Irish users face a Netflix price hike if they are to continue using the service, it was confirmed today, June 20th.
The streaming giant has announced increases across a number of European countries, with Ireland among those affected by the increasing cost of two out of the three subscription options offered.
The cost of a 'basic' package, which does not offer HD streaming and only allows users to watch on one screen at a time, will remain €7.99 a month but the cost of other their other offerings will rise as of today.
A 'standard' subscription, in which users can stream in HD and watch simultaneously on two screens, will rise in price by €1 to €11.99 a month.
Meanwhile the 'premium' plan gives users the ability to stream simultaneously on four different devices and watch TV shows and films in Ultra HD. The cost of this plan has risen by €2 to €15.99 a month.
A spokeswoman for the company explained the move, saying the Netflix price increase is due to the company's increased investment into the service.
"We change our prices from time to time to reflect the significant investments we’ve made in new TV shows and films, as well as improvements to our product.
"Our basic membership will remain at the same price, ensuring as many people as possible can enjoy our content."
More than 42% of Irish households used the service in 2017 according to that year's Ireland Communications Survey conducted by Comreg, while Netflix estimated that there were 250,000 accounts registered in Ireland last year.
The streaming giant has increased its original programming over the years, with critically-acclaimed shows like Sex Education, Russian Doll, When They See Us, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson and Our Planet debuting in 2019 alone.
Netflix Price Increase Breakdown:
- Basic (Watch on one screen at a time in standard definition only, download videos on one phone or tablet) - New monthly price: €7.99 (no change).
- Standard (Watch on two screens at a time with HD available, download videos on two phones or tablets) - New monthly price: €11.99 (increase of €1).
- Premium (Watch on four screens at a time with HD and Ultra HD available, download videos on four phones or tablets) new price: €15.99 (increase of €2).
