Netflix raises subscription prices in UK

Following last month's subscription price increases in the United States, Canada, Argentina, and Portugal, Netflix has also announced an increase in subscription fees in the United Kingdom. This price adjustment affects all subscription plans and aims to support the company's continued investment in content production and enhancement of member value.

In this adjustment, the price of the most popular ad-free Standard subscription plan has increased by £2 to £12.99 per month. The Standard subscription plan with ads has increased by £1 to £5.99 per month. The most expensive Premium subscription plan has also increased by £1 to £18.99 per month. Furthermore, the cost of adding extra members has also increased by £1.

Netflix has updated the price information on its website, and the new prices apply to both new and existing users. The company stated, "We occasionally ask members to pay a little more so that we can reinvest and further improve Netflix." Technology analyst Paolo Pescatore believes that Netflix's price increase was "expected" and points out that the streaming business is imitating the pricing model of traditional television, which consumers should gradually adapt to. However, he also warned that Netflix must act cautiously, as there is an upper limit to price increases, and exceeding the consumer's acceptable range will trigger strong dissatisfaction.

Netflix is not the only streaming platform to increase subscription fees. In 2024, several streaming giants, including Disney+, Spotify, and Paramount+, also raised prices globally. In addition, since implementing a password-sharing ban in the UK and the US in May 2023, Netflix has added millions of users and reached a total of over 300 million subscribers worldwide by the end of 2024.

Netflix stated that the significant increase in subscribers is due to the launch of the second season of the Korean drama "Squid Game" and the expansion of sports events. The platform streamed two NFL games live on Christmas and hosted a boxing match between influencer boxer Jake Paul and former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Netflix's net profit doubled year-on-year to $1.8 billion, and sales increased from $8.8 billion to $10.2 billion.