Since Netflix’s entry into France in 2014, subscription prices for streaming services have surged, making them the costliest ever. While viewers now enjoy a wealth of content choices across platforms like Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video, the financial burden has also increased significantly. Over a decade, Netflix Premium’s price rose 67%, with additional hikes from competitors. Moreover, new account-sharing restrictions further escalate costs, leaving consumers navigating a rapidly evolving and expensive streaming landscape.
Since Netflix’s entry into the French market in 2014, the costs associated with streaming services have consistently risen over the past decade. As of now, SVOD services are at their most expensive in France.
On September 15, 2014, Netflix made its debut in France, introducing a new way for viewers to enjoy films and series via streaming. Subscribers can explore an extensive library of movies, shows, documentaries, and cartoons at their convenience, liberating them from the rigid schedules of traditional television. With Netflix, viewers can watch what they want, when they want, as much as they want.
Over the last ten years, the streaming landscape in France has surged to the point where it’s nearly impossible to consume all the available content unless one has both the financial means and the time to do so. While Netflix remains the dominant player, it faces stiff competition from several platforms, including Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Universal+, Paramount+, Max, MyCanal, and OCS. The options are virtually endless.
However, while French viewers are enjoying unprecedented choices in streaming services, their spending on SVOD platforms has reached an all-time high. The cost of streaming in France is set to escalate further in 2024, as evidenced by the latest figures.
Netflix: The Streaming Leader and Its Price Hikes
Premium Subscription Costs Up by 67%
Since its launch in France, Netflix has implemented numerous price increases. Notably, the Premium package, which offers 4K streaming and access on four screens, has seen significant changes.
Between 2014 and 2024, the price for Netflix’s Premium subscription skyrocketed by 67%! Initially priced at €11.99 per month in 2014, it rose to €13.99 in 2017, then to €15.99 in 2019, and subsequently reached €17.99 in 2021.
In keeping with its pattern of increasing prices every two years, Netflix announced another hike set for October 2023. Customers can now expect to pay nearly €20 for a Premium subscription! This marks an overall increase of €8 from 2014 to 2024.
Other Subscription Plans Experience Significant Increases
Other Netflix plans have also seen sizable price hikes. For instance, the Standard package increased from €8.99 per month at launch to €13.49 in 2021, resulting in a total rise of €4, or a notable 50% over the years.
Meanwhile, the Essentiel package has generally avoided substantial price changes. It moved from €7.99 to €10.99 between 2014 and 2023, only to be replaced by the Standard offer that comes with ads at €5.99 per month.
Restrictions on Account Sharing Increase Costs
In 2023, Netflix took a firm stance against account sharing, arguing that it lost out on countless potential subscribers due to this practice. To mitigate revenue loss, the platform introduced new policies.
As of May 2023, sharing a Netflix account with individuals “outside the household” is no longer allowed without incurring costs. Owners wishing to add new users to their accounts must now pay €5.99 per month, equivalent to the fee for an ad-supported subscription.
Disney+: From Hero to Zero?
Upon its launch in 2020, Disney+ was perceived as a refreshing alternative for consumers. While Netflix offered multiple rising-priced plans, Disney came in strong with an attractive monthly rate of just €6.99 for access to its extensive catalog of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic content in 4K on four screens. At that time, a similar Netflix offering was priced at €15.99 per month.
This exceptional value didn’t last long; by the following year, Disney+ adjusted its price to €8.99 per month, a change that will eventually see the original package phased out by December 2023. Quickly adapting the Netflix model, Disney introduced multiple subscription tiers to boost profitability.
As a result, new subscribers found themselves facing a daunting choice: either pay more for the same quality or stick with a lower rate that sacrifices features like 4K streaming and multi-screen access