Netflix launches streaming only plan and pricing changes

Netflix has launched a streaming only option in the US, just a few scant months after launching a similar service in Canada. This new option is available for $7.99 a month, and gives users the ability to stream Netflix’s online offerings to their Macs, iPhone or iPad, and Apple TV.

Pricing for the disc-by-mail rental service has increased, however, by as much as $8 for the highest plan, to just $1 for the lowest. Writing on The Netflix Blog, Jessie Becker, VP of Marketing attributes the price increases to greater demand for content to be watched instantly. “Our selection of TV episodes and movies available to stream has grown dramatically, and as a result most members want us to deliver unlimited TV episodes and movies two ways: streaming instantly over the internet plus DVDs by mail. The price increase will allow us to continue to offer the popular plan choice of unlimited TV episodes and movies streaming instantly along with unlimited DVDs.” The price increases only affect DVD plans. Blu-ray pricing remains unaffected.

There are no plans that offer only DVD by mail rentals, as every plan includes the watch instantly service, and Netflix makes no bones about where it intends to go. “The fact is that Netflix members are already watching more TV episodes and movies streamed instantly over the Internet than on DVDs, and we expect that trend to continue. Creating the best user experience that we can around watching instantly is how we’re spending the vast majority of our time and resources,” says Becker.

Between Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and the iTunes store, paying to watch TV and Movies has never been easier.

Article Via BoyGeniusReport

Eugene Huo is a Juno Award winning recording engineer, video editor, photographer, and all around Mac geek. His first Mac experience was with the Macintosh Plus. You never forget your first. You can follow him on twitter @gamerparent, and check… Full Bio