Netflix announced today that they are launching a streaming-only plan for $7.99 a month, one dollar less than its current $8.99 plan, which also includes one DVD rental per month. The single DVD plan will be increasing to $9.99 effective immediately for new customers and in January for existing customers. Multi-DVD Netflix plans will also increase.
The new pricing plans reflect the direction of Netflix's business, with most content now being watched over the Internet and less via DVD. According to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings,"We are now primarily a streaming video company delivering a wide selection of TV shows and films over the Internet."
Almost every major TV manufacturer includes a Netflix streaming app in their Internet enabled TVs and Blu-ray players. And customers can also stream movies through dozens of other devices including: PCs; game consoles (Xbox, PS3 and Wii); Apple iOS devices (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad); and set-top boxes from the likes of Apple TV, Boxee, Google TV, Roku, and Western Digital.
Though the selection of movies over Netflix streaming is not nearly as broad as over DVD, the selection has improved significantly over the past year. And while I still can't be sure that I will find a specific movie available, I almost always find something great to watch. And the streaming solution is perfect for kids, who like to watch the same set of shows over and over again.
