Netflix Prices Increase

So the monthly cost of Netflix is increasing. For the basic package, it will go up a dollar from $7.99 to $8.99. For the most popular, second package that allows streaming from two devices at the same time, up two dollars from $10.99 to 12.99. And for the most expensive package, with streaming on four devices and high definition, up two dollars as well from $13.99 to $15.99

The reason for the increase is due to expansion of the service internationally, as well as due to the cost of creating original series and movies for the service. Netflix is also counting on the extra money to stay competitive with Amazon and Hulu, ahead of the coming launch of similar streaming content services by AT&T and Disney.

On a related note, NBC may soon pull The Office (US, you know, the better one : ) and other NBC shows off of Netflix, in order to start its own streaming service. The Office was by far the most-watched television series on Netflix in 2018, with 7.2% of the episodes streamed on the service last year being episodes of The Office. In second place is Friends, with 4.2% of overall episodes streamed. The NBC streaming service is suspected to cost around $10 per month.

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I feel like it's worth mentioning because a lot of us here have left the cable companies behind, and started embracing streaming services for shows and movies.

I've been thinking about re-subscribing to a streaming service again in the next couple of months. Netflix wasn't my first choice, but I did want to get it again to catch Disenchantment whenever it eventually returns, as well as - you guessed it - watch The Office again. I would likely get the basic service if I did subscribe again, and another dollar isn't too awful, but admittedly I already don't have much that I want to watch on Netflix alone to justify keeping it for very long, so that extra dollar makes me less likely to want to subscribe to Netflix right now. Especially when I know that The Office might not be available on the service for much longer.

I still really like Hulu, and would be more likely to subscribe to that again since it has Futurama, which I've been in the mood to watch. It is also cheaper, and admittedly I'm not bothered by ads. But even the ad-less version of Hulu is $11.99 per month, still cheaper than the mid and top-tier streaming packages on Netflix. I will more than likely be subscribing to HBO again first though, for the premiere of Game of Thrones in April - $14.99, that is pretty costly too.

What I find most bothersome is that now everybody has a streaming service. If FOX makes a streaming service, and CBS and ABC make a streaming service, then pretty soon it's just going to be everyone producing original content for their own service. And I can't see too many sane people wanting to pay $10-$15 a month to each one of these networks to watch a few shows they like that aren't all available on the same thing. Haven't we learned from cutting cable? People don't want to pay $100 a month for the benefit of access to a bunch of crap they don't want in addition to the handful of shows they do want.

Wondering what everyone's thoughts are.

It's not for us Aussies but we don't get all of the stuff you do and it's pretty much the only choice. There's prime and stan. everything they have is like going through the DVD bin at a cheap store.

Yeah as npiet1 said it’s not here in Australia. Hopefully not anytime soon anyway. Because the library isn’t that great imo. Stan is good though. I’ve been using that more often.

When my family and I subscribed to Netflix, we could never find anything good to watch. Most of the movies, although there were very many, sucked. Most of the shows sucked.

I think most people might only be subscribing to Netflix because it's pretty cheap. It has a lot of content, so people go ahead and keep the service. These people don't necessarily care what they watch on Netflix. Netflix subscribers will watch almost anything. That is the feeling I get.

My favorite steaming service is Shudder. Now that website is very good. I think it's 4.99 a month. It is loaded with good horror movies and series. Out of all streaming apps, Shudder stands out to me. Dirt cheap and full of movies I'd actually want to see. Shudder is the best app or channel, in my opinion. Forget HBO, Netflix, Hulu, etc. Shudder is like going back to the days of walking through your local video store and discovering the horror section.

You guys make a good point about there being not much to watch on Netflix. Aside from maybe some originals and a few indie flicks, there's never been a lot in the way of big movies or network tv shows.

I think Netflix doesn't realize people subscribe because it's cheap, and that's one of the biggest factors.

I still really like Hulu though. At least when I used it, I saw several shows I would want to watch. I think they're light on original content, but I don't mind that so much. I discovered at least two shows I really liked on Hulu last year, shows I would probably buy on DVD because I liked them so much.

Anyway... I wonder if you people in AU and other countries will see a price increase as well?

Couldn't care less. Netlix DVD has far better content. For twenty dollars a month, I can rent almost any movie or TV show I want. I just started a new free trial, which I guess they offered because I was away for many months, but when I was on the full plan, I averaged about 24 discs a month, many of them being expensive Criterion Collection Blu-rays. I don't really like the regular Netflix. I think it makes people seek out lesser known and older stuff less. If it's not on Netflix or Hulu, they usually won't even watch it. I also buy discs.

Funny, I just canceled Hulu after a good 2-3 solid years or so, but I got sucked back into using a cable box cause of data shit. Since I got YouTube Premium and Netflix, I'm getting too use to no ads, and I got so fucking pissed how Hulu use to be free and you paid to get whole seasons and think no ads, but now, you pay for that shit and they do the bullshit of once Episode 6 comes they no long have Episode 1 and I get ads up the ass, and they want you to pay like 5 fucking more dollars not to get full seasons but to get rid of ads...shit is lame af. I didn't even accept their 1 month free to stay.

Having cable box ain't bad, even though Xfinity ondemand/dvr is shit so have to keep track of what I watch in my notes on computer cause impossible to tell what you've seen. Outside that, it hasn't been so bad since my One X is so awesome, and just plugs into it, and between Alexa starting my Xbox and remote with voice controls, its way nice then back in day always changing source and fuckign with multiple remotes.

Of course the day I get fiber and no data caps, I'm gonna literally piss on my cable box and shit in the remote. I totally had plans for Sling and antenna for local shit, but they won't give you good internet for good price without the box, its a scam, and eventually I'll be free.

I definitely been more uptight about what I subscribe to. I stopped doing WWE Network (cause its actually pretty lame) and started using my $10 to try others, like I did VRV, Acorn, CBS, etc. And only thing I like being committed to is Netflix, which I've had since Day 1. VRV is probably the only other one I might keep, well, I've had Amazon Prime video for like 3 years now, I sometimes use it.

@Ovirew: Hulu is one thing we don't have here in Aus. I'd absolutely love it though because I know they do or used to have a lot of old Nickelodeon cartoons on there.

@Ovirew: Just to add...not sure if it's the same as the US Netflix but on the Aus one we have a lot of Bollywood series/movies. Very strange. It's annoying too because there's a fair chunk of them.

One of the best imo is HBO. But you can't get it in Aus.

UK Netflix still sucks butt unless you have VPN.

It's only saving grace for me is foreign stuff not usually on cable services like HK drama.

I like having netflix available. It compliments my plex server very nicely, and even with the price increase it's still the cheapest service available that provides the most stuff.

I disagree with the sentiment that Netflix sucks, it has plenty of stuff that I enjoy.

Netflix is ok...but i don't subscribe to them anymore.

Of course there are also some other options available and also other legal-borderline sites you can enjoy.

Too much media not a good thing. It warp and can make mental problem later on. It funny how in past people say thing like oh game is so bad but truth is brain keep moving in many game whereas tv is mostly vegetable, and I would include youtube and streaming in that to. It just people unaware of psychology in marketing.

Same. I just sub to Netflix and Hulu, more TV than I can watch.

I see people cutting the cord and subscribing to everything, then wondering why they're not saving any money. If you need multiple services to watch every thing you want to, just cancel one and sub to the other at the end of the month. You don't even have to talk to anybody.

Same, an I've seen people argue that they feel like Netflix use to be better, but they have increased prices despite the percieved decline. My feeling has always been that you pretty much have always gotten more than your money's worth when it comes to Netflix's service and a dollar or two increase still leaves you with a better product than you are actually paying for even if you think that product isn't as good as it use to be.

Now whether you can afford that product is another angle to it and I don't disagree with or begrudge anyone deciding that they can't afford to pay for something. That's just being financially responsible, but if you can afford to pay for it and choose to do so I think you will be getting a product worth far more than what you are paying for.

@Serraph105:

It not always about afford product. Netflix it is too much content. Even if it 20 dollar a month it still reasonable but problem is for usage. Too much media. It just not good. Think about amount of time between phone and tv and youtube and have craft beer. IMO it like a big waste of time. Not to judge as everyone free to do what they wish with their time, so long as they aren’t interfer with someone else’s time. But that for different topic.

I mean, if your point is that tv/movies are largely a waste of time and people spend too much time doing it then I basically agree. It's something I've been growingly concerned about with my own habits of watching tv, buuuut 40 hours of work a week combined with school online and it's one of the easiest things my wife and I can do together to unwind at the end of the day.

I'm almost done with school though and I would like for the time I commit to that currently be re-directed to something other than television when I'm finally done. Maybe a money venture project or fixing up my house or perhaps a more artistic hobby, but definitely something that doesn't involve staring at a screen.

I like Netflix, but it does keep losing content as everyone tries to make their own streaming service. Competition will theoretically get prices to drop a bit (though that is yet to happen), but it was nice back when we had more stuff on less platforms.

These are the following service I have:

• Netflix (The main reason why I no longer use Cable many years ago, Netflix has mix of stuff and I love it's content because I can watch anything & anytime of the day)
• DC Universe (Despite I'm Marvel fan guy, this service is pretty good for just about any DC content such as Young Justice season 3, Batman Animation series & so on for any fan of Comic book fans)
• Amazon Prime (I do alot of Amazon shopping so it's just their)

In short, all of this stuff cost money, I do in fact use all of these services to fit my Entertainment needs. To be honest, I think the reason why every Entertainment company is switching to streaming service is the fact that cable TV is becoming irrelevant and everyone's trying to jump on the streaming bandwagon now and it all falls down to what exclusive it's offering. In short, all this content cost money, I can understand increasing the prices but at the same time, they get carried away by adding too much brand stuff thus, increasing the cost.

This is something I don't get, why does Australia get less stuff then we get more stuff in the United States? For the most parts, I always thought Aussies was on par with the U.S as far as content goes.

@Serraph105:

These thing better than hurting other people or getting in way of other lives. That I can agree with. Like I say earlier, tv while not so good is one own choice. One of my coworker I try to explain this to about her alway bring up some guy nonstop. I tell her age old saying “you can have your opinion as long as it do not affect mine.” She alway talk about him and I say well just cut crap and call him because there is some disconnect create somewhere maybe from peer pressure I do not know. Needless to say even I as friend can see she choose to keep involve in his life and not always by best way.

For media I just choose amazon prime. It look like media as bonus or best deal. You get deal on product, free shipping, some video, and even much music. It cost $120 a year but it is more worth it than Netflix I think. Free ship and saving on product pay for itself and media is like ice cream after hard day work.

@x_karen_x: "I tell her age old saying “you can have your opinion as long as it do not affect mine.”"

What? Your opinion can't be affected by other people's opinions?

@Serraph105:

No you aren’t understanding correctly. It just guiding principle on what opinion is.

I kind of figured. There were about 50 typos in your post.

@Serraph105:

Saying is very easy to understand.

Is english your first language?

@Ovirew: My thoughts are "hmm, ok let´s continue to watch the next good Netflix show"

The increase is nothing and the price is still among the lowest in the world for Netflix.

@davillain-: I think it’s because they are just trying to be stingy. Also, I feel as if on the Aus Netflix they take movies/series down a lot quicker than the US. So many times I’ve ran into the issue of finally wanting to watch something and then coming to the fact that they’ve taken it off.

@Serraph105:

Multi lingual not perfect English. Sometime coworker translate but strange sometime she do not understand certain thing. Is the statement I just tell to you is something she do not understand either, I don’t think.

@thereal25: @speeny: @npiet1: So none of you have heard of VPN's? I have US/UK/Canada and whatever other country Netflix is in for $11.63 AUD per month (4k and 4 screens), I'm not stealing anything as I pay for the service. Also thought about Hulu and HBO but it doesn't interest me.

Also the Netflix price increase is ONLY for the US, it was Argentina last month so I swapped to Brazil I think (I don't remember).

@davillain-: Media content in Australia sucks, that's why VPN's are becoming more popular, before it was other means of getting content ;)

@GTR12: I’ve used VPN’s in the past but a lot of them don’t work for the purpose of getting US Netflix anymore. They became really strict on it.

@GTR12: Honestly the kids use Netflix more than I. I only watch it for Netflix for the originals or docos when I go to bed. Everything else I just get by other means.

@davillain-:Theres probably I licence issue. But as GTR12 said is sucks. We get nothing compared to the US. I've always been a little jealous of your guys TV except for the ads.

If you're in America, sure it's great.

UK wise it's in direct competition with Sky and that basically guys up all the popular stuff.

But it's still pretty good for finding obscure stuff they normally wouldn't show on sky. Namely Chinese and Korean.

u guys r special

I watch a ton of Netflix. I really like their originals and have been addicted to their docu series. I'm trying to say that 20 dollars a month will be my breaking point, but we'll see if they ever get up that high.

I literally have no idea what you're talking about. I've used NordVPN, PIA, and now currently using Windscribe (free 10GB trial available), they all work.

I've had Netflix since 2012.

I'm just super wary of potentially breaking the law.

@thereal25: Yeah that's what it comes down to for me also man. Australia has really cracked down on certain things.

How am I breaking the law?

I'm paying for a service that's not offered here. Its not my fault if the service is cheaper overseas, if you want me to pay for the service locally, make it the same price or I will find a cheaper alternative.

@ezekiel43:I wondered if Netflix still offered the discs-in-the-mail service it originated with. (They hadn't mentioned it in the article I read there anyway.) I had a buddy that was really into behind-the-scenes extras and commentary, so I guess those are some definite pluses to going that route. Plus so much more is available that way, like you say. I guess my thing is, if I really like a show I might get it on DVD, but I don't find myself wanting to sit down and pop in discs and change them every couple of episodes these days. I know, I know, it's laziness. But I guess if you're like me an live in a tiny apartment, it pays to not have to make a bunch of noise rummaging for a certain DVD or ejecting the disc tray a bunch of times at night.

@saltslasher: I have a friend that's really into the whole smart-home concept, and he also appreciates things like Alexa and Cortana a lot. I think it's admittedly pretty interesting, but I guess I don't mind using remotes. Also going along with my previous response, I would feel really uncomfortable talking to AI assistants in my tiny apartment, and having them talk back, and having my neighbors know I own something like that. I don't have wi-fi anyway. I guess it's just not ideal for every living situation.

What is VRV? I tried to load the website for it, but it goes blank after loading. And how is Amazon Prime Video? Is it like a flat monthly rate, or do you pay for seasons of shows? Or it is included with Amazon Prime?

@Serraph105: I mean, there are a few things on Netflix I would sit and watch. I guess it's just that every time I have subscribed in the past year or two I've gradually seen less on there than there used to be. And while there might be a Netflix Originals show here and there that seems interesting, I have found myself generally not interested in their original content. I watched the first season of Stranger Things the other year and kind of enjoyed it, and then I started the first episode of the second season... And it was still ok, but I wasn't feeling interested enough to watch the rest of the season. And I just still haven't lol. I did enjoy Disenchantment, but again it's like a really long wait between releases for a few 20-something minute episodes.

I guess for me the main draw is still network shows that come to Netflix. Like I said, I had it in the back of my mind that I would like to finally get around to watching The Office again, and seeing those last several seasons I never even watched. I will probably subscribe to Netflix again whenever they finally add the latest season of Better Call Saul. But Idk, if I have watched all I subscribed to watch, and go looking for something else to watch, I always find Netflix to be surprisingly light on offerings.

@uninspiredcup: Well as an American I can say Netflix is sort of a mixed bag for us too. If the service is that much worse outside of the US, I can't imagine they're raking in the money internationally. But they said part of this price increase had to do with emerging into international markets, so maybe this means the service will improve a bit outside of the USA?

@Jacanuk: Yeah, it's still a very cheap alternative to a lot of other things out there. I've got to ask though, are you still finding stuff to watch that you think is good? I ask this because I'm one of those people who can only seem to find like 2 good shows to watch at a time lol.

@JustPlainLucas: It doesn't seem that far-fetched, but I suspect if Netflix doubles in price like that, then they would at least have more hit offerings in tow than they presently do. At least we're still only talking about increases of 1 and 2 dollars.

@judaspete: So do you think it'll ever reach the point where some of these services will realize they're struggling, and that they actually need to be part of a bigger service with more content variety to reap the subscription numbers? I mean I know a ton of people like superhero stuff, but I can't imagine someone wanting to watch DC stuff all of the time and subscribing to a service just for that.

@davillain-: I think you hit the nail on the head there, I think this is happening now because everyone is jumping on the "cable is dying!" bandwagon, and want a piece of the alternative home entertainment service pie. Continuing off of my last comment, do you enjoy DC content enough to pay for a service specifically for that? Is it as costly as the other services?

@x_karen_x: I don't really know if too much content on a service is a problem, because at the end of the day you're going to choose what you've heard is good, what is promoted well, or what you think looks interesting and watch it. If it doesn't entertain you or isn't you're cup of tea, you'll probably move on to the next thing. I also don't really agree that watching shows and movies is a brainless activity compared to video games. I find myself thinking about all sorts of stuff whenever I watch a TV show or movie. I think some shows and movies can be brainless, or have horrible writing, but usually I think there's a fairly intricate level of detail that goes into writing and producing and acting on film.

At the same time, I'll agree that there are probably better ways to spend your time. And it's also true that watching shows and movies is healthier than a lot of other activities people can get caught up in. I'm not too familiar with all of Amazon's services, but I tend to suspect you're right about theirs being one of the better options.

@speeny: I don't really recall Netflix having a lot of Bollywood movies in the US. I am sure there are some, at least lumped in with the International category. It's hard to tell from the limited selection they show unless you subscribe again. I feel like I remember seeing a Bollywood category once, but I may be thinking of the Spanish-speaking category that shows up with the major categories.

@Ovirew: Yes and no.

Some of the good tv-shows seem to have gone to either Prine, Hulu or their own streaming service.

But that has given me a chance to watch some older things and also get caught up on shows I have missed.

But it´s still cheap enough for me to make it a viable option, together with Prime the few things I do watch is almost always on one of them

Okay, I just looked it up and it sounds like there are no laws to prevent you from using a vpn to stream content.

But apparently it's in breach of the copyright act to use a vpn to download geo-blocked content.

Yeah that's wrong, and I doubt you can enforce that.

Think about it for a second, everything you "stream" sits in a buffer for 0.1 second or more, meaning you are actually "downloading" it and storing it for a brief period. The larger the buffer, the more you store.

So is what I'm doing illegal lol? the laws here are outdated.

@Ovirew:

Meh. I can handle a 2 dollar increase. If it ever gets to 20, then I'll start thinking about cancelling my subscription.

@Ovirew: My hope is that when too many players try to have a streaming service of their own, they will either force each others prices down, or most will collapse and have to bring their content to one that remains. But who knows, we'll see how it plays out over the next few years.

If it means I can finally get access to programs having licensing problems in Canada, I'll pay whatever. The service is universally better than cable, and now with the new Canadian cable law, forcing providers to give people "choice", you now pay out the ass for each and every channel you want.

All this stuff is kind of new, so the law hasn't really caught up yet. But I wouldn't be surprised if they start introducing some new laws soon though.

I didn't know you used a plex server. I'm using an Emby server myself, which is basically the same thing.

As for Netflix, the streaming market is fragmenting. It almost has to as there's too much content, not enough eyeballs, and too little money to support it. Most people probably won't subscribe to all the services, but they'll probably end up subscribing to a few - probably something like Netflix or Hulu as a "basic cable package", the new Disney service for kids movies and sports (they own ESPN) or Fox if you don't have kids (they own a lot of general audience adult content plus sports), and then a niche provider like Shudder mentioned above if you want something specific like horror movies.

Yeah, plex is pretty great and so long as they continue to support the streaming of personal content (there's a lot of speculation that they won't) it will continue to be a service I use, but I have Emby as a backup just in case. I did pick up hulu on Black Friday as it was just $12 for a year's subcription, but the amount of commercial breaks for their TV shows is insane. It was around 6 breaks for one episode of Bob's Burgers, I know I only paid $12, but damn. I probably won't be subscribed next year.

Anywho, what are you subscribed to, if any of them?

$12 is pretty nuts!

I don't subscribe to streaming services, actually. I cut the cord back in 2006 because Comcast ticked me off before streaming really existed. Then the Blu Ray launch caused people to start giving DVDs away so I built my own media server (back then I was on LinuxMCE), and data caps since then have just given me the excuse to keep not subscribing. It also helps that I'm something of a DIY tech enthusiast, so I love to build these kinds of things.