Netflix, one of the largest online DVD rental companies in the United States with over 10 million subscribers, today announced a disappointing 20% rate increase for Blu-ray subscribers.
In the announcement Jessie Becker, VP of Marketing, mentions that the company is adding more Blu-ray titles everyday and about 10% of Netflix customers are now renting movies in high definition. This move was inevitable as prices continue to climb for Blu-ray disks, which have always been over-priced.
While the amount isn"t, in my opinion, a tremendous rate increase, Netflix customers around the globe do not like today"s announcement. If you currently have Blu-ray access on your account, the change will not take effect until your next billing cycle on or after April 27th, 2009. Customers, who add Blu-ray access to their account from today on, will see the new pricing immediately. An overview of the price changes:
1 DVD out at-a-time (2 DVDs a month)
Monthly plan cost: $4.99
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray: $1
1 DVD out at-a-time (Unlimited)
Montly plan cost: $8.99
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray: $2
2 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited)
Monthly plan cost: $13.99
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray: $3
3 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited)
Monthly plan cost: $16.99
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray: $4
4 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited)
Monthly plan cost: $23.99
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray: $5
5 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited)
Monthly plan cost $29.99
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray: $6
More details about the pricing changes can be found here.