Although profits and revenues grew well beyond expectations (with peaks of up to 35%), Netflix does not reward its subscribers and retouches all the subscribers upwards plans on subscriptions: you will spend from a minimum of 6.99 euros to a maximum of 19.99 euros per month based on the chosen option.
What are the new rates
There is no escape, the increases concern all plans made available to customers. Starting with the cheapest, the one called “Standard with advertising” will cost now 6.99 euros monthly instead of the 5.49 paid to date with an annual increase of 18 euros. Immediately after here is the “Standard without advertising” for subscribers who do not want to be interrupted while watching their favorite programs with a change of one euro, from 12.99 to 13.99 euros per month which means paying, overall, 12 euros more every year. Finally, here is the most expensive one which concerns the “Premium” subscription which is the one that has undergone the most significant increase, going from 17.99 to 19.99 euros per month, therefore two euros more which means 24 euros more per year.
The surcharge for the extra user
The reason for this choice is clear: premium users can count on Ultra HD viewing, louder audio but also the ability to download content from as many as four devices. Regardless of the plan used, anyone who wants to let another user use their subscription will have to pay 4.99 euros more compared to the prices already mentioned: in the Standard plans you can only add one, for the Premium you can “give” your account to two additional users. For new subscribers the increases will start today, Friday 18 October, for those who have already signed up for a subscription with Netflix the adjustments will start from Saturday 19 October.
The Udicon protest
The news was not taken well by Udicon (Consumer Defense Union): its president, Martina Donini, made herself heard, underlining that streaming platforms such as Netflix “sThey are now the cross and delight of consumers. On the one hand they offer content that is appreciated by families, on the other each season becomes an opportunity to announce new price increases that leave users dismayed”. In this case, in fact, the increase would only concern Italy and Spain. “It is yet another confirmation, with a series of changes, which further penalize those who use these services. We are aware that content production costs are growing but we believe that the increase in prices must always be justified by a concrete improvement in the services offered to consumers. Instead we see a trend going in the opposite direction: higher prices, more advertising and fewer devices available for contemporary use“.
The other increases
It can be said that Netflix is in good company when it comes to increases: Disney+ increases have already started in the USA, as has been the case for Dazn and Prime Video subscribers: to prevent them from becoming more and more accessible to who can afford to pay certain monthly and annual amounts, Udicon asks all platforms “to review its pricing policy and offer greater transparency on increases.
Consumers deserve more accessible prices, more devices available on which to use the service and correct communication of price increases. It is necessary that these platforms become accessible to everyone again, without compromising on the service offered”he concludes. Donini.