Netflix and a price hike

[TS_Hawk]

So not sure how many subscribers there are on here to Netflix. But according to an article today they are planning on raising their prices by $1 or $2 in July? Frankly I am not sure what I am going to do. But it is still cheaper than cable or Satellite to have that and Hulu Plus.

[Peter Smith]

My understanding was the price increase was for new subscribers.

[BirdofPrey]

I haven't heard about that, though even with a slight price hike, I'll take it over my cable.
Internets FTW

[Charlie Tango]

My understanding was the price increase was for new subscribers.

Correct.

[Stormlion1]

Use Hulu and even now only once in a blue moon. I just don't watch much TV anymore.

[TigerShark]

Considering the limited library of online videos, I wasn't even ok with what they charged before. There's only so many Asylum films you can watch...

[Colt Ward]

They have a bit of an issue because all the broadcast channels are attempting to copy as they notice how similar they are to dodos.  So, those companies along with anyone else they can exert influence on are not letting as much TV filter down a season or two behind.

I like Netflix, and with free Hulu to watch the latest Arrow, Vikings or rare other program I watch I am good at the moment.  Feel sorry for the folks stuck with Comcast who admitted they slowed down the stream to those who were getting Netflix 1) because they could, and 2) to punish those folks for not buying their cable . . . mean while like railroads in the early 1900s they are confused.  They seem to have forgotten they are in the entertainment business rather than the cable TV business.

[I am Belch II]

I like Netflix more then Hulu. There is no commercials on Netflix.

[StoneRhino]

The problem is that it is just going to be the starting point. Test the waters with a few bucks, see how many people stick around, how many leave. Next slide in another buck or two, claim House of Cards as the reason you should pay more. Soon, its just going to be as bad as getting cable but without all of the channels that have 20 different pawn shop shows, history shows about people running around naked and or in a swamp chasing gators.

If Netflix continues to grow then cable companies are going to start reducing speeds, as someone mentioned a company already has. You can say "screw cable!" but most people are going to be using cable based internet to watch netflix. Its not as though you can select which cable company you can get internet access from, they have a legalized monopoly, so you have no choice but to pay them or go with something slower. Costs are just going to start stacking up.

[Charlie Tango]

Its not as though you can select which cable company you can get internet access from, they have a legalized monopoly, so you have no choice but to pay them or go with something slower.

That's not necessarily true. In many places there are more than one company in competition (here I think we have at least 3) , and cable/twisted pair will slowly but surely be replaced by fiber-optic.  If and when a company sees a business opportunity to make money they will jump in and compete with the extant companies that may be dominant in any given area.

[JadeHellbringer]

I'm about ready to toss Netflix as it is... it's a neat idea, but the library is so limited that I'm having trouble finding things I want to watch at this point to justify the expense per month. I know it isn't much money, but it's still more than I want to spend on something that isn't really providing a lot of entertainment, beyond Deep Space 9 reruns and an occasional movie that I haven't already seen.

[TigerShark]

That's not necessarily true. In many places there are more than one company in competition (here I think we have at least 3) , and cable/twisted pair will slowly but surely be replaced by fiber-optic.  If and when a company sees a business opportunity to make money they will jump in and compete with the extant companies that may be dominant in any given area.

Yeah, if you count cable vs. phone vs. satellite, everyone has around 3 choices.

Funny thing is the cable company around here double-charges. If you purchase internet, that's one fee. Analog cable is a second fee, even though it's been fed through the same line. They have to put a terminator on your line to STOP the signal from getting to you. lol

It's a bit like running water to your house, but having the utilities company cap off the upstairs faucets. If you want to use those, you need to pay a fee. lol

[YingJanshi]

Doesn't bother me too much. My queue is still almost full.

But for the cable...I live in a dead zone. I can't get high-speed internet from anyone. Now, go half a mile in any direction and sure then I have choices.

Thankfully my neighborhood was one of the ones selected for Google Fiber, so now just waiting on the installation of that..

[TS_Hawk]

I'm about ready to toss Netflix as it is... it's a neat idea, but the library is so limited that I'm having trouble finding things I want to watch at this point to justify the expense per month. I know it isn't much money, but it's still more than I want to spend on something that isn't really providing a lot of entertainment, beyond Deep Space 9 reruns and an occasional movie that I haven't already seen.

that is why they want to do the price hike is so they can afford to get more shows for viewers

[Charlie Tango]

Yeah, if you count cable vs. phone vs. satellite, everyone has around 3 choices.

Funny thing is the cable company around here double-charges. If you purchase internet, that's one fee. Analog cable is a second fee, even though it's been fed through the same line. They have to put a terminator on your line to STOP the signal from getting to you. lol

It's a bit like running water to your house, but having the utilities company cap off the upstairs faucets. If you want to use those, you need to pay a fee. lol

Here I have several companies who offer full services (phone/internet/cable all in one package.  I buy mine from AT&T U-verse while other relatives have Comcast Xfinity and one of my cousins has something else that provides/phone/internet/cable.  So it's not a monopoly.

[Fallen_Raven]

When I lived in rural New Mexico I had a provider that offered direct fiber lines for less than I paid for phone service. Comcast was offering everything but HBO, Showtime, and Cinemax as part of the basic package to compete.

[cold1]

Wait, a service company announced a price hike for new subscribers 2 months in advance???

Wonder how many new subscribers are being refered by this news??? ;D

[TigerShark]

Wait, a service company announced a price hike for new subscribers 2 months in advance???

Wonder how many new subscribers are being refered by this news??? ;D

Netflix: "Be prepared to pay $2 more per month for your Sharknado and Sharktapus vs. Giant Jumbo Jellyfish watchins."

[nckestrel]

Here I have several companies who offer full services (phone/internet/cable all in one package.  I buy mine from AT&T U-verse while other relatives have Comcast Xfinity and one of my cousins has something else that provides/phone/internet/cable.  So it's not a monopoly.

That's the common definition, not the legal one.
In law, a monopoly is a business entity that has significant market power, that is, the power to charge high prices.

[TigerShark]

That's the common definition, not the legal one.
In law, a monopoly is a business entity that has significant market power, that is, the power to charge high prices.

Still not correct. It's when a fat, rich guy with a mustache has the power to charge you for landing on a stupid, red hotel.

[guardiandashi]

there is monopoly, and effective monopoly.

IMO in most markets the cable companies are effective monopolies in the US why because they are often EFFECTIVELY the only option for a service.

note I will use Comcast as an example its when you start looking and see huge swaths of the country where your choice is Comcast, or satellite or nothing and Comcast can get away with charging something like $ 70/month for cable internet, and $100 /month for tv they may not be an in fact monopoly but they are basically an EFFECTIVE monopoly (IMO)

[Kojak]

The word you all are looking for is oligopoly.