Bad news for Netflix legacy subscribers in the UK. Subscription cost may jump up next month because the streaming service will end its legacy subscription package.
Netflix currently offers three different subscription bundles in the UK: Basic, Standard and Premium. The Basic package, which costs £5.99 ($8.55) a month, has no HD viewing options and only allows users to log in one screen at a time. For £7.49 ($10.69) a month, users can enjoy the Standard package, which includes HD and dual-screen viewing options, while the Premium package, priced at £8.99 ($12.83), includes 4K quality viewing and allows four screens on one account.
Members who have signed up to the streaming service when it first launched in the UK were able to avail of the entry-level HD plan at a cheaper price of £5.99 per month. This rate is about to change. Netflix is bumping up the price to £7.49 ($10.69) a month, consistent with the Standard package.
"Later this month, members in the UK will begin to be ungrandfathered," said a spokesman for Netflix. As a thank you to existing and loyal members, "grandfathering" means honoring the deal that was offered when customers first signed up.
"Impacted members will be clearly notified by email and within the service, so that they have time to decide which plan/price point works best for them," they continued.
The good news is that most accounts will not be switched to a higher rate until May. There is still time to catch up on all favorite shows, specially those subscribers who have decided to cancel their subscription.
Users are encouraged to log in their Netflix account, check Your Account page and hit Plan Details to find out the exact date these subscription changes will apply.
The changes in Netflix UK price follow a similar trend in the United States, where legacy subscribers paying $7.99 for the Standard package will now be charged $9.99 per month. That was the second time Netflix has bumped the subscription price in the U.S. The first price hike was announced in May 2014, which increased the Basic bundle from $7.99 to $8.99.
Despite the increase in subscription price, Netflix's subscription base remains strong. Its subscriber base has grown by 5.59 million in the last quarter of 2015 alone.
