Netflix Increase in Rates - Will You Them?

[dancinmama]

We've been subscribers for years, but it appears that Netflix is hiking their rates AGAIN.  We're going to look into getting a firestick (one-time cost for the stick) instead of paying a monthly fee for Netflix.  

The Basic Plan will go from $7.99 to $8.99/mo. (12.5% increase)
The Standard Plan (streaming on 2 devices) will go from $10.99 to $12.99/mo. (18.2% increase)
The Top-Tier Plan (streaming on 4 devices) will go from $13.99 to $15.99/mo.  (14.3% increase)

My guess is that most people have the Standard Plan (we do), which is the one getting hit the hardest.

[Deleted]

I share a plan so it doesn't effect me too much. I also get like 15 local channels with the antenna and have a Tivo to DVR them.

Doesn't the Fire Stick just work as a device to access subscription services like Netflix? I thought it was like my Tivo where there are tons of streaming service apps.

[grumpyhermit]

The price change will not impact my sticking with them. While it may be an 18% jump, it's $2 a month (an amount I won't notice in my budget) and I use Netflix a ton. 

Stock Firesticks act a lot like Rokus. However, you can "jailbreak" them, side load third party apps, and access streaming services that are not 100% legit. 

[Cookies Galore]

We use our friends' account and they've refused money from us for years. They pay for the top tier service (it's us, friend, friend's spouse, friend's sister on their account). I assume they are not dumping Netflix. If they are then we will start paying for it. Two bucks a month wouldn't be enough for me to give up my streaming shows. Our Prime membership is going up when it renews next month and dumping it isn't even a consideration.

We pay $50/month for internet and $126 for the year for Prime (included sales tax). We get plenty of broadcast channels for free with no issue.

[bobosensei]

I am using my boyfriend's mom's netflix account.  I had one of my own before, and he finally had me cancel since she has the top plan and I shared my Prime account with him.  If she cancelled I would most likely get an account.

[Happy prose]

I got a year for free when I switched from Fios to cable. Prior to that, I used my daughter's account. I would not drop it for that increase.

[countrygirl2]

We got one roku ready TV and a roku stick for DD's, hubs has one for him but we haven't used it yet. The only thing I have subscribed to so far is Starz for Outlander at $5 a month for 3 months, then decide if I keep it till Outlands is over. We kept the basic cable at $55 plus equipment rent of $10, dropped all the other cable channels.  Our last bill was $200 and the new one they tried to stick us with was $250.  I dropped our landline too.  I had been paying $200 a month for some time.  So this will be $65 or enhanced internet, and $40 for cable, so about half.

[andi9899]

$2 isn't a lot, but I will take a look at what we watch on it to see if the few shows I watch are worth the increase. I mean, you can't watch the show until the season ends anyway. I may be able to get it more up to date on Hulu or Sling which I also subscribe to.

[thyme4change]

I will not Netflix over 25 bucks a year. Shit, "we" didn't cable when it went up 25 bucks a month!

[nidena]

Jan 15, 2019 19:33:00 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

We use our friends' account and they've refused money from us for years. They pay for the top tier service (it's us, friend, friend's spouse, friend's sister on their account). I assume they are not dumping Netflix. If they are then we will start paying for it. Two bucks a month wouldn't be enough for me to give up my streaming shows. Our Prime membership is going up when it renews next month and dumping it isn't even a consideration.

We pay $50/month for internet and $126 for the year for Prime (included sales tax). We get plenty of broadcast channels for free with no issue.

I heard, yesterday, they're doing something with their software that is going to minimize the sharing of passwords, such as you described with four households using the same account.  Considering that's a 75% loss on potential accounts, I can see why they'd be doing it.

[nidena]

A friend of mine was not happy when I told her they were raising their rates.  Mind you, she has Crapcast and pays ~$150/mo for cable internet and she can barely afford that.  I can't understand why she keeps Netflix when it's easily disposable and would give her another $10/mo plus whatever taxes Crapcast is charging her for it.

[Cookies Galore]

Jan 16, 2019 8:01:00 GMT -5 nidena said:

Jan 15, 2019 19:33:00 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

We use our friends' account and they've refused money from us for years. They pay for the top tier service (it's us, friend, friend's spouse, friend's sister on their account). I assume they are not dumping Netflix. If they are then we will start paying for it. Two bucks a month wouldn't be enough for me to give up my streaming shows. Our Prime membership is going up when it renews next month and dumping it isn't even a consideration.

We pay $50/month for internet and $126 for the year for Prime (included sales tax). We get plenty of broadcast channels for free with no issue.

I heard, yesterday, they're doing something with their software that is going to minimize the sharing of passwords, such as you described with four households using the same account.  Considering that's a 75% loss on potential accounts, I can see why they'd be doing it.

I read that as well and thought "well then why is it a subscription option?"

[Deleted]

Jan 16, 2019 8:01:00 GMT -5 nidena said:

Jan 15, 2019 19:33:00 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

We use our friends' account and they've refused money from us for years. They pay for the top tier service (it's us, friend, friend's spouse, friend's sister on their account). I assume they are not dumping Netflix. If they are then we will start paying for it. Two bucks a month wouldn't be enough for me to give up my streaming shows. Our Prime membership is going up when it renews next month and dumping it isn't even a consideration.

We pay $50/month for internet and $126 for the year for Prime (included sales tax). We get plenty of broadcast channels for free with no issue.

I heard, yesterday, they're doing something with their software that is going to minimize the sharing of passwords, such as you described with four households using the same account.  Considering that's a 75% loss on potential accounts, I can see why they'd be doing it.

I started sharing about 5 years ago and at the time Netflix was encouraging it, so I googled it, and while there is new software out there that could identify those sharing accounts, it doesn't sound like Netflix plans on doing anything about it at this point.

Password sharing ‘a positive thing, not a negative thing’

It’s unlikely that Netflix CEO Reed Hastings will start policing password sharing. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in 2016, he said that he saw password sharing as the first step for the company to win over another user.

“We love people sharing Netflix whether they’re two people on a couch or 10 people on a couch,” said Hastings. “That’s a positive thing, not a negative thing.”

Beyond Netflix, though, efforts have been made to police password sharing. That means freeloaders may soon be forced to buy their own subscription. Also at CES, U.K.-based startup Synamedia presented a tool that uses machine learning to detect password sharing.

If Netflix decided to charge these users, according to the survey, they could generate at least $112 million in revenue every month.

About 60% of respondents said that they were willing to pay for a Netflix subscription if they were caught. Less than 40% said they would get one for Hulu, and even fewer for Amazon Prime at 27.6%.insert quote here

finance.yahoo.com/news/password-sharing-costs-netflix-billions-thats-price-increase-160028395.html

[thyme4change]

Jan 16, 2019 8:15:42 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

Jan 16, 2019 8:01:00 GMT -5 nidena said:

I heard, yesterday, they're doing something with their software that is going to minimize the sharing of passwords, such as you described with four households using the same account.  Considering that's a 75% loss on potential accounts, I can see why they'd be doing it.

I read that as well and thought "well then why is it a subscription option?"

It is 4 devices, not 4 different addresses. My family currently has 11 devices, all that live here. Paying so my one family can stream on them, at one home or during short term travel, is different than buying one subscription for everyone that shows up on my ancestry tree.

[Cookies Galore]

Jan 16, 2019 8:46:00 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Jan 16, 2019 8:15:42 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

I read that as well and thought "well then why is it a subscription option?"

It is 4 devices, not 4 different addresses. My family currently has 11 devices, all that live here. Paying so my one family can stream on them, at one home or during short term travel, is different than buying one subscription for everyone that shows up on my ancestry tree.

True, and I'd be one of the people willing to pay for a subscription if I have to, so I guess it really doesn't matter in the end!

[Deleted]

Jan 16, 2019 8:46:00 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Jan 16, 2019 8:15:42 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

I read that as well and thought "well then why is it a subscription option?"

It is 4 devices, not 4 different addresses. My family currently has 11 devices, all that live here. Paying so my one family can stream on them, at one home or during short term travel, is different than buying one subscription for everyone that shows up on my ancestry tree.

Right, but people pay for more devices in order to share too.  I share with ex and do the 4 devices to ensure we're never locking each other out as we both have kids that might be logged in as well.  Separately we'd just do the two. 

[Deleted]

I dropped cable after DH died so I'm still way ahead although their percentage increase is pretty greedy.  I've got the Standard Plan and DS and DDIL have my password.  We're limited to 2 devices at a time but since we each use it only on our TV and DS and DDIL have only one TV that's not an issue.

I could save money by dropping back to the Basic level and telling DS and DDIL not to use it anymore but they might think I was cheap. 

[Deleted]

Jan 16, 2019 9:31:01 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

I dropped cable after DH died so I'm still way ahead although their percentage increase is pretty greedy.  I've got the Standard Plan and DS and DDIL have my password.  We're limited to 2 devices at a time but since we each use it only on our TV and DS and DDIL have only one TV that's not an issue.

I could save money by dropping back to the Basic level and telling DS and DDIL not to use it anymore but they might think I was cheap. 

Plus the basic level plan is only in standard def and not HD. 

[Cookies Galore]

Jan 16, 2019 9:21:01 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Jan 16, 2019 9:11:53 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Right, but people pay for more devices in order to share too.  I share with ex and do the 4 devices to ensure we're never locking each other out as we both have kids that might be logged in as well.  Separately we'd just do the two. 

I understand that. She asked why 4 devices "was even an option" as if the only way to use 4 devices was to have 4 different households. It is an option not to encourage sharing (as I know some do) but to service an average household where every TV, every computer and every smart phone has streaming capabilities and having 4 devices going wouldn't be so completely, insanely unheard of that Netflix is coo-coo for cocoa puffs for even offering such a service.

I didn't ask, I thought to myself. 🤓 😁

[Deleted]

I just pulled up our account (well, actually ex's account) and we don't even use it that much.  The last time anyone was logged into it was 1/5.   I'm on my second free month of Hulu, so have been binging on shows there lately.   If I was back to my own account, I'd do like I used to.  Put it on hold for 6 months or so at a time, then binge over winter and put it on hold again when the weather warmed up. 

[Tiny]

I won't Netflix for $2 a month. I find it a good entertainment value. It's my primary source of entertainment so as long as I'm using it regularly I will continue to pay for it. I have antenna TV (which I rarely watch anymore).

[garion2003]

I watch a ton of Netflix. The price increase does not bother me, especially with all the original programming they are adding.

[countrygirl2]

We haven't used netflex yet.  Seems to me we have enough available without paying for it.  I am paying $5 a month for 3 months for Starz to see Outlander our only add.  Will reconsider when it goes to regular amount.  I am finding more shows then I can watch on all the available free channels so far.

We will likely drop basic cable in the future, right now has cancellation fees  to do so. But hubs likes MSNBC and we both like Rachel maddow, so who knows. We are saving almost half of what we were paying anyway.

[nidena]

Jan 16, 2019 8:35:20 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Jan 16, 2019 8:01:00 GMT -5 nidena said:

I heard, yesterday, they're doing something with their software that is going to minimize the sharing of passwords, such as you described with four households using the same account.  Considering that's a 75% loss on potential accounts, I can see why they'd be doing it.

I started sharing about 5 years ago and at the time Netflix was encouraging it, so I googled it, and while there is new software out there that could identify those sharing accounts, it doesn't sound like Netflix plans on doing anything about it at this point.

Password sharing ‘a positive thing, not a negative thing’

It’s unlikely that Netflix CEO Reed Hastings will start policing password sharing. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in 2016, he said that he saw password sharing as the first step for the company to win over another user.

“We love people sharing Netflix whether they’re two people on a couch or 10 people on a couch,” said Hastings. “That’s a positive thing, not a negative thing.”

Beyond Netflix, though, efforts have been made to police password sharing. That means freeloaders may soon be forced to buy their own subscription. Also at CES, U.K.-based startup Synamedia presented a tool that uses machine learning to detect password sharing.

If Netflix decided to charge these users, according to the survey, they could generate at least $112 million in revenue every month.

About 60% of respondents said that they were willing to pay for a Netflix subscription if they were caught. Less than 40% said they would get one for Hulu, and even fewer for Amazon Prime at 27.6%.insert quote here

finance.yahoo.com/news/password-sharing-costs-netflix-billions-thats-price-increase-160028395.html

My mistake.  It's not Netflix doing the tracking.  It's A.I. doing the tracking of Netflix accounts.

www.techtimes.com/articles/237356/20190111/sharing-netflix-account-ai-software-unveiled-at-ces-2019-can-track-you-down.htm

[nidena]

All that aside, I have no Netflix, no Hulu, no anything else except Prime.  I watch DVDs on my TV (no roku either) and I just packed those up last week and put them in the closet.  The most streaming I do is short videos on YouTube and/or LinkedIn.  Internet is $29.99/mo until November and cell is $30/mo prepaid.  I'm definitely cheap when it comes to technology.

[andi9899]

Jan 16, 2019 8:03:13 GMT -5 nidena said:

A friend of mine was not happy when I told her they were raising their rates.  Mind you, she has Crapcast and pays ~$150/mo for cable internet and she can barely afford that.  I can't understand why she keeps Netflix when it's easily disposable and would give her another $10/mo plus whatever taxes Crapcast is charging her for it.

Why not Crapcast all together. Time Warner wanted to start charging me $230/month, so I cut that cord. Now I pay $50 for internet through Google Fiber, $14 (now going to be $16 for Netflix, $38 for Sling, and $9 for Hulu for a total of $115/month for all those put together and can watch them anywhere. It may be worth her looking into.

[justme]

I have it. I'm keeping it, but I don't have cable (though currently paying for Directv Now). My parents, brother/sil, and bff all have their own profiles on my account. 

I also have Hulu and Amazon Prime. I'm paying like $65 a month for all my TV watching I think? Most of that is Directv Now and I debate getting rid of it often, but haven't yet. Only had it about a year now. I debated switching to Sling, but really like that Directv Now has all my local broadcast stations.

[Deleted]

Well, if it makes you feel any better, Directv also went up a few dollars a month.  I didn't drop them.  It's $150 after a $30 discount they gave us per month.  That's a lot of money, but it is DH's only entertainment.  And it is for four tvs.  Plus, I guess devices if we wanted to use them.

DH finds switching from satellite to streaming too confusing these days.  If paying a few extra bucks (or more than a few for satellite) makes his life better, so be it.

[justme]

Jan 16, 2019 11:12:29 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

Well, if it makes you feel any better, Directv also went up a few dollars a month.  I didn't drop them.  It's $150 after a $30 discount they gave us per month.  That's a lot of money, but it is DH's only entertainment.  And it is for four tvs.  Plus, I guess devices if we wanted to use them.

DH finds switching from satellite to streaming too confusing these days.  If paying a few extra bucks (or more than a few for satellite) makes his life better, so be it.

Directv Now operates pretty similarly to their satellite version - has the guide that shows what's on TV right now and everything. Only difference is you have to click on the app instead of I guess turn on the satellite box? Just an FYI.

[sheilaincali]

We watch Netflix pretty much every day. We do the Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime trifecta -haven't had traditional cable in 6 or 7 years. We don't even have a dvd player hooked up- disconnected it when we moved 2 years ago and haven't missed it. It's probably in a box somewhere.

A $2 per month rate increase doesn't phase me at all. They've been adding new original programming and movies which I appreciate.  Same with Amazon and their original programming.