You may have heard a sound yesterday, as if millions of voices cried out at once and examined their entertainment budgets. Netflix yesterday announced that it was splitting its base plan—$9.99 a month for unlimited streaming plus one DVD rental at a time—in two: $7.99 for one or the other, effectively hiking the price nearly six bucks a month for the same service.
There are consequences to this action beyond finally getting me to watch that disc of Winter’s Bone that’s sitting on my shelf. It frames a choice between variety of choice and ease of access. Much of the initial coverage focused on Netflix’s wanting to get out of the more expensive business of DVD mailing, which is valid, but as Netflixers know, it’s not just about format. If a movie is new, thanks to the preferences of Hollywood studios, there’s a good chance you can’t stream it at all.
There is the case, of course, that $6 a month extra to be able to watch almost any movie, any time, is not that much more. But most of us with entertainment habits know what a lot of “not a lot mores” can add up to, between this, cable/satellite fees, Internet bills, &c. So if you’re a subscriber, which do you pick? DVD? Streaming? Or eating $6 less food a week month?