Netflix is putting a new premium on its Blu-ray rentals.
For those of you who don’t have free Blu-ray rentals from your local library yet and rely on Netflix, the good news is the company has increased its selection more than 60 percent in a half year’s span, to more than 1,300 titles, the company announced today.
The bad news is, if you’re among the nearly 10 percent who’ve checked the box next to Blu-ray rental service on your Netflix account, you’re going to pay more than that extra dollar you’ve been paying over those last six months as the company’s expanded its library.
The billing changes will take place on or after April 27, 2009, the company says.
If you only get out one disc at a time with your subscription—either the limited two per month or the unlimited choice—your bill will be bumped $1 and $2, respectively, to $5.99 and $10.99.
For other plans, take the number of discs you can get out at a time, and the surcharge is a dollar more than that amount. That adds up to these plans:
2 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited)
Monthly plan cost: $13.99
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $3
Monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $16.99
3 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited)
Monthly plan cost: $16.99
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $4
Monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $20.99
4 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited)
Monthly plan cost: $23.99
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $5
Monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $28.99
5 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited)
Monthly plan cost: $29.99
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $6
Monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $35.99
6 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited)
Monthly plan cost: $35.99
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $7
Monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $42.99
7 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited)
Monthly plan cost: $41.99
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $8
Monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $49.99
8 DVDs out at-a-time (Unlimited)
Monthly plan cost: $47.99
Additional monthly charge for Blu-ray access on this plan: $9
Monthly plan cost with Blu-ray access: $56.99
So there you go. More Blu-ray, but more premium on the high-def format too. Hopefully there’s less of a wait for those BD titles to reach your mailboxes with the increased stock, now, though.
Company CEO Reed Hastings told CNET on a conference call, “consumers are used to paying more for high-definition.” So will you stick with your Blu-ray rentals and just go back to upscaling DVDs, or will you drop the added Netflix service?
Netflix BluRay all you can eat is still a bargain compared to other HD services (i.e. on demand VUDU, Apple TV, DirecTV). Also, BluRay provides the best quality. People who say they are refusing to watch BluRay because of the higher cost are just silly or they could care less about quality, or they are watching all their video content on a 42 inch or smaller screen, or all of the above.
If you have invested in a projection system or large HD format TV - then Netflix BluRay rental service is the best value out their to take advantage of your investment.
All of those people out there who are downgrading the quality of your video sources - please keep it to yourself. I would hate to see video offering go backwards in quality (ala the IPOD) because people do not simply appreciate quality.
I just canceled my membership based on principal alone. Blu-Ray ultimately will cost netflix less in the long run and I am not about to pay a 20% premium on my 3 disc membership. Going to try Blockbuster since i can exchange right down the street, but their disc availability seems bad for the movies I want. I think a lot of people are going to jump ship over this and I expect BB;s waits to get worse, not better.
Bad idea Netflix, and time will definitely prove this. I for one will be canceling on principal alone. Enough with the greed over service.
It’s still cheeper than my local Family Video. I can get 4 maybe 5 Blu-Rays for the cost of 2 to 3 from my local option.
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Rocky, Maybe I can suggest some glasses for you. Blu Ray will always look and… 
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Netflix’s new surcharge for Blu-Ray prompted me the cancel my subscription. I will try “Blockbuster” on line rentals.
I do not understand the motivation for the price hike, based on the current economic situation. Only time will tel, l maybe they hired a Wall Street Consultant, the same one that the banks use!