All articles tagged with #subscription fees
HBO Max is increasing its subscription prices by up to 10%, with new rates taking effect on November 20 for existing subscribers and immediately for new subscribers, as Warner Bros. Discovery cites the need to reflect the service's quality and rising costs.
Netflix is adding a state services tax to Florida accounts, following a previous subscription price hike. The new tax is part of the Florida Communications Services Tax, with a rate of 7.44 percent. Additionally, the company has introduced a low-priced option with commercials and is cracking down on password sharing by requiring freeloaders to open their own accounts or pay an $8 monthly surcharge.
Warner Bros. Discovery-owned Discovery+ and Netflix are raising prices for their ad-free plans. Discovery+ is increasing its subscription fee by $2, making it $8.99 per month in the US and Canada. Existing users will see the change on their next billing cycle. Meanwhile, Netflix is reportedly discussing a price increase for its ad-free plans, with the US and Canada likely to be the first affected. The exact extent of the price hikes and the timing of implementation are still unknown. Both streaming services have experienced stock price decreases, but have seen overall growth throughout the year.
Disney+ will implement stricter measures against password sharing in Canada starting November 1, restricting users from sharing their accounts with people outside their households unless they pay additional fees. The move follows Netflix's crackdown on password sharing earlier this year. Disney+ will introduce new fee options for adding outside members to accounts, similar to Netflix's $8 per extra person, per month charges. Disney CEO Bob Iger had previously targeted 2024 to address account sharing, but the bans in Canada are coming ahead of schedule. It remains unclear how Disney+ will enforce the ban on mobile devices and when it will extend to other regions. Additionally, Canadian and European users will gain access to Disney+'s ad-supported tier on November 1.
Elon Musk has hinted that X, formerly known as Twitter, is planning to charge all users for accessing the platform in an effort to combat bots. Musk believes that implementing a paywall would deter bot operators, as it would increase the cost of setting up and maintaining automated accounts. Currently, Twitter only charges for its subscription service, X Premium, but Musk suggests that a small monthly payment for all users may be introduced. Musk's conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also touched on issues of free speech and antisemitism on the platform.
Elon Musk plans to personally speak with Apple CEO Tim Cook to discuss reducing the 30% "hidden tax" that Apple charges app developers on the App Store. Musk wants to maximize what creators receive and incentivize content creators on his social media platform, X, to charge users for subscriptions. He urges users to support creators and subscribe to their content. This is not the first time Musk has criticized Apple's fees, and other tech executives, such as Mark Zuckerberg, have also voiced concerns about the 30% fee. Apple is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice for its App Store policies.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has hinted that the company may raise prices in 2023, but only when the timing is right and negotiations with label partners are complete. The music streaming giant raised prices in 46 different markets last year, which continued to outperform despite the increase. Spotify reported 515 million monthly active users in Q1, beating expectations, and reiterated its guidance of gross margins between 30% to 35% over the long term amid plans to further scale its podcasting and ads business.
Google and ADT have launched a new smart home security system, the ADT Self Setup, which includes ADT's Smart Home Hub and various security widgets, as well as Google's Nest Doorbell and indoor and outdoor Nest cams. The system is controlled through the ADT+ app, and any Nest Hub smart display can be used as a primary interface. However, the system requires users to pay for each component separately, with prices ranging from $14.99 to $179.99, and there are also Starter and Premium combo packages available.