Starting in September, the cost for Netflix is going up.
The on-line content provider will separate out the bill for its streaming service and DVD/Blu-Ray rental service. Here are the details:
Netflix Inc. announced today it is launching new unlimited DVD-only plans in the U.S. at their lowest price ever– only $7.99 a month for the 1 DVD out at-a-time plan and $11.99 a month for the 2 DVDs out at-a-time plan.
New members can sign up for these plans by going to DVD.netflix.com.
Netflix also announced it is separating its unlimited streaming and unlimited DVD plans in the U.S. to better reflect the costs of each and to give members a choice: a streaming-only plan, a DVD-only plan or the option to subscribe to both.
With this change, Netflix will no longer be offering unlimited plans that include both streaming and DVDs by mail. The unlimited streaming plan will remain at $7.99 a month. The price for getting both unlimited streaming and unlimited DVDs will be $15.98 a month ($7.99 + $7.99).
For new Netflix members, the changes will be effective immediately. For existing members, the new pricing will start for charges on or after September 1.
“Netflix members love watching instantly, but we’ve come to recognize there is still a very large continuing demand for DVDs by mail,” said Andy Rendich, Netflix Chief Service and Operations Officer. “By better reflecting the underlying costs and offering our lowest prices ever for unlimited DVD, we hope to provide a great value to our current and future DVD-by-mail members.”
Netflix introduced streaming to its popular DVD-by-mail business in 2007. Since then, membership has climbed from 6 million to 23 million in the U.S. as people have embraced the idea of watching instantly an ever-expanding library of movies and TV shows on the hundreds of consumer electronics devices capable of streaming movies and TV shows from Netflix right to members’ TVs.
I feel like it’s all of our own fault for letting them gain a monopoly on the market. When they’re the only (real) player in town, of course they will milk it for what they can!
OK, wtf.. they don’t have crap for streaming. They had better start adding more stuff if there charging them separate or I’ll probably bail.
I bailed on Netflix a year and a half ago. I’ve found just about EVERYTHING I actually want to see on BT. I don’t even watch Hulu anymore for the same reason.
I’ll bite: What’s BT?
Never mind. Duh.
Big mistake on the part of Netflix. How is this in ANY way good for the customer? My bill doubles, and I get nothing more for it.
I’m not against companies trying to make money. But how about they (a) duplicate the DVD library with instant streaming (they do that and I’ll happily pay 2x the monthly fee) so they actually give customers value for their dollar, or (b) figure out a way to entice customers into continuing utilizing Netflix for DVD vs. Redbox.
Those damn Redbox machines are invading my town and honestly, are much easier/faster to use especially since they put them at grocery stores and pharmacies – basically everywhere you already go.
I’ve already switched over to streaming only after this price increase. I think there’s enough to watch instantly (for me) for $8/month. I’ll get my DVD’s from Redbox.
Hmmm, $5 more per month to keep the same benefits I’m enjoying now?
No thanks.
Redbox, here I come.
I’m curious as to how much of a hit Netflix will take on this one. How many customers will actually bail?
If you don’t care about the Streaming(which I don’t) it’s not really a bad deal. Until the quality improves I am not that interested. I don’t find this move suprising.
At first I was pissed. Then I looked at my dvd queue and relized that there was nothing in there that I couldn’t live without. Then I looked at my Instant queue and saw a ton of awesome content I actually enjoy watching. I switched to just streaming from 2 blurays and am saving over $10 a month. Thanks Netflix.
They aren’t trying to make more money. They are being hosed by the content holders as their earlier contracts are up. The deals Netflix had in place back when content holders didn’t think Netflix’s platform was important were heavily benefiting Netflix. During new negotiations content holders have been hard balling them by giving other companies perks like getting certain dvds early etc. Now that they are forcing Netflix’s hand you can bet they will put Redbox and other providers in a similar vice. I’m a little surprised people here don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes. It will be costing Netflix a lot more to keep the same content and make any gains. Quit there service, by all means, but as content become more expensive you can expect it to hit everyone eventually.
For me Redbox is only good for the occasional mainstream movie. I’m not sure what you’re watching but Netflix is still has the better content. I might have to decide between disks or streaming but Redbox is only the answer if you have the viewing requirements of a teenager. As for BT…as of last week there has been a shift in resources and it sounds like they will be going after people more. This is not the time to increase your activity in those areas.
I was at first upset like many others, but as I rarely watch streaming video, I switched to the dvd only plan and will save two dollars a month. Not bad for the rare titles I can’t find locally. For everyday popular releases, I still go to Family Video.
I’ve been bitching about the last price hike they did to “include” streaming content pretty much every time I try to use streaming and their system tells me it won’t work on my computer (Linux), so I’m pretty fine with my bill going back down again.