Netflix to raise subscription prices in US, Canada, others

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Netflix will raise prices across several countries after adding nearly 19 million subscribers in the final months of 2024.

Prices will rise for users in the United States, Canada, Portugal and Argentina, but it has not been confirmed if the UK will see any similar price increases.

In the United States a standard monthly plan with adverts will rise to $7.99 (£6.49), a standard plan without ads will increase to $17.99 (£14.60) and a premium plan has gone up to $22.99 (£18.66).

The price in the UK currently stands at £4.99 for a standard monthly plan with adverts, £10.99 for a standard without ads, and £17.99 for a premium account.

Netflix ended last year with more than 300 million subscribers – an increase of 41 million from 2023. This eclipsed its previous best year, 2020, which saw it add 36.6 million subscribers as pandemic lockdowns saw people turn to the streaming giant for entertainment.

After it announced the increase in users, Netflix’s shares surged by 14%.

The increase in numbers is widely credited to Netflix’s streaming of a fight between YouTube sensation Jake Paul and former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, as well as two National Football League games on Christmas Day.

Asked if prices were set to increase in the UK, a spokesperson for Netflix said there was “nothing to share right now”.

Netflix announced better-than-expected subscriber numbers, helped by the second series of South Korean drama Squid Game as well as sports including a boxing match between influencer-turned-fighter Jake Paul and former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.

The last time Netflix raised prices in the US was October 2023, when it also lifted costs for some plans in the UK.

“We will occasionally ask our members to pay a little more so that we can re-invest to further improve Netflix,” it said.

Meanwhile, the company said it finished last year with more than 300 million subscribers in total. It had been expected to add 9.6 million new subscribers between October and December but far surpassed that number.

It is the last time that Netflix will report quarterly subscriber growth – from now on it said it will “continue to announce paid memberships as we cross key milestones”.

As well as Squid Game and the Paul v Tyson fight, Netflix also streamed two NFL games on Christmas Day.

It will also broadcast more live events including WWE wrestling and has bought the rights for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031.

Net profit between October and December doubled to $1.8bn compared to the same period a year ago.

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