Originals investment pushes up Netflix price

Netflix has hiked its prices once again, with the SVOD giant claiming this is due to its investments in original programming.

Netflix’s content spend is due to hit US$7 billion (€6 billion) next year, with shows such as the newly commissioned ten-part series Raising Dion the result.

A Netflix spokesperson was quoted as saying the new higher prices were reflective of 1,000 hours of original content added to the service in 2017.

In the US, standard HD prices are rising from US$9.99 to US$10.99, with a premium subscription (allowing four simultaneous users and access to ultra HD content) is US$2 to US$13.99.

In the UK, a basic plan will remain at £5.99 (US$7.83), but a standard HD plan is increasing 50p per month to £7.99 and a premium subscription is rising £1 to £9.99.

However, the rises only related to new customers, with existing subs remaining at their current rates.

The Netflix spokesperson said: “From time to time, Netflix plans and pricing are adjusted as we add more exclusive TV shows and movies, introduce new product features and improve the overall Netflix experience to help members find something great to watch even faster.”

Netflix raised prices for existing subs in the US last year, after increasing prices in Europe, and North and Latin America the year before. There was also a worldwide hike in 2014.

New series Raising Dion is a one-hour sci-fi family drama from Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society Productions, MACRO and Netflix Productions.

It is based on a short film from commercials and music director Dennis Liu about an African-American single mother who discovers her son has several superhero-like abilities. Jordan (The Wire) will appear in the series.

Carol Barbee, who was an executive producer on Lifetime’s UnReal, is showrunner.

She is also executive producing alongside, Jordan; Charles D. King, Kim Roth and Poppy Hanks from MACRO; Kenny Goodman; and Michael Green (American Gods).

The series will debut in Netflix territories in more than 190 territories.

“We haven’t seen this type of superhero story before – an origin myth full of imagination, wonder and adventure, all grounded in the experiences of a modern single mother,” said Cindy Holland, VP of original content for Netflix.