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Netflix is about to become less compelling bargain for people who want to stream videos and also watch DVDs: The company’s abandoning its $9.99 a month plan that enabled subscribers to watch unlimited video streams and also have one DVD out at a time sent via mail. The price for that combo service will jump to $15.98 as Netflix requires consumers to separately order unlimited streaming for $7.99 a month or 1-at-a-time DVD rentals for $7.99. The new pricing begins immediately for new customers, and on Sept. 1 for existing ones. Netflix already offered the streaming-only service, and is spinning this as a price break for DVD-only subscribers. “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,” Chief Service and Operations Officer Andy Rendich said in a release.
BARGAIN NO MORE: Netflix Unveils 60% Price Hike For Streaming-Plus-DVD Service
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Does this mean EVERYTHING on DVD will be streaming? Or is it just the options that they have now, where many many shows and movies can only be seen on DVD?
They don’t own the rights to stream everything that is on DVD and probably never will.
It absolutely does not, Ed.
Even though they are splitting the two format option plans they are basically just raising the price of the DVD by mail plans, streaming will remain at 7.99. Sucks but its still a good deal if you get your moneys worth of dvd’s by mail.
This seems like way too much of a price jump to be real. I mean, more than 50%? Who does that? I have enough available to me through cable and onDemand that a price jump like this would mean bye bye to Netflix.
Double Ditto for ME!
Might want to check your logic. How much do you pay for cable and On Demand? And then how much does Netflix cost?
If you barely ever use Netflix, fine, you’re right. But if it accounts for more than 20% of what you watch, even the $16 price is more cost-effective than the cable.
So you are being ripped off, but the question is, by who?
@ Michael, I pay my cable company a premium price for premium programming. Netflix may be cheap in comparison, but even inexpensive crap is still crap. Netflix streaming is a pop culture wasteland for people who are happy to pay a pittance for a pathetic selection of negligible titles. These same people are the ones standing in front of their local Redbox for 20 minutes, trying to pick a movie from the leftover garbage nobody else wanted to rent. Yeah, it’s definitely Netflix that’s ripping me off. I get my money’s worth from cable.
Well the prices cable charges compared to the programming being offered seems like an absolute joke to me. I bid adieu to cable years ago and unless it is the only game in town there is little reason for me to waste money watching the endless drivel that is on. Netflix still offers me the ability to get what ever I want on DVD while also having the added perk of a a constantly expanding streaming catalogue.
That’s a pretty ignorant comment. There are tons of great movie on Netflix Instant, and the HD quality is superb. Are the newest movies available right away? No. Don’t need all that brand new Hollywood garbage anyway. The reason I’ve been a Netflix subscriber since 2001 is that they have movies that you can’t find at the video stores, either because they are not mainstream enough or places like Blockbuster didn’t have the balls to carry them. Please don’t compare me to the people standing outside a Royal Farms at 1:00 in their underwear and flip flops using a Redbox. It’s not the same. as for the price increase, I knew it was coming because it was a little too good to be free for long.
This is the option for people who’ve dumped cable and don’t own a TV anymore, which is a fast growing segment. Cable is the equivalent of a land line; cable is the past, streaming is the future. Netflix is still the cheaper option.
Cable isn’t the past at all. There are hundreds of channels on cable. Sure, NF streaming is a companion to cable, but in my book, it won’t replace cable anytime soon, if ever.
I get my moneys worth and then some from streaming . Lots of great content from classic movies and tv shows to more modern fare. I like it !! And it sure beats standing in line at redbox with their limited selection .
John V. Karavitis In my opinion, it’s still worth it to subscribe to Netflix. Cable TV is not yet truly “on demand”, and if you want as wide a selection of movies as possible, Netflix is the only real game in town. You also benefit from the viewer’s comments and ratings in determining whether yhou want to bother viewing a DVD, something that cable TV doesn’t offer. Quite frankly, I find the arguments made for and against using Netflix to be nonsensical. Netflix is one of many options people have for viewing movies, etc., the selection is large and growing every day, you can keep the DVD for as along as you like, and you can return it by leaving it at your mailbox. For $20 a month? Not just a bargain, but a steal. (And if and when Netflix sees people dropping their subscriptions because of the price, Netflix will either respond appropriately or perish.) I have to wonder what option people fall back on when they claim that Netflix isn’t worth it. What’s you fall-back option? The public library? John V. Karavitis
In all honesty — what do they have to LOSE at this point?
All they need to do is sit tight and listen to the feedback.
Netflix reminds me of the good old Z Channel days. Their library is funky N fresh.
This is garbage. I won’t miss the streaming that, though.
“That much!”
That’s smart, Netflix. Taunt Redbox into offering streaming video. They’re already less expensive and more immediate than you.
Good thing you have subscribers like me that are too lazy to take a five minute drive down the hill, huh?
Redbox selection = garbage.
Redbox new release selection = a BUCK and immediate.
Netflix new release selection = fifteen bucks a month and a “Very long wait” or “Long wait” if you’re lucky.
The only perk of RedBox is that after buying milk and eggs I can decide not to pick any of the crappy movies they have available.
What about the plans that are 3-dvds out at one time + unlimited streaming??
Just checked and my 4 at a time + unlimited streaming is only going up $2, not 60%
Netflix decided to finally send me an e-mail about it – mine is going from $19.99 to $23.98. Ridiculous.
I just called Netflix about their press release stating that they will no longer offer a combination plan. The customer rep said that it is not true. He was very surprised and thankful when I told him that’s what was specifically stated in the press release on the Netflix website. Hopefully, Netflix will issue a new press release soon.
3 DVDs at a time + unlimited streaming will go up to $23.99 per month-only a $4 difference and not 60%
Check your payment plan. It will go up from $19.99 a month to $23.98 a month for 3 DVDs out plus streaming. It sucks, but I can’t see a better plan out there.
They prolly won’t exist anymore.
Sorry but I’m out. It’s not about money but the audacity to increase 60% just made me decide to cancel. Thanks for making it easy for me Netflix. Will be interesting to watch the market share slowly dissipate after this. Maybe people will pay. I wont.
Long-time three out at a time and streaming Netflix subscriber here. Goodbye Netflix. This “deal” doesn’t work for me. Sorry to cut you loose but…
Your 3-at-a-time plus streaming won’t change but a couple of bucks. The idea here is that people are taking one DVD at a time when they feel like it, and keeping it for months, and pretty much just using the streaming. It was a what-fits-most decision, sounds like. *Most* who have the one-DVD/streaming deal weren’t using the DVD and just getting it automatically. Those folks have the option now to just stop getting the one DVD. For me it’s ideal, I never watch my DVDs anymore and if I really want to see something brand new, I can always get it from Redbox for a buck.
ditto… I’ve had the same DVD for about three months now. Not really gonna miss this at all. The local Blockbuster closing it’s doors hurt more than this.
I would rather up to multiple disc plan than pay $8 a month for streaming. I use the service, but not nearly THAT much…
Beginning of the end…
Beginning of the end… of what? The stock is up $5 since the announcement.
The stock closed up 0.18% today, not up 5%
Beginning of the end…of what? At $15.99 this is still a bargain.
Since I care nothing for the DVD service this doesn’t affect me in the least. Since, many of the major studios are babies and deny Netflix access to new releases on the day of release I cancelled the DVD side of things a long time ago. If I’m that desperate to see something only on DVD I’ll either buy it, rent it somewhere (there are still video stores), or wait. Between Amazon, iTunes, and on demand movies from cable and satellite providers I’m not missing anything.
Are you serious? I switched to netflix because blockbuster was 4 $ for one DVD. I would have to have to watch more than 1 DVD a week to be worth it. I have a life, I can’t watch that many movies!
Are Netflix sending out their trolls to help pitch the “good deal” on message boards?
Jacking up the prices by more than double is not providing a “great value”. This is bullshit.
This is what happens when Netflix has no real competition. I almost miss Blockbuster
I’m going to Redbox for my DVDs…
I agree with you. Most of my movie viewing decisions are spur of the moment, and since it takes 48 hours to get a DVD from Netflix, I already use Redbox for that purpose.
I only use Netflix for streaming, and the selections for streaming are random. We’ll be taking the streaming only service from Netflix for now, but if they don’t increase their library for that service, we’ll be canceling Netflix entirely.
Ditto. I got the Netflix e-mail yesterday and already told my family to say goodbye to the mail order DVDs (we have the 1 at a time deal). We don’t watch $8 worth of DVDs per month – I’ll be renting those at Redbox if we decide to watch. Will continue with the streaming for $7.99 for now. I hope (expect?) to see better streaming options in the future however, or I’ll be cancelling the entire service.
Doubling the price would be a 100% increase.
I miss Universal renting and that closed when I was six!
Yeah. I’m out.
Watching streaming has been like pumping a dry well for a while now too.
1) price hike OK, but in return make *all* shows on DVD available for streaming. This is 2011.
2) COME TO EUROPE.
Completely AGREED. The most annoying thing is when a tv series is “streaming” but then there is ONE disc that is “disc only”??
That’s not the most annoying thing. The most annoying is when you stream something one day, but you go to re-watch it the next and it’s no longer available.
This price hike probably comes about because studios are charging Netflix exorbitant licensing fees. So in order for the above to happen, Netflix will have to shell out for even more licenses, which in turn will jack up prices higher.
good news for the neighborhood video store.
If they still exist where you live. Lol
Are there any left?
I think there’s one in Brooklyn.
Their streaming selection blows, so this is pretty much a nail in the coffin for us…
I use streaming enough where that remains a good deal, but I think that’s all I’ll be keeping.
Seriously, is $15.99 a month that much? If i go to a movie, the tickets are now $13.50 EACH. My basic cable and three premium channels run me about $125.
$15.99 seems like a relative bargain. I think $9.99 was too cheap. Sure, I don’t want to pay more but this doesn’t seem like that big a deal relatively speaking.
While you might be right, the sudden 60 percent increase IS NOT palpable to most Americans. I plan on just having the one dvd at a time plan.
“Palpable”?
simple economics says that the consumer MUST see value in what they buy or they will not go for it. now the question is what is the value? what are they offering as a new value for the consumer to pay more (60% more)!? I love the service $9.99 was a bargain. but as we can see this is yest another bait and switch tactic in today’s unscrupulous business climate! I am out as well. Good bye netflix, hello red box + on demand.
2 films on on-demand and you have paid more than a month of streaming
Streaming doesn’t have enough good titles to justify additional pricing.
Switching to disc only.
Netflix Account: Cancelled.
As someone who already has 2 disc out at a time/Blu Ray upgrades on my account + streaming, these price hikes will likely spell the end to what I thought was a great service at a high, but fair price for the amount of services I was getting. But alas, I will be cancelling my subscription come September. Goodbye Netflix, thanks for being greedy bastards.
Bye Bye Netflix streaming. Hello Amazon Prime.
This is ridiculous! Netflix has always been the leaders in the DVD-to-home market, and very competitive, this just made them “like everybody else.”
Way to go mainstream and alienate your true customer Netflix, I’m out!
Just rang Netflix. Yes, three disc service will also rise, to 27.98 a month. I dunno, I may cancel it.
What?? I have the 3-disc plan and received an e-mail that says:
We are separating unlimited DVDs by mail and unlimited streaming into two separate plans to better reflect the costs of each. Now our members have a choice: a streaming only plan, a DVD only plan, or both.
Your current $19.99 a month membership for unlimited streaming and unlimited DVDs will be split into 2 distinct plans:
Plan 1: Unlimited Streaming (no DVDs) for $7.99 a month
Plan 2: Unlimited DVDs, 3 out at-a-time (no streaming) for $15.99 a month
Your price for getting both of these plans will be $23.98 a month ($7.99 + $15.99). You don’t need to do anything to continue your memberships for both unlimited streaming and unlimited DVDs.
These prices will start for charges on or after September 1, 2011.
Who do you think owns redbox ?
NOT Netflix
Coinstar
This is still the best deal out there, now they just need to update that library from the companies that they are making millions off of.
I agree with you. The money increase better be used to upgrade the streaming. The movies are kind of getting old.