The streamer has already phased out the cheapest ad-free subscription option for new signups.

Netflix Hints at Price Increases, Plans to Retire Basic Service Amid Ad-Tier Growth::Netflix says subscriptions to its ad-supported service grew by 70 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023.

    • Buffalox@lemmy.worldEnglish
      111·
      3 years ago

      I predicted exactly this when they first announced cheaper subscriptions with ads. People were raving that they’d abandon Netflix, because of price hikes commercials and preventing unlimited shared accounts. I suppose some did, but more was added with the cheaper option. So 100% a gain for Netflix. I even considered buying stock in Netflix, but didn’t in part because the stock market was pretty shaky at the time. But it would have been a decent investment.

    • Kairos@lemmy.todayEnglish
      11·
      3 years ago

      That actually false. They lost subscribers in the areas where the change took place

    • prole@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      1·
      3 years ago

      It’s called rent-seeking. There’s already a well studied term for the phenomenon. I’m happy that young people are starting to recognize it, but this isn’t anything new. This is how capitalism works.

  • escapedgoat@lemmy.worldEnglish
    34·
    3 years ago

    Netflix already costs over $185 a year. For that price I can rent 6 5k UHD movies a month at redbox and get much higher quality viewing. I can’t find 6 good things to watch any given month on Netflix. I might turn my membership back on for the final season of Cobra Kai or Stranger Things, but there’s just not much else that’s compelling me to spend that money.

  • rando895@lemmy.mlEnglish
    30·
    3 years ago

    What I find interesting is it seems like we are again converging on the same service as cable. Which suggests that the best method of profiting off watching movies/tv at home is to have ad supported entertainment, with a monthly fee.

    Once again, the profit motive ruins something good .

  • WishbackJumpsta@lemmy.worldEnglish
    23·
    3 years ago

    Yeah, because its other plans are STUPIDLY expensive, their content and original shows don’t justify the price.

  • O_i@lemmy.worldEnglish
    21·
    3 years ago

    Obligatory, “if it happens I’m out” post

    For reals though fuck these gonks

  • Got_Bent@lemmy.worldEnglish
    16·
    3 years ago

    I cancelled prime the day they sent the no more ad free email.

    Netflix doesn’t even provide me with low quality counterfeit goods that get lost in transit, so this is a super easy decision.

    Heh. What am I saying? I cancelled Netflix last year when my kid’s graduation coincided with their shared password crackdown. I only still had it so she could use it.

    • Eddie Trax@dmv.socialEnglish
      8·
      3 years ago

      Same here and I cancelled Netflix back when they announced they were cracking down on shared accounts. Arrrrrrr

    • essteeyou@lemmy.worldEnglish
      23·
      3 years ago

      If everyone learned to “use the internet” and stopped paying then there would be nothing to pay for because nobody works for free.

  • topperharlie@lemmy.worldEnglish
    161·
    3 years ago

    I already unsubscribed and start sailing when the account share thing happened, but people are willing to take anything these days… so good for netflix I suppose.

    101 businessman logic: slowly stretch it until numbers go down, and then back down a bit, just to keep trying stretching it further in a later time. Repeat.

    infinite growth guaranteed.

    This is why at this point I don’t trust any subscription type thing, they are all destined to end up in that cycle, which, good for them, I think it’ll have to explode eventually, or not, who cares, I’m already out anyway

  • Vertelleus@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    15·
    3 years ago

    I only had Netflix because it was free included with my T-Maybe account. They are switching it to the ad supported tier today as base, and a user has to pay extra for the non-ad supported tiers.

    My plan going forward is to watch the first episode with ads and if I like it I’ll search the high seas for the rest.

    The enshitification continues.

    • root@lemmy.zipEnglish
      3·
      3 years ago

      Once they changed it to paying that like $1 extra for the plan, I noped off TMobile. No use for it anymore when Google Fi is way cheaper for just 2 people. I just pirated everything anyways even when we had the subscription