · · Score: 1

      "Some of those are really good"

      Agreed, that is the problem. They would have been really good if they'd made them in English as well and not be a pain in the arse to watch. Now, I'm not talking about content that was made by the movie industry in country X or similarly some tv series that Netflix bought. I get that. I'm talking about Netflix making a deliberate choice to produce a crappy dubbed or subtitled experience when they could have made it in English in the first place.

    31. Re:You know, at some point soon... by r1348 · · Score: 1

      As a US citizen, you should be aware that what Netflix is doing is simply driven by customer demand, and their customers are all over the world.
      Also, you are getting all pissy over something that is considered normality anywhere else but the US.

    32. Re:You know, at some point soon... by Shaitan · · Score: 1

      So make the dubbed local language versions or just don't do business in places with draconian laws that regulate what streaming services their citizens can use. Places that make their bed like that should have to lie in it. I'm advocating voting with ones dollar not legislating entertainment.

    33. Re:You know, at some point soon... by MayAnderson · · Score: 1

      If they continue to raise prices, I'll simply remove Netflix from my list of interests. In the end, I can always visit online slots. This isn't only fun for me but also a way to earn some money. In any case, it'll be much more pleasant than sitting in front of the TV in anticipation of something interesting.

    34. Re:You know, at some point soon... by torkus · · Score: 1

      That's great, but I want to watch south park. Or older movies.

      Or ... so many things that have been, or soon will be, removed. Yah, they've made a ton of orig. content and kudos...but how about all the old content?

      Netflix is trying to become a new studio ala HBO or something and that's fine. But I'm still looking for a practical solution to watching the movies and occasional series I like without having to subscribe to 15 different streaming providers and then hunt through their apps. Oh, and needing to pay just as much as cable TV because fuck that noise.

      --
      You can get rich if you own a politician, but you have to be rich to buy one in the first place.
    35. Re:You know, at some point soon... by torkus · · Score: 1

      ....they're gonna start really losing people.

      They have less and less content on there, and yet they keep raising their prices?

      Sure, but if their marketing improves even faster than their quality drops, why would they care. While there is a finite number of suckers on the planet, they aren't going to run out soon. Finding new ones, or persuading old ones to come back - that's what their marketing department is for.

      They have plenty more new content...it's just not the content you want. Or that I want. I only keep my netflix sub because it keeps my GF happy and that's worth 10 bucks a month. If it was just myself I'd have dropped them a long while ago.

      --
      You can get rich if you own a politician, but you have to be rich to buy one in the first place.
    36. Re:You know, at some point soon... by rebecca.be.kind · · Score: 1

      Before plating online slots you better check casino-onlineusa.org/category/gambling-advices/

  2. no! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I like to "netflix and chill" with my boyfriend. Translation: netflix is playing in the background while we suck each other off. If they keep raising prices, we'll "hulu and hump" and instead.

  3. 11 by religionofpeas · · Score: 3, Funny

    These prices go up to eleven.

    Normal prices go up to 10, but if you need to extra push over the cliff, you put it up to 11. One higher profit.

    1. Re:11 by thegreatbob · · Score: 1

      Why don't you just make 10 costlier, and make 10 be the top number, and make that be a little costlier?

      --
      There is no XUL, only WebExtensions...
  4. Tech by fluffernutter · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The old network business model has to go. Let a network make shows, make them available to a box, and let me buy what I want. If I like a network I'll buy more of their shows. These old practices are keeping the technology for media watching back in the 80's. I'm getting tired of waiting for this to catch up.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    1. Re:Tech by wyattstorch516 · · Score: 1

      Isn't that what Amazon is already doing?

    2. Re:Tech by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      Amazon should be able to sell all shows, not just be able to display certain shows. Same issue with Netflix.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    3. Re:Tech by Jason+Levine · · Score: 1

      Amazon (and Google Play) does sell most - if not all - of the shows. Not on Amazon Prime, but via "pay $1.99 per episode or a certain amount per season."

      --
      My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
    4. Re:Tech by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      How many current seasons do they have though? If I like Law and Order SVU and so I'm caught up to Law and Order SVU I want to be able to switch and use Amazon for the episode airing next week can I do that?

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    5. Re:Tech by farble1670 · · Score: 1

      Amazon should be able to sell all shows, not just be able to display certain shows. Same issue with Netflix.

      You should talk to the content creators about that. Explain to them they should split their streaming profits with some other company, because.

    6. Re:Tech by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      Because it would reduce piracy and sell better?

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    7. Re:Tech by Jason+Levine · · Score: 1

      I don't buy many shows per-episode, but typically they appear in the listings a day to a week after it airs (depending on the show).

      --
      My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
    8. Re:Tech by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      How do I even buy shows? I want on Amazon.ca and only see DVDs for old seasons?

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    9. Re:Tech by Jason+Levine · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure about Amazon.ca, but they list "Digital" versions of shows on Amazon.com. You buy them like you would buy a DVD, but you can buy single episodes or whole seasons.

      For example, here's a link to The Orville: https://www.amazon.com/Old-Wounds/dp/B074SY51TB/.

      You could click that (or the Amazon.ca equivalent link), pay for Season 1 and/or 2, and then start watching.

      --
      My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
    10. Re:Tech by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      But that's not at all what I was talking about.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  5. Live by the sword... by pr0t0 · · Score: 2

    Netflix, and to a lesser extent, Amazon Prime Video, have done a fantastic job of convincing me that I can live without cable television. I've been a cord-cutter for a few years now, made all the easier with the fantastic content they've been putting out. The side-effect of that is that though is that I've also lowered the value that television-based entertainment has in my life. I'm down to just two hours per day now, and I can go long periods of time without watching anything.

    Obviously, Netflix needs to keep its head above the water with all of the ever-increasing service and production costs. However, there is a threshhold for most people where the price exceeds the value. I don't know where that is for me personally, but it's definitely getting pretty close.

    --
    I'm sorry, but your opinion seems to be wrong.
    1. Re:Live by the sword... by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      One side effect for me is that I’m less dependent on being home at specific times. Except for the occasional live sporting event I watch TV when I want. Also I don’t have to wait. If I want to see an entire season of a show I can at my leisure.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    2. Re:Live by the sword... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You cut the cord....only to replace it with more cords. That doesn't seem like cord cutting, more like, cord replacement.

    3. Re:Live by the sword... by Ranbot · · Score: 1

      The side-effect of that is that though is that I've also lowered the value that television-based entertainment has in my life. I'm down to just two hours per day now, and I can go long periods of time without watching anything.

      Do you play video games? Because Netflix stated recently they are in tough competition with video games for people's time, particularly with consumers 40 years old.

    4. Re:Live by the sword... by pr0t0 · · Score: 1

      I have not played video games for a few years now, but I do play board games. Between that and other social activities, as well as starting a company as a passion-project that exists in addition to my IT career, time spent in front of the television is now done solely as filler.

      But another component of this is I'm recently single. TV-time is often done as a semi-social activity with a significant other. Two people probably can't do three hours of engaging conversation every single day, so TV provides a backdrop, filler, low-cost entertainment, and conversation starter. When you're a bachelor or bachelorette, TV fills no need other than the low-cost entertainment.

      As I typed this I looked up if there's an upward trend in people being single. In the United States, that appears to be the case, so that may also be another factor in the competition for time that Netflix is seeing. Maybe they should start a dating service based on television watching habits and call it Netflingle.

      --
      I'm sorry, but your opinion seems to be wrong.
  6. The Splintering Continues by Voyager529 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I don't intrinsically mind my Netflix bill going up another buck or two a month; that's about in line with inflation when they started doing the streaming thing.

    The bigger issue is that they're shifting, and while I get it, it's overall less compelling. They killed Blockbuster by allowing DVD rentals in the mail without any late fees. They pivoted toward streaming, because obviously that was the next logical step. Then, they started producing original content because it was starting to cost more in licensing to keep big-four movies in the list than it cost to produce their own, and with House of Cards and Orange Is The New Black turning out to be pretty popular, I certainly can't blame them for focusing more on original content than trying to license Hollywood blockbusters.

    The problem is that as the third party content continues to wane, Netflix stops being Netflix and they end up just being the new HBO, while also competing with HBO, and Disney, and everyone else who wants a bigger slice of a smaller pie.

    Now, there's enough good Netflix content across the spectrum for them to sustain an audience, and Netflix has already proven that they have a market for their original content.

    The question is whether their original content is something most of their customers will be willing to pay more for, and while I think they are, I think that for Netflix to continue to grow as another-HBO-on-the-Internet, they're going to start to be doing it at the expense of the companies from whom they previously licensed content. It will be interesting whether Netflix starts beating Disney at their own game, or vice versa...because I submit that the lack of any Disney/Marvel/Star Wars content is going to be a bigger tell than a $2 rate hike.

    1. Re:The Splintering Continues by Roger+W+Moore · · Score: 1

      I agree it will be very interesting to see what happens. In my case, I have to admit that I am becoming increasingly disillusioned with Netflix. Their original content is definitely high quality but a lot of it is not at all suitable for family viewing and seems to often be the same sort of dark, gritty drama. When they lose the Marvel/Disney content then this will mean even less family-friendly shows and it will be interesting to see whether this results in them losing a portion of their audience - I know that if this loss affects Canada we are likely to think carefully about whether it is worth keeping our subscription after the recent price hike.

    2. Re:The Splintering Continues by rhsanborn · · Score: 3, Insightful

      They had to make the pivot for exactly the reason you mentioned. In early days, main-stream content was easy and cheap to license. It isn't anymore, so Netflix couldn't continue to exist. Continuing that business model meant Netflix was going to be dead. This new gambit either has to work, or it won't, but the old Netflix model of cheap third party content won't be back. I think it ultimately ends up with Netflix shrinking and having to be ok with that due to more competition. Maybe a micro-payments system might take over at some point where we can very democratically vote with our dollars, but ultimately, I don't think people really want that.

    3. Re:The Splintering Continues by fred6666 · · Score: 1

      I don't intrinsically mind my Netflix bill going up another buck or two a month; that's about in line with inflation when they started doing the streaming thing.

      It has increased much faster than inflation, unless we are talking about Venezuela.

    4. Re:The Splintering Continues by Shaitan · · Score: 1

      "The question is whether their original content is something most of their customers will be willing to pay more for, and while I think they are, I think that for Netflix to continue to grow as another-HBO-on-the-Internet, they're going to start to be doing it at the expense of the companies from whom they previously licensed content."

      I doubt it, their original content was good, then plentiful with a few good gems mixed in, now it is 99% crap and it is more and more frustrating finding an interesting plot made into a foreign language film instead of domestic content. Every 10 years or so I don't mind discovering some foreign produced film worth watching subtitles for but I hardly want that to be the norm or worse, crappy dubbing.

      I understand more and more of their income is from foreign sources but I think they're going to have to figure out if they can afford to lose their domestic sources as well. Foreign interest for American content has always been pounding on Netflix door... American interest for foreign content, nah. I wish they'd give me a way to block it. I might watch these things once in awhile if I want to see the movie bad enough but I resent it... I open netflix less and less except for shows for the kids and pretty much any service can replace that.

    5. Re:The Splintering Continues by Shaitan · · Score: 1

      "$15/month puts Netflix in line with HBO - are they equal? hard hmmmm!"

      Which is sad, they used to better, hands down with a much more massive catalog. HBO has added most of the killer app features of netflix AND grown their catalog. Some of the netflix original content is good but who wants to watch a good plot made into a foreign language film?

    6. Re:The Splintering Continues by Shaitan · · Score: 1

      Stop making the foreign crap and sjw special interest crap. That will cut costs dramatically.

    7. Re:The Splintering Continues by AnonyMouseCowWard · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think you're absolutely spot-on. Netflix of old is gone, or soon will be gone. Every media company is now realizing the value of owning the Internet distribution channel, and won't easily lease rights to a 3rd-party, which ultimately means a fragmentation of the market, the death of Netflix/Hulu, and a lot of Disney/HBO/etc. streaming services.

      The one problem media companies are not seeing is that Netflix is/was successful because it was an aggregator of content; people don't necessarily want to pay for the Disney Channel on its own at $15/month, that option always existed (more or less) via cable. I posit that as the market fragments itself, consumers will simply go back to piracy, because that's the only convenient and cheap way of getting the content.

  7. Re:They'll keep rasing prices by sichbo · · Score: 1

    Yep. In response the last increase I simply lowered my account tier and started watching Netflix less so that someone else in the family can use the account instead if they feel like it. I expect if Netflix increases the price again I'll drop down to its "single screen" tier or just cancel it completely. Netflix is not *that* valuable to me.

  8. 15:99 My US price increase by Stan92057 · · Score: 1

    Hi Stanley, We hope you have been enjoying your Netflix membership. We are writing to let you know about an upcoming change. Your monthly price is increasing to $15.99 on Tuesday, March 26th 2019. Why? Weâ(TM)re hard at work improving Netflix so that you can have even more great TV shows and movies to enjoy. Hereâ(TM)s to watching what you want, when you want, where you want. You can change your plan, or if you do not wish to continue your membership, as always you can cancel any time at netflix.com/cancel. We're here to help if you need it. Visit the Help Center for more info or contact us. â"The Netflix Team

    --
    Jack of all trades,master of none
  9. Re:dvd.com by JackieBrown · · Score: 1

    I tried that. It's amazing how terrible I am returning or losing those dang DVDs.

    Now if I want the DVD version bad enough, I just buy it off Amazon. I did the math for shows like Buffy, Babylon 5, etc and even with ripping the dvd and putting it back in the mail the same day, it still ended up costing almost as much as the boxset.

  10. Re:dvd.com by jgtg32a · · Score: 1

    Yeah it does not work for TV shows they mail you a DVD and not the season. Check your local library and/or Family Video (amazingly enough they still exist), I've had good success there.

  11. Finally cancelled the DVD plan by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    my bro insisted for years we keep it but last year we barely used it. The last rate hike was it. My kid makes me keep it for the time being, but once she's on her own in a few years I'll likely say good bye to it. Especially if it's pushing $20/mo.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  12. Glad I gave them up by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1

    Had both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video for awhile.

    Of the TV watching I did, did more and more Amazon and less and less Netflix. Finally dropped the Netflix. Just not worth it to me.

    Amazon bundles other stuff with Prime (frankly, I had Prime already for the other stuff) ... Netflix?

    Heck, at this point if I wanted a second service (which I don't) I'd probably do Hulu.

    1. Re:Glad I gave them up by Shaitan · · Score: 1

      I use Playstation Vue for the regular TV stuff. Amazon ties you into their app, which was fine with a FireTV since it was what you booted into but is really annoying when it's just an app you load. Also they censor the shit out of everything.

  13. They have some more family friendly stuff by Anubis350 · · Score: 1

    They have definitely been making more family friendly stuff too, including some true quality mixed in with the schlock that encompasses a lot of the "family friendly" grouping in general. Have you checked out The Dragon Prince (by Aaron Ehasz the head writer and director of Avatar: The Last Airbender) which incredibly good (though the animation, which is their attempt to bring in the feel of stop-motion can take some getting used to, it's less initially jarring in the second season and in both seasons so far after a few minutes you get used to it and enjoy it) or (I kid you not) the new She-Ra (which is surprisingly good and well done)?

    --
    "goodbye and hello, as always" ~Prince Corwin, from Zelazny's Amber series
  14. Even more greedy by WCMI92 · · Score: 1

    Stop making the SJW crap that no one wants to see!

    --
    Corporatism != Free Market
  15. The networks and the medium are fraught by nickwinlund77 · · Score: 1

    Netflix is starting to act like a monopoly with its streaming video. At least with music you have the option of free streaming services, podcasts, CDs, Spotify, etc. With video it's becoming too concentrated and centralized.

  16. Re:Joined the MPAA... by Shaitan · · Score: 1

    Really? Then why don't seem to have the content that goes with it?

  17. Re:Roma was overhyped sentimental bullshit by Shaitan · · Score: 1

    "filmed it in black and white"

    Just makes it annoying to watch. They need to get their heads out of their asses and stop with the artistic, foreign language, and sjw content.

  18. It's fine by argStyopa · · Score: 1

    ...with Disney+, Hulu, Amazon, etc Netflix is losing more and more interesting content and all these walled gardens are just going to drive people back to piracy anyway.

    --
    -Styopa
  19. How to fix this by AHuxley · · Score: 1

    As bait to get more people in try a lower cost 1 screen standard product.
    Up the price of an improved 4K, HD service.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  20. Take my money! by BenFenner · · Score: 1

    I want more than 3 DVDs at a time. Let me have 4 or more at a time. I will give you more money. Just let me give it to you!

  21. Re:dvd.com by Ranbot · · Score: 1

    Check your local library....

    Yeah... many people forget that libraries have lots of DVDs available to borrow. The next series I'm going watch is The Expanse and the best/cheapest place for me to get it is my local library. The [surviving] libraries are evolving beyond just books.