Netflix: New streaming-only plan, other prices going up

[manono]

You knew the streaming movies weren't going to be 'free' forever:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Netflix-raises-prices-for-apf-807371282.html?x=0&.v=3

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/netflix-unveils-us-stream-only-option-2010-11-22?siteid=yhoof

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/22/netflix-introduces-streaming-only-pricing/?pa...r=yahoofinance

http://money.cnn.com/2010/11/22/technology/netflix_streaming_plan/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/StreamingOnly-Netflix-Debuts-paidcontent-1521045857.html?x=0&.v=1

[CobraPilot]

Text of the e-mail notification of the price increase to an existing Netflix member:

Dear XXX,

We want to let you know about two important changes to the Netflix service.

1. The price of your current plan is changing from $8.99 a month to $9.99 a month. This new price will be effective with your next billing statement on or after January 2, 2011, and will be referenced in your Membership Details. With your current plan you can both instantly watch unlimited TV episodes and movies on your computer or TV and receive unlimited DVDs by mail.

2. We now also offer a new $7.99 a month plan which lets you instantly watch unlimited TV episodes and movies on your computer or TV. This plan does not include any DVDs. All the titles you can watch instantly on your current plan are also available on this new plan, and as a reminder, not all titles on DVD are available to watch instantly. This new plan is available immediately – if you'd like to switch to this new plan at any time, simply visit your account.

Why the changes? Our selection of TV episodes and movies available to stream has grown dramatically, and as a result most members want us to deliver unlimited movies and TV episodes two ways: streaming instantly over the internet plus DVDs by mail. The price change will allow us to continue to offer the popular plan choice of unlimited TV episodes and movies streaming instantly along with unlimited DVDs. The new plan, which does not include DVDs, is a great option for the increasing number of members who only want to watch instantly. The $7.99 a month price reflects no DVD shipping costs on this plan.

We hope you're enjoying great TV shows and movies from Netflix, and that you'll continue to enjoy Netflix on whichever plan you choose. We realize you have lots of home entertainment options, and we thank you for your business. As always, if you have any questions, please call us at 1-800-715-2146.

–The Netflix Team

[budwzr]

Not much price difference. I'll stay with the mixed plan, it's still a bargain.

[olyteddy]

Considering how many postage increases there have been since they started, I'm surprised it's only a buck up. I sure hope they use that extra buck to fix their god-awful 'SilverLight' player...

[GKar]

It's $3 a month more for me in January. I only watch the DVD's that are delivered by mail, no streaming ability out here in the boonies.

[MJA]

deleted

[handyguy]

Considering how many postage increases there have been since they started, I'm surprised it's only a buck up. I sure hope they use that extra buck to fix their god-awful 'SilverLight' player...

I think this is the second rise in a year.

I don't want to pay for streaming cause most of it's not closed captioned but they did do some stuff that way. Hulu has a lot of Captioned stuff & a pay for streaming plan now too.

[MJA]

don't they have Ads ?

[jman98]

Considering how many postage increases there have been since they started, I'm surprised it's only a buck up. I sure hope they use that extra buck to fix their god-awful 'SilverLight' player...

Not likely. It's Microsoft technology. They use it because it's fiendishly clever as it uses separate encrypted streams for audio and video to try to prevent copying.

[redwudz]

My location is marginal for streaming (1MB down), but I do watch it quite a bit that way. But I also rent BD movies from them if they have anything decent to watch. I have about a three day turnaround on the rentals, so plenty of videos per month if I want. (Four at a time plan) I don't have any problems with Silverlight, except it's from MS.

Since there is nothing worth watching here on TV, Netflix is my main video entertainment and even with the price increase, it's still very handy to use. The only video stores around here now are kiosks.

[jagabo]

I don't have any problems with Silverlight

On my XP computers with a single monitor I get tearing. On my XP computers with dual monitors I get tearing and jerky playback. On a Win7 computer with dual monitors I get smooth playback with no tearing (both monitors). On my WDTV Live (via PlayOn) playback is smooth and there's is no tearing.

[handyguy]

Didyou update your Silverlight player?

MJA- this is what I got from them so you can try it:

We're excited to announce that Hulu Plus is officially launching from its preview today. It is available to anyone in the United States, and all new subscribers can try it for free for one week starting today.

For just $7.99 a month, Hulu Plus offers not just a handful of episodes but full current seasons of hit shows, from "Glee" and "Modern Family" to "House," "The Office," and dozens of others, in addition to back seasons or full series runs of popular series like "Battlestar Galactica," "Grey's Anatomy," "Family Guy," and many more. If you've missed episodes of some of your favorite shows this season and can't find them online, or if you'd like to start a new fall TV series like "The Event" from the very beginning, Hulu Plus is the answer. You can browse the full offering of shows available on Hulu Plus at http://www.hulu.com/plus?src=plc#content

All of these shows are available for instant streaming in HD not only to your computer, but also to your connected TVs, Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, and mobile devices. Visit http://www.hulu.com/plus?src=plc for a full list of shows and supported devices and to sign up for your 1-week free trial.

[MidnightMike]

Considering how many postage increases there have been since they started, I'm surprised it's only a buck up. I sure hope they use that extra buck to fix their god-awful 'SilverLight' player...

Not likely. It's Microsoft technology. They use it because it's fiendishly clever as it uses separate encrypted streams for audio and video to try to prevent copying.

Windows Vista, Windows 7, aux male cables and windvr 3.0 if you own a copy of it, it will you let you bypass it with easygrabber 2.0 and a media player that will get netlix such as a wii ps3 or you blu-ray.

What you do with the content is your own business....

[budz]

Yuh, I got a email from netflix about the increase....I rent lots of blurays & stream from my panasonic bluray player so all is good.

[handyguy]

There is a postage rise this Jan, so that could be why there are prices rises too.

[paulw]

I bet the online price will go up if Comcast gets it toll gate in place..

[edDV]

Not Postage.

Netflix recently cut a 5yr $1B deal with Epix for a streamable media library. That is twice Netflix current annual cash flow so it is a big bet on growth. Also added risk to their current stock price (~60 P/E).

http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/10/netflix-epix-deal-is-official-paramount-mgm-and-lionsgate-mov/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20013141-93.html

Silverlight scales to received bit rate.

[MidnightMike]

I bet the online price will go up if Comcast gets it toll gate in place..

Honestly what is comcast themselves gonna do to actually dramatically improve the quality of digital cable tv ?
Ask me how long has it been since I've hooked up my digital box to my sansui 19inch TV since getting it in april of this year ?
It's been May 1st since it's last been hooked up, the only thing that interest me is international TV from out of state, out of country, the net, tech tv and my custom built pc I just finish building again 3 weeks ago.

Comcast asked why did I go to netflix ? prices, lack services, dead end promises that never come through, and scams on bills...
I told them go look at netflix for a week and compare it to your content and take it back to your CEO and give me that and let'see how far that will both get us...
Apparently she knew it was the truth and slightly chuckled, but really it's sad for most of us....

[jagabo]

Honestly what is comcast themselves gonna do to actually dramatically improve the quality of digital cable tv ?

Nothing. That's why all the cable companies are looking so hard for ways to restrict streaming video. Data caps, deprecating streaming video data, forcing Netflix to pay THEM for video streams THEIR users requested, fighting against network neutrality rules, etc.

[yoda313]

I'll say this at least netflix is finally getting 5.1 surround sound streaming so that is, in my mind, worth an upcharge. I am off the plan for now but if and when I sign up again having 5.1 streaming would be really worth it. And now that the ps3 is discless streaming that is nice but I liked netflix on the 360 better with its nicer looking interface. The ps3 netflix interface was pretty bland.

[handyguy]

Crapcast should have bought Netflix earlier.

TV is on the decline cause the business model of having people watch commercials has changed to people wanting whatever program they want, when they want it & without commercials & free. How is that going to generate $$? No wonder tv today sucks.

[SingSing]

Not much price difference. I'll stay with the mixed plan, it's still a bargain.

Some how agreed. But we are running out of things to watch.

[zoobie]

Edison thought movies would fizzle out.

I think TV sucks today because of the target audience of teenage girls.

American Idol
Dance shows
High school shows
Fashion shows
Model shows
Skating shows
Cheerleader shows

"Mommie, can I go see the new Hanna Montana movie?"
"Yes, dear. Here's $50"


Then, we have NFL football rising in popularity for the guys. Sunday/Monday/Thursday Night Football. As I cross America, I see hundreds of run-down baseball diamonds no longer used. Baseball is in as much of a decline as football is exploding. Of course, the baseball commissioners are retarded for not implementing steroid testing way back in 1995 like the NBA and NFL. What we have today is a baseball records book filled with asterisks as youths turn away from their cheating heros looking for something real.

Soccer anyone?

[budwzr]

NetFlix should be applauded for trying to break the old distribution chain whereas a single greedy bastard like Lou Wasserman or Ted Turner can control everything.

Disney sold off Miramax to get out from under those oppressive bastards, IMHO.

So I consider my subscription fee as support for the cause.

[handyguy]

Compared to cable, it's a great price.

[yoda313]

Compared to cable, it's a great price.

but no sports.....

[usually_quiet]

I will agree that the pricing for the movies themselves via a cable provider's on demand service is not competitive with Netflix's $7.99/month pricing. However, one has to rent more movies than I do per month to make it cost less to become a Netflix subscriber. Netflix's streaming service has a hidden cost --- household Internet service has to be fast enough to watch movies instantly.

Netflix recommends at least 500kpbs. It would cost me an additional $23 or $30 a month to upgrade my Internet service to the required level. That means becoming a Netflix subscriber will actually cost me $31 or $38 a month. Since I average about one movie a week, paying $4.99 each for on-demand movies from the cable company would actually cost less.

I'm going to stick to renting movies from a vending kiosk at $1.07 per night per movie.

[jagabo]

I watch 2 DVDs and 10 to 15 hours of streaming video a week with my one-disc-at-a-time account.

[edDV]

I like Netflix for the wide DVD selection plus ability to watch years of a TV series straight through and in episode order.

[lordsmurf]

Umm...

Bumping a post from last year?