Streaming giant Netflix is set to give its subscription costs a price hike again, including providing an ad-supported tier. First launched in 2007, Netflix has changed the way viewers consume entertainment, and has gone on to become the most popular and successful video-on-demand streaming media service in the world. As of 2024, it is estimated that Netflix boasts a staggering 282.7 million paid subscriptions, across 190 different countries, and is the 23rd most visited website in the world. However, a controversial decision could result in driving viewers away from the platform in the coming years.

Per reports in Variety, Netflix is planning to hike the costs of its monthly subscription model in the United States, raising the Standard Plan (without ads) by $2.50, from $15.49 to a new price of $17.99. The move comes three years after the last price rise for the Standard Plan and follows Netflix’s Q4 2024 claim of its biggest-ever quarterly subscriber increase. Additionally, the ad-supported tier is up $1 to $7.99, and the Premium Tier is up $2 to $24.99.

What This Means For Netflix Subscribers Moving Forward

Higher Cost Doesn’t Necessarily Equal Higher Quality

Since launching its Netflix Originals program in 2011, with its debut show House of Cards, the streamer has aggressively pushed its original content in recent years, with Originals now accounting for over half the platform’s library in the United States. This has increased a lot in recent years, and while there has been a large range of movies and shows to choose from, there is a school of thought that content saturation has led to a decline in the quality of the products the streamer is providing, and this is going to prove a problem when hiking subscription prices.

Viewers need a reason to part with their money, particularly during the rising cost of living, and this means there needs to be good quality movies and shows to command their attention. There is no question that all streaming platforms suffer from an over-saturation problem as they compete for viewing figures, and the alarming dip in quality doesn’t appear to be a freak occurrence. It remains to be seen whether people are going to be happy to pay more, particularly with the introduction of adverts and pᴀssword crackdown.

Our Verdict On Netflix’s Subscription Price Hike Decision

This Is A Risky Move With Several Successful Projects Due To End Soon

The problem Netflix has is that many of its flagship shows, such as Squid Game, Bridgerton, and Stranger Things will conclude soon, certainly in the next couple of years, and there don’t seem to be many stand-out replacements. This, coupled with rising prices, and the streamer cutting down on pᴀssword sharing, could cause a huge crash in the number of subscribers in the coming years. Higher subscriptions may generate increased revenue for Netflix short term, but it might also drive people away, so it’s certainly a risky decision long term.

Source: Variety