Netflix to charge $1 more for Blu-ray

We knew it was coming, but Wednesday Netflix made it official--starting in November, those who rent Blu-ray movies will be charged an extra dollar, in addition to standard subscription fees. The move is hardly a surprise, considering Netflix's CEO mentioned that a surcharge was coming in April, but home theater fans may still be taken aback since the company has never charged more for Blu-ray Discs before. Here's a screenshot of the e-mail subscribers received if they rent Blu-ray movies:

While $1 seems like a reasonable surcharge to us (Blu-ray movies do cost more), some subscribers may have become accustomed to getting more services for free. For example, Netflix's Watch Now service still allows for unlimited viewing with a standard subscription. While that didn't mean much a year ago, the service has become much more attractive with new content from CBS and Disney (Disclosure: CBS is the parent company of CNET.) Additionally, it's become easier to access Watch Now, now that its accessible via the Netflix Player, LG BD300 and, in the future, the Xbox 360. We have to wonder, is there a surcharge coming for heavy Watch Now users?

What do you think? Will the price change affect your Netflix habits? Or do you think, like us, that even at $1 extra it's still a great deal?

[scaught78]

Fine with me. I mean really, if it helps maintain their Blu Ray stock then I am all for it.

[griz_fan]

I think this is reasonable. I still see Netflix as a great entertainment value. I only hope that this extra revenue will also help them increase availability of BR titles.

[umbrae]

Netflix is very anti-customer. Glad I left them. Blockbuster has a better website, does not cripple new release availability to cheaper account types, and is now $1 and 1 penny cheaper than Netflix. Honestly, both as horrible companies, but Netflix just seemed to show no value in having me as a customer.

[dirty55409]

I've been actually very impressed with Netflix. In terms of calling their 800 number I get to a person almost as fast as calling the blockbuster down the street. Blockbuster sucks due to the fact that if you want through the mail AND in store swaps, you have to pay $35 lol what a joke.

I hate Blockbuster. They once lost a movie that I returned, and then reported me to a credit agency when I refused to pay them $20. Everything I have experienced and heard about Netflix proves to me that they know much more about keeping customers happy than Blockbuster does.

[kevsmail]

I'm liking Blockbuster a lot too. Don't know what plan that $35 plan is that drty55409 is talking about. There is no restrictions on store turn-ins that I know of.

I'm on the 2-by-mail per month plan for $8.95, which lets me get a movie one week, return it to Blockbuster the following Tuesday to exchange it for a NEW RELEASE on the day of release which I can hold for 9 days without penalty, receive another disc by mail later that week, return it to Blockbuster the following Tuesday to exchange for another NEW RELEASE on the day of release and hold that for 9 days... It works out to about a new movie every weekend for the month for $8.95.

Huge bargain, considering I used to spend $30-40/mth buying DVDs a year ago, only to hardly ever watch them again, just watching them stockpile...

[OscarWeb]

kevsmail: Blockbuster allows you to exchange online rentals for free in-store rentals up to the limit set by your account. According to their website, the least expensive 2-a-month plan is $3.99+tax with in-store swaps for $1.99 each. The $9.99 mo.+tax plan allows for what you say you get for only $8.95, which is 2 discs per month with 2 free in-store swaps. What dirty55409 is talking about is the Total Access Premium plan which allows for 3 discs at a time, unlimited per month, with unlimited in-store exchanges.

[iwarrior-poet]

Sounds pretty reasonable to me. All the more reason to get a blu-ray player fairly soon. (hoping for a PS3 that will have bitstream or the high end audio formats)

[lobo65]

The only problem I had with it was that I had no advance warning. Just a message stating "oh by the way, we are going to shake you down for an extra dollar a month. Have a nice day."

Umm... they talked about this back in April as the article said, and they sent the e-mail out a month before they are going to start charging. That sounds like "advance warning" to me.

[muestro]

I just checked my account (to turn off the Blu-ray option) but it was already off by default. I think the newsletter has it backwards.

[biggben]

Netflix is still a great value, especially with their Watch It Now service. With Comcast raising their prices, I am even considering downgrading my cable package and upgrading my Netflix plan. At least Netflix isn't charging $1 for every movie in your monthly plan.

[checodaman]

Not a problem for me. Blu-Ray is more expensive. Simply put, their model was not created when blu-ray was around. Now that it is (and much more expensive) it makes sense to add a small monthly fee. I have 2in2out plan but with the free unlimited Instant Watching capability I watch a streaming movie everyday.

I <3 Netflix, their customer service is INCREDIBLE

[ElmoKajaky]

I just wish they hadn't canceled all HD-DVD movies. Even now, there are a lot of movies that can only be watched in HD-DVD if you want to see them hi-def. Blockbuster still has HD-DVD movies, and that's why I currently use both services (Blockbuster often has low stocks of popular movies; I had to wait months to see Bourne Supremacy, that's why I prefer Netflix for Blu-Ray and DVD titles, but I have to hold onto my Blockbuster membership for the HD-DVD titles).

[ElmoKajaky]

I just wish they hadn't canceled all HD-DVD movies. Even now, there are a lot of movies that can only be watched in HD-DVD if you want to see them hi-def. Blockbuster still has HD-DVD movies, and that's why I currently use both services (Blockbuster often has low stocks of popular movies; I had to wait months to see Bourne Supremacy, that's why I prefer Netflix for Blu-Ray and DVD titles, but I have to hold onto my Blockbuster membership for the HD-DVD titles).

[biggben]

Netflix is still a great value, especially with their Watch It Now service. With Comcast raising their prices, I am even considering downgrading my cable package and upgrading my Netflix plan. At least Netflix isn't charging $1 for every movie in your monthly plan.

[FCBarca]

Pretty comical...Add to the long list of reasons to resist BluRay

[nesheimbru]

goodbye bluray. Who cares. They should sell for the samr price anyway. Wait for the next tech sting. The improvement is not worth the price let alone the rip off for the players. Go with the upconvert and nix bluray.

[mrtolles]

While i'm not happy about the monthly increase for the "ABILITY" to get Blu-Rays, i will pay it. I will also make sure i get more Blu-Ray movies so that i get what i pay for. I have gone weeks without getting a movie in Blu-Ray, so i can only guess that some subscribers could possible go a whole billing cycle without receiving a Blu-Ray movie, yet they will still pay the extra $1 regardless. I have also received multiple Blu-Ray (and HD DVD to be fair) discs that had a little crack along the edge making them unplayable and delaying my viewing pleasures. If that trend continues, i may think about dropping the Blu-Rays from my account, but for now, paying an extra $1 a month to rent as much as i can watch is WAY better then paying an extra $10 to buy a Blu-Ray.

[nowimcool]

honestly, i think the whole 'we will now charge you for an EXTRA service unless you tell us otherwise ...' is an unethical business practice - and lots of companies do it! They know that a certain % will never turn off the option and never rent a blu-ray movie.

It's equivalent to a company purchasing something for you that you never asked for and demanding that you tell them you don't want it before they ship it to you. No one would put up with that for a second, why don't people realize this is the exact same thing?

[cgarrett]

ha! You mean like Columbia House or BMG?

[OscarWeb]

How so? You do know that you need to turn Blu-Ray rentals ON in your account, don't you? This is not a default setting.

[da_alman]

I can live with the increase, but I cannot live with the "long wait" to "very long wait" process. If Netflix wants more money, then they need to step up and have more movies in stock.
As far as the folks that don't have blu-ray. You guys are missing out on some pretty spectacular looking movies. They are totally worth it....to rent anyway.

[dave.henzel]

I don't mind the $1 charge, except that I don't always rent movies/shows that are available in blu-ray format. For instance, I'm currently watching all of Battlestar Gallatica. There isn't a single season available in blu-ray and it will take me all month to watch it. So I would prefer to be charged only in the months that I actually receive a blu-ray movie. Until then, I'm not actually utilizing any more expensive discs.

[gbelk08]

I think it's definitely appropriate. I still don't have an HDTV and therefore no Blu-ray Player, so why should I pick up the tab for those that use Blu-ray? This just makes me love Netflix even more.

[cassie811]

I just changed my account back to non blue-ray access. I am sure they have justification for the service increase. I am just not interested in accepting additional charges to my Netflix account. No harm no foul.

[RicoDiver]

Yes.. I always find myself waiting for BLU-RAY versions where I can get standard format right a way from Netflix. Perhaps they will have more available now since we all are chipping in the $1

[Delfairen]

I have 228 movies in my queue and only 36 are blu-ray assuming the normal turn around on discs and the selection of discs they have I do not think they are justified in this increase just yet. Adding to this the fact that I have sent back and had replaced about 20 DVDs due to scratches but I have never had one blu-ray with a scratch on it I suspect the blu-ray discs last longer and have to be replaced less often therefore should be cheaper in a short time period.