Netflix plans to increase the price of its premium subscriptions
The Wall Street Journal reported that Netflix plans to increase the price of its premium subscriptions, which currently go for $15.49 in the United States. It has not been specified the extent of this increase or the exact date on which it will be implemented, but it seems that the platform is waiting for the end of the strike of actors and screenwriters in Hollywood, which could be resolved soon .
Several countries affected by this price increase
While waiting for the end of the strike, several countries will be affected by this increase, notably the United States and Canada. Netflix has already increased its prices in these two countries in March 2022. In Europe, the last increase dates back to October 2021.
- United States and Canada: first countries affected by this new price increase.
- Europe: the last price increase dates back to October 2021.
Removal of the Essential plan in North America
Netflix also removed the Essential plan in North America this summer, leaving customers to choose between an ad-supported option or premium subscriptions. We can hope that this Essential plan remains available in France for €8.99, but its lifespan could be called into question if the platform increases its prices.
Disney+ is also changing its pricing structure
The American video-on-demand giant is not the only one to increase its prices. From December 1 in France, Disney+ will offer a new price list. This maintains the Standard subscription at €8.99 but removes certain features such as 4K quality or Dolby Atmos audio.
Consequences of these increases on subscribers and the streaming market
These price increases risk dissatisfying subscribers, who will see their bill increase without benefiting from new features in return. It’s also possible that other streaming services will follow this upward trend, as competition between platforms becomes increasingly fierce.
- Subscribers: will face increasing costs without benefiting from new features.
- Streaming services: could also increase their prices.
Areas for improvement to justify price increases
To make these new increases acceptable to subscribers, it would be wise for Netflix and Disney+ to propose concrete improvements in terms of content, accessibility or ergonomics. Here are some suggestions:
- Content: expand the catalog with new exclusive films and series, offer more local productions.
- Accessibility: facilitate access to content for visually and hearing impaired people, add new subtitling and dubbing languages.
- Ergonomics: improve navigation on platforms, promote personalized recommendations, develop sharing features between friends.
These price increases take place in a context of fierce competition in the streaming market, where each player must stand out to retain and attract subscribers. Future announcements from Netflix and Disney+ will therefore be carefully monitored by users, who will probably expect more from these giants to justify these additional costs.