Netflix Plans To Charge A Premium On Blu-ray

[timbobarry]

This sucks

Source

If you rent Blu-ray releases trough the Netflix rent service you could look forward to paying a premium for the service.

Until now renting HD titles on Netflix has been available at no extra cost. However, "Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said on a conference call that because Blu-ray discs cost more to purchase, the company plans on charging a premium on accounts that rent Blu-ray movies." according to CNET. Hastings said "consumers are used to paying more for high-definition,"

Hastings also said that they would expand their upcoming download/streaming service to include more set-top boxes. So, Netflix will support their own upcoming box they are doing with LG and also plans to pair up with two additional major companies, and one additional small company.

More when it arrives.

[melodywhore]

Originally Posted by timbobarry

This sucks

Source

there will be an increased cost involved with their download service, too. but this increased cost for high def isn't new news... i think this has been rumoured for a while. as far back as when netflix announced they were dropping hd dvd.

[Stormkeep]

I agree that it sucks, but as Melodywhore already said, the announcement wasn't unexpected.

Someone should tell Netflix they don't need to pass the additional cost of the blu-ray media to their customers because the scratch protection means that each disc will survive through a greater number of rentals than a standard DVD and that is what will offset the cost for them.

Seriously though, I'm a huge netflix user. I have the 8-disc account, which isn't cheap. On the one hand, I realize Blu-ray is more expensive and it's been a good deal for me to not have to pay more to rent them. On the other hand, this is already a pretty expensive account level for me. If other rental chains don't follow the same price model, Netflix could lose me as a customer.

[Kosty]

It has nothing to do with costs, its maximizing revenues to what the market will bear.

Might only affect the lower cost plans, like the typical 3 out at a time plan that they might throttle anyway.

[michealo]

if all the BD change from 'long wait' to 'now' in my queue, i have no problem paying a few more dollars per month.

netflix has saved me so much money over the years.

[thedude]

Originally Posted by Stormkeep

I agree that it sucks, but as Melodywhore already said, the announcement wasn't unexpected.

Someone should tell Netflix they don't need to pass the additional cost of the blu-ray media to their customers because the scratch protection means that each disc will survive through a greater number of rentals than a standard DVD and that is what will offset the cost for them.

Seriously though, I'm a huge netflix user. I have the 8-disc account, which isn't cheap. On the one hand, I realize Blu-ray is more expensive and it's been a good deal for me to not have to pay more to rent them. On the other hand, this is already a pretty expensive account level for me. If other rental chains don't follow the same price model, Netflix could lose me as a customer.

they lost me as soon as they said they were dropping so i kindly went back 2 bb online and rent both formats with no problem

[DaveS1138]

Not unexpected but disapointing.

I'm curious to see how much they charge and how.....If you ever rent BD do you get the new charge or only months that you rent BD's? So if I rent one this month but none for the next 2 months do I still pay the premium?

[josuff247]

Originally Posted by michealo

if all the BD change from 'long wait' to 'now' in my queue, i have no problem paying a few more dollars per month.

netflix has saved me so much money over the years.

AGREED!!!!

[jrstinkfish]

I thought dropping HD-DVD was supposed to eliminate the "long wait" ... now raising prices will eliminate it. I have the one-at-a-time plan since I rent maybe 2 movies a month, sometimes 3. If it gets more expensive, I'll just go to Blockbuster if their BD selection is decent.

[ack_bak]

It sounds like this is going to happen based on the CEO's comments. I suspect that Blockbuster will follow, but if Blockbuster decided to keep BD rental prices the sane as DVD it would be a huge win for them and would most likely force Netflix to do the same.

[jrstinkfish]

Well, they didn't follow suit (yet) in dropping HD-DVD, so maybe they got a decent bump in subscriptions from that and will welcome, with open arms, more Netflix refugees

[ack_bak]

Originally Posted by jrstinkfish

Well, they didn't follow suit (yet) in dropping HD-DVD, so maybe they got a decent bump in subscriptions from that and will welcome, with open arms, more Netflix refugees

It would be a smart move for them. And with local stores now carrying Blu-Ray it really opens up more options versus Netflix.

[jcc]

Blockbuster prices already are a bit higher than Netflix, but you do get the in-store exchanges that give you more rentals per month, so I still think Blockbuster is a good deal. If Netflix raises prices, Blockbuster may follow suit.

[Kamakzie]

If the price is a ridiculous increase I might just go back to only renting DVD's from them.

[Fettastic]

Thousands of people will close their Netflix account if this happens, myself included.

"People are used to paying more for high def"?

Has this guy ever heard of torrents? How about OTA HD? Treating HD as if it is some sort of special gift from the studios is a mistake. J6p is ALREADY turning his nose up at it, this will only make it worse.