Netflix has announced that it will be raising its prices in some markets.
The streaming giant will be upping the monthly fees for users in the US and Canada. The new higher prices apply immediately to new signups with existing users’ fees being increased after they’ve been notified.
Current members will receive an email notification 30 days before their price changes, unless they change their plan.
Netflix US pricing table
As some commentators have indicated the price rise is likely due to the company’s growth slowing. As the biggest streaming service in the world they’re finding it increasingly hard to maintain growth.
There have also been an increasing number of competing services entering the market over the past couple of years.
While the price rises are currently only impacting the US and Canada they’ll probably hit Irish users at some point.
Netflix has invested heavily in original content, but so have competitors like Amazon Prime, Apple TV+ and Disney+.
Disney+ also has a huge back catalogue of content from multiple studio brands that Disney has acquired over the years. Disney+, for example, has a single plan. You don’t pay extra for HD or UHD streams. Price per month? €8.99.
Amazon Prime Video is included with Amazon Prime, but if you want to get it as a standalone service it’ll set you back €5.99 a month. It’s home to a number of original series and films including Wheel of Time, Hanna, The Man in the High Castle and smash hit Outlander starring Caitriona Balfe.
Apple TV+ was criticised for its lack of content initially, but over the past 18 months it’s had some big hits, including Ted Lasso. If you buy an Apple device you can get a free subscription for 3 months (originally it was a full year) which has helped drive adoption. Its subscription is €4.99 a month.
Netflix’s pricing in Ireland is currently €7.99 for the basic plan which does not include HD. The Standard plan (with HD) is €12.99, while you’ll have to fork out €17.99 a month to get UHD.
At what point will users consider a price hike simply too much?
About the Author: Michele Neylon
