Netflix is retiring its cheapest subscription plan – and warns you may have to “pay a little extra” in future

The ‘Basic’ plan is getting cancelled by Netflix

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Netflix has announced that it will be retiring its cheapest subscription plan, while simultaneously warning that its subscribers may have to pay “a little extra” in future.

In a Q4 2023 shareholder letter obtained byThe Verge, Netflix revealed it would be sunsetting its ad-free ‘Basic’ plan for subscribers.

‘Basic’, which allows streaming only up to 720p, was previously raised to $11.99/month. It will be removed first in Canada and the UK in Q2 2024, before following suit elsewhere.

“As we invest in and improve Netflix, we’ll occasionally ask our members to pay a little extra to reflect those improvements,” the letter also reads, suggesting that a further price increase –on top of those from last year– may follow in future.

Last October, the premium plan went up from $19.99/month to $22.99/month, while those in the UK are now paying £17.99/month for premium.

This all follows on from Netflix striking a $5 billion deal for the exclusive rights to stream WWE programming on its service. Its flagship show – Monday Night Raw – will air weekly from January 2025 in the US, while international subscribers will get Raw, SmackDown, and Premium Live Events, moving forward.

Netflix, though, has enjoyed a strong start to 2024: Harlan Coben’s Fool Me Once hasstormed to the top of streaming charts, plus the likes ofBridgerton season 3and Avatar: The Last Airbender are coming later this year.

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I’m the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you’ll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

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