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Media Entertainment

Netflix Launches $2.8 Mobile-Only Monthly Plan in India (techcrunch.com) 49

Posted by msmash from the how-about-that dept.
Netflix has a new plan to win users in India: make the entry point to its service incredibly cheap. From a report: The streaming giant today introduced a low-priced mobile tier in the country that costs Rs 199 ($2.8) per month in a bid to take on Disney, Amazon and dozens of other aggressively priced competitors in the country. The new subscription tier from Netflix restricts the usage of the service to one mobile device -- and permits only one concurrent stream -- and offers the standard definition viewing (~480p). Users can also opt to the new plan on their tablets, but again, several features such as the ability to cast (or mirror) the content to a TV are restricted. [...] The announcement comes days after Netflix reported that it added 2.7 million new subscribers in the quarter that ended in June this year, far fewer than the 5.1 million figure it had projected earlier this year. Jessica Lee, VP of Communications at Netflix, said the company's recent performance in other markets did not influence its move in India.
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Netflix Launches $2.8 Mobile-Only Monthly Plan in India More

Netflix Launches $2.8 Mobile-Only Monthly Plan in India

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  • Humans are unique in that they imagine different worlds, and sometimes build what they see in their minds eyes.

    Our world is being ruined by these vampires, who are using this unique ability against us for their own gains.

    Quit wasting your life staring at a glowing rectangle depicting fake people doing fake things.

    BUILD!

    Build your life; build a family, build your community, build beautiful things that are real.

    Crewman Elizabeth Cutler: They don't have movies where you come from, do they?

    Dr. Phlox: Well, we

    • Crewman Elizabeth Cutler: They don't have movies where you come from, do they?

      Dr. Phlox: Well, we had something similar a few hundred years ago, but they lost their appeal when people discovered their real lives were more interesting.

      Do you want to hear all about my real life? There is no action, no drama, no romance and it's not especially funny. Before you ask I don't want to hear about yours.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

      Humans are unique in that they imagine different worlds, and sometimes build what they see in their minds eyes.

      Our world is being ruined by these vampires, who are using this unique ability against us for their own gains.

      Quit wasting your life staring at a glowing rectangle depicting fake people doing fake things.

      The problem is we're treating boredom like it's something to be avoided. "I'm bored" is not something to be avoided, but something to be embraced. A kid quickly learns "I'm bored" means chores to d

  • They didn't really go out of their way to do India any favors it sounds like. You can't cast it, restricted to 480P, restricted to one mobile device, and permits only one concurrent stream. How many actually will be forking up almost $3 a month for this service so they can watch Netflix shows on their mobile but unable to with anything else?

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      I already lost my unix tech job to india outsourcing. Punjab can afford the full price like everyone else.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Anonymous Coward

        Learn some new skills Grandpa.

        • Already did and now part of the exciting growth industry of telemarketing.

          Most people need Microsoft support and everyone needs lower credit card interest rates.

          Win-win, it's a no-brainer!

        • He did, he found ways to get people to contribute to a fund for outsourcing the beating of prejudice idiots like you. Anonymous thugs hired to perform the work. Wonder when they will show up at your door step? By the way, I gave him a grand as part of my contribution.

    • This many:. https://webcache.googleusercon... [googleusercontent.com]

      For those who can't read, or won't follow the link, Indians don't have desktops, but they do have phones.

      I imagine that STB penetration is also poor, but 88% of Indian households have a cell phone. https://www.livemint.com/Polit... [livemint.com]

      https://www.livemint.com/Speci... [livemint.com]

    • All the restrictions seem reasonable with the exception of the lack of casting. That just sounds annoying more than anything.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Nidi62 ( 1525137 )

      How many actually will be forking up almost $3 a month for this service so they can watch Netflix shows on their mobile but unable to with anything else?

      A lot. The rural population of India is big-really big (to shamelessly quote Douglas Adams). Not everyone has internet or TV, but everyone has mobile phones, because they can get the plans and phones cheap and the infrastructure for cellular is easier to built out than TV/Internet. There's a very good chance that their mobile phone is their only media consumption device.

    • I use Netflix on mobile most of the time anyway. I can definitely see the appeal for someone price conscious.

      • ...and 480p is also fine for streaming to a phone

        I wouldnt want my home theater to be showing 480p too often, but for a phone the quality impact isnt nearly as noticeable, and jesus christ stop using the limited bandwidth of cell service for 4k.

  • Lonely (Score:3)

    by fluffernutter ( 1411889 ) on Wednesday July 24, 2019 @09:36AM (#58978766)
    I'm just glad I'm not the lonely person sitting somewhere watching Netflix for one on a phone.
  • This is a big bet on mobile TV which in my opinion is a bad bet. I have had Netflix for years and never wanted to watch it on mobile. The only reason to do so is if you have a long commute via bus or train, and maybe the demographics of India are like that? Netflix is finally facing steep competition from Amazon and soon Disney. One of the primary reasons Netflix got so popular is because it was the only place to watch 4K content. Lowering their quality I think will only have the opposite effect. It's like

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      In most of the world, phones are people's only computing device. They don't have - or want - desktops and laptops, consoles, or settop boxes.

      Don't imagine that what you do is representative of the majority. In India, almost 90% of the population has a phone. Only a few percent have a traditional PC.

    • I don't know anyone who decided to get Netflix after getting a 4k TV. People subscribe to Netflix for convenience and content. 4k is a bonus that - for much of Netflix's existence - only applied to a very small part of the market.

  • In this country (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    In this country it is customary to write currency to two decimal places. $2.80

  • $2.8? WTF is that? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by PCM2 ( 4486 ) on Wednesday July 24, 2019 @11:28AM (#58979438) Homepage

    Who writes $2.8? (Twice?)

    Me: Yeah, I'd like a Big Mac and small fries.
    Clerk: THAT WILL BE TWO POINT EIGHT DOLLARS PLEASE.

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