Customers in the UK will see an increase on their monthly subscription month from February, the streaming giant has said.
The Standard Plan, which is the most popular, will rise from £8.99 to £9.99 monthly. This package allows users to watch on two screens at once and also allows for HD viewing.
The Premium Package provides four-screen access, along with the ability to view 4K or Ultra HD content. This will rise from £11.99 to £13.99 per month, which is a 17% increase amounting to an additional £24 a year.
The only package which will not be affected by the new price increases is the Basic Plan. This one-screen non-HD package will remain at £5.99.
Existing customers will be notified of their new price via email, one month before the payment is taken. This means that the changes will come into effect gradually, and will vary between users based on their billing cycle.
Customers will also have chance to cancel their subscription – or change to a different package – penalty free.
New Netflix users who joined the service after 10th December are already subject to higher prices, and will not be affected by the change.
Currently, Netflix enjoys an audience of around 13 million customers in the UK.
A spokesperson for Netflix UK said: “This year we’re spending over one billion dollars in the UK on new, locally-made films, series, and documentaries, helping to create thousands of jobs and showcasing British storytelling at its best – with everything from The Crown to Sex Education and Top Boy, plus many, many more.
“Our price change reflects the significant investments we’ve made in new TV shows and films, as well as improvements to our product.
Our basic membership will remain at the same price, ensuring as many people as possible can enjoy our content.”
Spokesperson for Netflix UK
Throughout 2020, people were increasingly reliant on streaming services such as Prime Video, Hulu, and the recently launched Disney Plus, as well as free services such as BBC IPlayer.
The timing of this price increase is unfortunate, as every household in the UK is now subject to stay-at-home guidance.
Nick Baker, streaming and TV expert at Uswitch, said: “Netflix has been a lifeline for many people during lockdown, so this price rise is an unwanted extra expense for households feeling the financial pressure.
“It’s unfortunate timing that this price hike coincides with another national lockdown, when all of us will be streaming more television and films than ever.”
Words by Emily Withers
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.