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from the maybe-they-could-sell-blue-checkmarks-instead dept.
The plan is to try to force Netflix customers to pay an extra $2-$3 every month for service for any users using your credentials outside of the home. An accidentally leaked Netflix help guide last week indicated that users who don't log into their Netflix account in a 31 day period would face the new surcharges, something that didn't go over well with either users or celebrities that travel a lot.
The company was then forced to backtrack, stating the guides were posted in error, and intended for customers in countries like Chile and Peru where the crackdown had already launched. Those efforts, as we'd mentioned previously, were also reportedly a confusing mess for subscribers in those countries, who say it was never really clear how the inconsistently-enforced system actually worked.
Netflix is embracing the move because the company's growth has hit a wall internationally, forcing it to begin nickel-and-diming existing subscribers if Wall Street is to get its improved quarterly returns.
[...] The question then is: is that modest bump in revenue worth alienating and annoying your existing customers in a competitive streaming market? We're apparently going to find out.
To be clear, I still think Netflix has value at its current monthly rate, and many people who complain about the new rate hikes are lazy and likely won't cancel. On the flip side, this move remains the latest signal from the company that it's done with being innovative and disruptive and has, as publicly traded companies usually do, shifted toward nickel-and-diming and turf protection as it attempts to fend off competitors.
Previously:
Netflix Fights Password-Sharing With Test of $3 "Extra Member" Fee
Netflix to Start Testing Warnings for People Borrowing Login Info
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Thursday February 09, @05:22PM (1 child)
little by little the competition is finally staggering out of bed and pulling their content back from Netflix to make their own competing streaming services... Disney
...was producing its own content over a century ago, as was Paramount. Neither of them are catching up with Netflix, both were far ahead right out of the gate. And they're eating Netflix's lunch. Both half or less than what Netflix charges, and the content and display are head and shoulders above. They're both century old pros at it. Netflix wants an extra five bucks for their 4K that I can't tell from their 1080, while Disney doesn't charge a premium for it and its clarity is breath takig and puts Netflix to shame. At half the price.
Netflix isn't shooting itself in the foot with a .22, more like a civil war cannon. I foresee their downfall. Their greed will kill them, like Blockbuster's greed killed Blockbuster.
Carbon, The only element in the known universe to ever gain sentience
(Score: 1) by stripes on Friday February 10, @05:18PM
Disney and Paramount may both produce their own content, but it seems much easier to watch "all the good stuff" and run out on them then from Netflix. Which may be a result of Netflix licencien g other people's content, but for whatever reason when we sit down to watch TV D+ and P+ both seem to be "nope, nope, nope" & Netflix is "ok, yeah, that might be ok, lets try it". Now that is partly because I think we have watched all the MCU stuff on D+ already, there was a lot of it, but they aren't making a whole lot of it on a ongoing basis (as in if you watched all of it in December there isn't any more of it now). Granted tastes can differ, and maybe you love National Geographic specials and D+ has 600+ more hours of viable content for you than me.
Almost killed, almost. There is one Blockbuster left. Some day the number could grow!