Amid rising inflation and increased pressure on household finances, Netflix is to increase the price of its plans in Ireland by up to 17%.
Inflation in Ireland is currently running at a near 21-year high and it seems like everything from petrol and diesel to gas, electricity and food has been shooting up in price.
And you can now add the cost of your Netflix subscription to the list.
The American streaming giant is to increase the price on all its plans for Irish subscribers - and those in the UK too.
Its basic package will increase by €1 to €8.99 a month. Its standard package will rise by €2 to €14.99 a month while its premium subscription will increase by €3, or almost 17%, to a fairly hefty €20.99 a month. A premium Netflix subscription is now more expensive in Ireland than in almost any other country worldwide!
While these may not seem like huge increases, and you could argue Netflix still provides excellent value for money, it's the second increase from the company in just under a year. In January of last year, its premium plan was €15.99 a month for example.
The streaming service is home to some of the world's biggest shows including The Crown, Bridgerton, Stranger Things, and Squid Game and has around 600,000 subscribers in Ireland. Like all streaming services it has been investing heavily in content in recent years.
Netflix plans
The main reason people pay more for their Netflix subscription is the allowance Netflix grants for the number of devices that are allowed to watch at the same time.
The basic plan only allows one device to view at a time. Standard subscribers are currently able to watch on two devices simultaneously, while premium users can have four shows or movies streaming at any one time.
And perhaps more importantly for some, basic customers can only stream at a quality of 480p, while standard and premium customers have access to the crisp quality of 1080p (Full HD).
However, only premium customers have access to Ultra HD (4K) and HDR streaming where it's available. But does it justify the price tag?
|
Price plan |
New price |
Resolution |
No. devices |
No. shows |
|
Basic |
€8.99 (+€1) |
480p |
1 |
Unlimited content |
|
Standard |
€14.99 (+€2) |
1080p |
2 |
Unlimited content |
|
Premium |
€20.99 (+€3) |
4K + HDR |
4 |
Unlimited content |
Reasons for the rise
Netflix has justified the price increase and pointed out that it's on the back of huge investment that it's made in film, drama, comedy and documentaries over the past year.
We have always been focused on providing our members both quality and clear value for their membership. Our updated prices reflect the investment we have made in our service and catalogue, and will allow us to continue making the series, documentaries and films our members love as well as investing in talent and the creative industry. We offer a range of plans so members can choose a price that works best for them.
At the moment Netflix is available in more than 190 countries and has over 220 million subscribers worldwide.
Of course Netflix isn’t the only streaming service increasing its prices. Around this time last year Disney+ announced that it was raising its prices. And another announcement probably isn't far off.
And if you're wondering how Netflix and Disney+ measure up, you can read our definitive guide to all the streaming services in Ireland here.
When will the price increase take effect?
The price change will come into effect immediately for all new customers, while existing subscribers will be notified by email 30 days before the change comes into effect.
Compare broadband options on bonkers.ie
If you currently have either a standard or premium plan and want to be able to fully enjoy HD content, you'll need a decent broadband connection.
The good news is that you can easily and quickly compare a wide range of broadband deals on bonkers.ie.
Use our broadband comparison tool to review all of the options available in your area in just a few clicks.
Before making the switch, make sure you check out these helpful articles which will help you make an informed decision:
- Learn exactly how you can switch broadband providers with this step-by-step guide.
- Have a look at some of the most common questions we get asked about the broadband switching process.
- Take a look at this list of 7 factors to consider when assessing your broadband options.
Get in touch
What do you make of the latest increase from Netflix? Will you be cancelling your subscription, or perhaps even upgrading? Let us know in the comments below!
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