Netflix is Raising Prices by 13 to 18 Percent in the U.S.

Netflix announced today that it is raising the price of its streaming video service by 13 to 18 Percent in the United States. This isn’t the first time it’s raised prices, but this is its biggest price increase ever. And it’s the first time a price increase has impact all Netflix users.

“We change pricing from time to time as we continue investing in great entertainment and improving the overall Netflix experience,” a Netflix statement notes, seemingly blaming the price hike on its continued support of original content.

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The price change will vary by subscription tier. Those currently paying $11 per month for Netflix’s most popular tier—which lets you see HD content on two different devices at the same time—will see their payment rise to $13 per month. The cheapest plan is jumping from $8 per month to $9. And a premium plan with 4K/HDR content and multiple device support is moving from $14 per month to $16.

Netflix says that the new prices are effective immediately for all new subscribers. Existing subscribers will see the price increase in the next three months. After that, it will head international, starting with certain Latin America countries.

Netflix spent over $3 billion on original content in 2018 and expects to do so again in 2019. At last tally, it had 79 million subscribers in the U.S. But the firm will post its latest quarterly results in two days, so we should get a new number then.

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Conversation 25 comments

  • RM

    15 January, 2019 - 2:55 pm

    <p>Are DVD prices increasing also? You know the Netflix plan where you can actually get new releases . . . not the garbage streaming service that gets you Netflix originals along with only older non-Netflix movies.</p>

  • ben55124

    Premium Member
    15 January, 2019 - 2:59 pm

    <p>Quick get that price hike in before Disney launches.</p>

    • misterstuart

      Premium Member
      15 January, 2019 - 3:19 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#397113">In reply to ben55124:</a></em></blockquote><p>The Disney launch is probably gonna chap their bottoms quite a bit. </p>

    • jecouch66

      Premium Member
      15 January, 2019 - 4:32 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#397113">In reply to ben55124:</a></em></blockquote><p>Upvote because that just made me laugh. As Homer would say, "It's funny because it's true".</p>

  • yoshi

    Premium Member
    15 January, 2019 - 3:05 pm

    <p>The cost of Netflix is included in my cable bundle. And I'm guessing there's no way that Comcast will swallow this increase. </p>

  • Daekar

    15 January, 2019 - 3:11 pm

    <p>I don't expect that this will matter in the slightest. The demand curve for this stuff is remarkably elastic, people are addicted to these services.</p>

  • jimchamplin

    Premium Member
    15 January, 2019 - 3:53 pm

    <p>Unfortunately, this service is too tightly tied to reality now. It's not like my employer is going to give me a 13-20 percent raise.</p><p><br></p><p>American employers think that paying a wage that allows you to live is "ridiculous."</p>

    • wbhite

      Premium Member
      15 January, 2019 - 4:03 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#397132">In reply to jimchamplin:</a></em></blockquote><p>Not sure what that has to do with a Netflix (a non-essential service) price increase. Even with the increase, it's still a great deal.</p>

    • jecouch66

      Premium Member
      15 January, 2019 - 4:30 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#397132">In reply to jimchamplin:</a></em></blockquote><p>I don't think the price is a deal breaker, but of course that would depend on usage and situation.</p><p><br></p><p>While I certainly respect your right to virtue signal, I'd point out that your wage comment is demonstrably false. Also, I suspect if making enough money to live is a concern, you're probably not splurging on Netflix.&nbsp;If you are, I question whether your salary is the problem, or your management of it.</p>

    • the_real_entheos

      15 January, 2019 - 7:53 pm

      <blockquote>I agree, and it's great that you bring up something that we can't get in mainstream media. The attack on wages is real! I pity the self-righteous for blaming the victims. And their "superior dance" is a little too obvious.</blockquote><blockquote><br></blockquote><blockquote><a href="#397132"><em>In reply to jimchamplin:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p>

    • 1speed

      16 January, 2019 - 1:07 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#397132"><em>T</em></a><em>he notice went out to Canadian customers at the beginning of the week, so the rest of the world should expect it soon.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • StevenLayton

    15 January, 2019 - 3:58 pm

    <p>Fingers crossed they forget to increase UK costs, lol.</p><p><br></p>

  • Jeff Jones

    15 January, 2019 - 4:06 pm

    <p>Man. It's too bad over half of the Netflix originals are junky low budget shows you'd expect to see on Syfy or Spike or similar low end channels.</p>

  • Yaggs

    15 January, 2019 - 4:17 pm

    <p>The movie selection on Netflix has been pretty bad the last few years… it's very difficult to find stuff to watch. I have moved to turning the subscription off until an original is released, like Stranger Things, and getting it for a month and then turning it off again… don't get me wrong, they have some great original content, but for the most part, after you watch that stuff there isn't much else on Netflix worth keeping my subscription for… but paying $15 every few months is just fine!</p>

  • HellcatM

    15 January, 2019 - 4:32 pm

    <p>A lot of people probably won't even notice, the money comes out of their account and they don't even look at their statements to see how much Netflix went up. Unless they read a blog like this or someone tells them, they'll be oblivious and that's what companies hope for. If every month a pop-up came up on their screen to pay, and it said how much then that would be a different story.</p>

  • Stokkolm

    15 January, 2019 - 5:20 pm

    <p>I just cancelled. Hulu is way too competitive and I'm looking forward to Disney's streaming service (we'll see what that ends up costing). Sorry Netflix, I'm not paying $13 a month when two years ago I was only paying $9. I don't watch it enough.</p>

  • bharris

    15 January, 2019 - 6:13 pm

    <p>I don't care….If I can watch it 10 to 15 hours a month and enjoy it, I think it's still cheap entertainment. Not saying "Yay! I get to send NetFlix more money!" but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it either….</p>

  • harmjr

    Premium Member
    15 January, 2019 - 10:47 pm

    <p>When they get to $18 I will cancel and become one of those who just gets Netflix once or twice a year to binge and then suppend.</p><p><br></p><p>I already get Prime and thanks to Sprint I get Hulu as well so Netflix is losing its luster.</p>

  • Tony Barrett

    16 January, 2019 - 5:32 am

    <p>As long as you watch it enough, Netflix is actually very good, and it's original content is, on the whole, excellent with very high production values. I'd say it's still good value even with the price rises, but you people in the US who are now moaning should look at the prices other countries pay – yes, it's a lot more already in real terms. No point moaning about alternatives though, because only Amazon Prime is a viable alternative. No Hulu outside the US, and that's also probably true for any Disney streaming channel too. So, it's less choice and higher costs for the rest of us!</p>

  • overseer

    16 January, 2019 - 9:21 am

    <p>The price increase isn't a big deal to me, but the steadily degrading user experience is. Constantly moving my watchlist and making it hard to pick up where I left on a series, playing trailers for other content before I can watch something, and ultra-annoying "Oh, you paused your browsing for .5 seconds, let me start playing something in the background because you couldn't possibly want a moment of silence" feature have left me so fed up with Netflix that I've almost quit using it. So even charging me a small amount for to be constantly irritated is enough to motivate me to cancel. </p>

  • doubledeej

    16 January, 2019 - 12:40 pm

    <p>I've just canceled my account. I don't feel right about their decision. Most of their original content is absolute garbage, and for them to keep charging more and more for it isn't okay by me.</p>

  • Darekmeridian

    16 January, 2019 - 1:18 pm

    <p>I'd actually pay a lot more for Netflix, I'm glad they haven't caught on. My family is highly invested in the service and for what your getting it's worth it. I look at it this way, for the price of a sandwich and coffee it gives the whole family a months worth of entertainment. That I can live with…</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • Greg Green

    16 January, 2019 - 1:27 pm

    <p>Variety has an interesting article about the debt of the major media companies: Can Hollywood’s Biggest Media Companies Avoid Getting Crushed by Debt?</p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“The largest media companies have loaded up on short- and long-term borrowings thanks to low interest rates and easy access to credit.”</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Netflix has the highest debt to earnings ratio of the companies listed at over 6 to 1, with the others being in the 2 to 3 range. “Debt is unforgiving — it always has to be repaid or refinanced.”</span></p>

  • sharpsone

    16 January, 2019 - 7:27 pm

    <p>Another increase go figure, curious how cable cutters think they actually save money when the cost of these services exceed the savings of adding TV to your broadband subscription. Factor in sports and rising costs from competing services and we're all paying more for the same old shit from Hollywood. Consumers are dumb dumbs and the clowns that run the studios and streaming services know it!</p>

  • dharmashi

    08 March, 2019 - 10:09 am

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