Price explosion at Netflix and Disney+: Here’s what subscribers will experience
Netflix plans to increase the price of its premium subscriptions
According to information from the Wall Street Journal, Netflix is considering increasing the price of its premium subscriptions. The current price for these subscriptions starts at $15.49 in the United States. However, it is not yet known to what extent this increase will be applied or when it will come into force. It seems that the platform is waiting for the end of the actors’ and screenwriters’ strike in Hollywood to announce this price increase.
Several countries will be 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 had already increased its prices in these two countries in March 2022. In Europe, the last price 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
This summer, Netflix removed the Essential plan in North America, leaving customers with the choice between an ad-supported option or premium subscriptions. We can hope that this Essential plan remains available in France at a price of €8.99, but its sustainability is uncertain if the platform decides to increase its prices.
Disney+ is also reviewing its pricing structure
Disney+, 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 have to pay more without benefiting from new features. It is also possible that other streaming services will follow this upward trend, amid increasingly fierce competition between platforms.
- Subscribers: will have to face increasing costs without benefiting from new functionalities.
- Streaming services: could also increase their prices.
Areas for improvement to justify price increases
To make these price increases more acceptable to subscribers, Netflix and Disney+ could propose concrete improvements in terms of content, accessibility or usability. Here are some possible avenues:
- 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, offer personalized recommendations, develop sharing features with friends.
These price increases are part of a context of fierce competition in the streaming market, where each player must stand out to attract and retain subscribers. Future announcements from Netflix and Disney+ will therefore be closely scrutinized by users, who will undoubtedly expect more from these giants to justify these additional costs.
