Netflix starts streaming-only plan, raises price of other plans

Netflix has started their long-anticipated streaming-only plan in the U.S., while also raising the price of its other mixed media subscriptions.

Shares of the company have exploded $15 dollars today following the news, good for an 8 percent gain.

The streaming only plans will be $8 per month, giving users unlimited access to the company's "Watch Instantly" catalog.

All other plans, those that include access to physical discs, as well, will see a price jump, however.

Those price jumps are immediate for new subscribers or will go into effect in January for current subs.

User with a $9 subscription (1-DVD-out) will see their subscription now cost $10. Prices for other plans are seeing similar increases.

Over the years, Netflix has spent close to $1 billion on putting together a streaming catalog that now encompasses 20,000 movies and TV shows.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 22 Nov 2010 17:54

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26 comments

ROMaster2

Probably going to get a lot of people to drop then.

22.11.2010 17:59 #1

Azuran

Only a $1? Probably not.

22.11.2010 18:01 #2

DVDBack23

Originally posted by ROMaster2: Probably going to get a lot of people to drop then. Won't make a difference either, margins on the streaming only plan will be huge..discs are expensive to ship back and forth

22.11.2010 20:55 #3

KillerBug

If they would just offer more titles through streaming, I would drop the disks all together. As it is, I have a 3 disk plan and I still run out of movies that I want to watch online.

23.11.2010 00:19 #4

kurganwin

Several of the plans are going up by $2.00 to $4.00 -WOW, and don't forget to add in your tax. The streaming as far as movies goes is not the greatest, a lot of low budget titles that are not very good.

If you like documentary's and TV shows then your set streaming wise. On top of that many new release movies are delayed by a month or so and have been seen by many from different outlets.

I think in the long run streaming is the way to go, but they really need to focus on getting some more A+ movie material and new releases in that line-up.

23.11.2010 02:06 #5

KillerBug

Originally posted by kurganwin: If you like documentary's and TV shows then your set streaming wise. On top of that many new release movies are delayed by a month or so and have been seen by many from different outlets. Funny thing is that I do like documentary's and TV shows...and I still can't find any instant titles I want to watch. Most TV shows are missing, or most of the episodes are missing in a series that is meant to be watched in order. The problem does not seem to be licensing; I think it is just that they don't have enough people in their disk-to-instant department.

23.11.2010 02:11 #6

SGSeries2

Originally posted by KillerBug: Originally posted by kurganwin: If you like documentary's and TV shows then your set streaming wise. On top of that many new release movies are delayed by a month or so and have been seen by many from different outlets. Funny thing is that I do like documentary's and TV shows...and I still can't find any instant titles I want to watch. Most TV shows are missing, or most of the episodes are missing in a series that is meant to be watched in order. The problem does not seem to be licensing; I think it is just that they don't have enough people in their disk-to-instant department. For the extra $2-$4, there better be.

Even more so, if a foreign film is supposed to have subtitles, then it better have subtitles (I'm looking at you, Ip Man). While we're at it, they need to find an alternative to TV series via disk; Bad things happen, I understand, and disks can and do get broken/lost, but missing shows in the middle of a series in Netflix is a serious issue. Lack of audio & subtitle options is often why I shy away from their streaming service.

24.11.2010 22:15 #7

Unfocused

I understand that they are a growing service still, but their streaming catalog doesn't offer enough titles to justify the $3 price increase that I just incured. I am receiving no additional perks for my money than I had yesterday. If the entire library was available for streaming, then an all streaming plan would make an ideal option, but at the present time, this is simply a rate increase masked by the unveiling of a new lower pricing tier.

25.11.2010 20:43 #8

bratcher

I don't like the price increase for the 3 at a time tier either & there's not much I can do about it. But then the streaming is good & they are planning to add more titles in the future.

26.11.2010 11:50 #9

ng6

NetFux is the new Blockbuster. Their service has decreased exponentially in recent months, with most new titles not being carried for 30 days and quite a few not at all, especially Blu-rays which they charge a premium for and then don't carry. Try getting the new Blus of Sound of Music or Back to the Future or Twilight Zone or Metropolis etc. etc. etc just to name a few that I had to buy recently instead of rent. They just have them on DVD or just streaming and pretend they don't exist otherwise. You used to be able to use the NF database as a definitive answer to what's even in print. Not anymore. I was an 8 out-at-a-time member for years. When they started the 28 days later crap I dropped to 6, then 5. Lately I can't even find that many to rent. Every week I'm back at the Blockbuster stores like it's the '90s or something trying to get the movies that NetFux pretends don't even exist. I don't give two cents for all their streaming steaming piles of manure, with substandard video, no bonus material, no subtitles, poor navigation etc. etc. It's analogous to what empty3 has done to audio, keeping us in the dark ages of digital sound reproduction 30 years after the invention of the CD. People want convenience and they don't even realize the quality they're sacrificing. I don't care about experiencing emerging technologies that might show promise in the future, I want the best quality edition of the movie NOW. I ONLY want high-quality Blu-ray. Blu-ray has reached critical mass now and I don't really even watch DVDs any more, and I sure don't have time for streaming. I must have 16 devices that have streaming and I don't use it on any of them. And now they have the gall to raise prices. Make the studios pay the increase since that's who you're servicing now! I dropped my membership down to 3 now because I'm not willing to give them one more penny for their crappy worse-than-Blockbuster service and also because I can't usually find more than that to rent now anyway. Please PLEASE somebody recognize the hole NetFux has created and start a new service to compete!!!

26.11.2010 12:30 #10

omegaman7

Originally posted by ROMaster2: Probably going to get a lot of people to drop then. I'll remain loyal :p

I like redbox, but netflix has what I want 99.999% of the time. Perhaps that is an exaggeration, but I'm not far off here. And netflix delivers, and streams :D

Something unusual though. Redbox had a movie that netflix wasn't allowed to release til december. Forget which one. If I were netflix, I'd be raising bloody hell on that one ;)

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26.11.2010 13:24 #11

Peeker

I cant speak for the rest of Netflix members but my plan (7 discs at a time) went up $8.00 and they told me that "Plan" didnt exist anymore. And they didnt wait until january. Mine was scheduled to go up on dec 15th. I told them to go F**k themselfs I dont care about streaming and I should'nt have to pay for it for those other losers that are too lazy to walk to the mailbox.

26.11.2010 16:00 #12

bratcher

Originally posted by Peeker: I cant speak for the rest of Netflix members but my plan (7 discs at a time) went up $8.00 and they told me that "Plan" didnt exist anymore. And they didnt wait until january. Mine was scheduled to go up on dec 15th. I told them to go F**k themselfs I dont care about streaming and I should'nt have to pay for it for those other losers that are too lazy to walk to the mailbox. Well I'm not dumping Netflix however I did drop down to the 3 at a time plan from the 8 at a time plan recently. And then they announce the price increase!!

26.11.2010 17:56 #13

mightyzog

The reason for the 28 day delay is Netflix bowing down to the movie companies so that they would give more permission to add to streaming. Netflix is screwing their core base of disk subscriber to save money by enhancing their streaming service, plain and simple. WE ARE BEING SCREWED, but its only business, so don't take it personal. I also have the 3 at home plan but am willing to pay it because it's still cheaper than renting from video store. And redbox is fine if you can definitely get the movies back in one day.

26.11.2010 21:04 #14

Unfocused

Originally posted by ng6: People want convenience and they don't even realize the quality they're sacrificing. Sony has been trying to figure out why this statement is true since BetaMax. Look at the quality difference between that and VHS and then apply this to your comment.

27.11.2010 09:54 #15

Jeffrey_P

B.S.
I've tried Netflix's streaming garbage. The video is horrible and 5.1 is only available for the PS3 (so far). PS3? Isn't that a Sony product?
Do I have the right equipment to view the latest and greatest? You better believe it.

At the end of this month I'm canceling my owned by Sony Netflix account for good.
Too bad I've been a customer since the beginning in 1996. I'm sure I'll be hardly missed since their are enough fools who don't know any better to pick-up the slack.

With their huge catalog I've seen most of the movies (mostly Blu-Ray) I'm interested in.

If I want to see a new release I'll buy it to bypass the 30 day no new release Netflix has.

Then I will take the new disk home and make a back-up. This will keep the new disk in pristine condition.

Hey Netflix, Sony owns you!!!!

27.11.2010 10:24 #16

bratcher

Originally posted by Unfocused: Originally posted by ng6: People want convenience and they don't even realize the quality they're sacrificing. Sony has been trying to figure out why this statement is true since BetaMax. Look at the quality difference between that and VHS and then apply this to your comment. Well the 420p streaming on Netflix looks pretty good on my moniter & the 720p streaming is incredible!! Now if only they had 1080p streaming, that would be truly wonderful.

As to the Betamax vs VHS quality issue, Beta 2 & SP VHS was about the same to me. I couldn't tell any difference & Beta 1 was only a tad better (in the picture) than VHS SP. Superbeta? I dopn't remember if that looked any better or not but then Beta lost the format war anyway as we all know. Myself I kept along with SP speed VHS until recordable DVD's came along. LP speed VHS looked worse than SP & EP was awful....

27.11.2010 10:26 #17

Jeffrey_P

Bratcher, do you work for Sony or Netflix?
Who the hell watches anything but Youtube videos in 420p or 720p?
Maybe you're using a laptop? Doesn't work that way for folks with big plasma or LCD TVs.

27.11.2010 10:35 #18

bratcher

Originally posted by Jeffrey_P: B.S.
I've tried Netflix's streaming garbage. The video is horrible and 5.1 is only available for the PS3 (so far). PS3? Isn't that a Sony product?
Do I have the right equipment to view the latest and greatest? You better believe it.

At the end of this month I'm canceling my owned by Sony Netflix account for good.
Too bad I've been a customer since the beginning in 1996. I'm sure I'll be hardly missed since their are enough fools who don't know any better to pick-up the slack.

With their huge catalog I've seen most of the movies (mostly Blu-Ray) I'm interested in.

If I want to see a new release I'll buy it to bypass the 30 day no new release Netflix has.

Then I will take the new disk home and make a back-up. This will keep the new disk in pristine condition.

Hey Netflix, Sony owns you!!!! Well I'm keeping Netflix fot the huge backlog of older movies they have!! And I'm quite happy to watch the streaming movies on my computer in either mono or stereo sound depending on the films soundtrack. Oh & I've been a Netflix member since close to the beginning of their service too. I'll stay with them for now anyways....

27.11.2010 10:40 #19

bratcher

Originally posted by Jeffrey_P: Bratcher, do you work for Sony or Netflix?
Who the hell watches anything but Youtube videos in 420p or 720p?
Maybe you're using a laptop? Doesn't work that way for folks with big plasma or LCD TVs. Nope, I don't work for either company & I use a desktop PC with a big moniter.

27.11.2010 10:41 #20

omegaman7

I also stream to a 40" magnavox 1080P HDTV. It looks agreeable most the time. Watched waterworld not that long ago. Obviously they are capable of streaming that in HD. The picture looked considerably better than normal. The streaming is more so for the kids though :p They get bored of the movies they have.

Pretty irritating when shows are wayyy out of sequence though. They really need to fix that!

27.11.2010 12:18 #21

FredBun

I saw what streaming looks like, they can have it, what a joke, I'm sticking with my DVD'S.

27.11.2010 23:30 #22

omegaman7

Streaming quality depends on multiple factors. Your connection speed is a big one. 3.0mb and under look pretty dire. 5mb is respectable if netflix is actually using the full potential. The compressed video is another factor though. I've streamed HD video to a 7mb connection that looked really good :p
Old television shows that haven't been remastered are gonna look somewhat rough. It also depends on your display ;)

28.11.2010 13:30 #23

omegaman7

Hey nacolwhite, Lightning is imminent! Or should I say DDP is imminent LOL!

4.3.2011 12:32 #24

BIGTOXY69

I was A Blockbuster In Store customer But ????

Hey gang !!!!- I have Been a Blockbuster Customer For a Couple of years ! only In-store , in person ! Thing is I live in the / Swamp so It's a Road trip no matter which almost nearby Blockbuster I would use for my Pickup and return location ! The Nearest or 2 Nearest are / were 18-20 miles one way ! One is in The Big , Big city as Peter Gabriel "Sings " The other is in The Next town Over Well They were both equally distant or Close so i'd go to the Big city Location Well I went friday and They're Closing that location I returned my Movies and asked about where I am supposed to go to rent now If I stay Blockbuster ? I was told that all their in store customers will be transferred to Th next Location which is 30 something miles from my House ! I went and rented a coupler of movies there and I am not impressed ? not many new titles !, and the ones they had that I wanted the had like 4 copies all out on rental !. So With Gas as High as it is and probably Going higher ? I am Looking at the Online thing vs. The In-store Rentals How do you guy's & or Girls rate the two main outfits Netflix and Blockbuster ? I still have 1 Blockbuster about 20 miles away I think it's still open ? but I have'nt checked them out lately so they may have closed too ,not sure yet ? How do the different Plans compare ? cost , movies and benefits ect... Also If I chose Netflix and get or add The streaming Option Do I have to Run a Ethernet cable from my Router to my Wii Console to use that option or can I do it wirelessly with some kinda adapter ? I appreciate your Listening to me or atleast reading this ? and Look forward to your Replies on your experiences in this arena . Thanks Cheers and Good day !!!!

FeetZ Up ! Head Down !

26.3.2011 08:09 #25

omegaman7

I've been with netflix since 2003. Incredible company. I love movies delivered to my door. It's unfortunate though how a good portion of the new releases are put off for 1 month though. Redbox is the same way. You either have to be patient, or... eh hem, acquire them in a different way. Streaming netflix can be done by multiple means anymore. I have a WD HD Live media player in the living room, as well as a Bd player capable of connecting to netflix. My brother has a wii, but he's never connected it to netflix. They have an HTPC that I built for them. I imagine it isn't too difficult to stream netflix to the wii though. If it's like my current devices though, you have to add movies to your watch now queue. My devices are incapable of anything else, but connecting to the watch it now queue.
If you elect to rent movies from netflix, keep in mind you need to time it just right, if you want new releases. They only have so many new movies remember.

26.3.2011 13:11 #26

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