4K UHD and HDR Content Might Be Exclusive to ‘Ultra’ Users
Netflix is currently testing out a new and pricier subscription tier called “Ultra” to see if users would want to stream content in 4K Ultra HD and HDR.
According to Variety (via TuttoAndroid), the Ultra plans would cost $16.99 in the US, a three dollar bump up from the company’s $13.99 Premium option. There will be two options available for subscribers. The $16.99 will allow for four Ultra HD streams a month, while the current $13.99 option will only allow for two, a downgrade from the current amount of four. Additionally, it seems that high dynamic range, or HDR, content will be exclusive to those on the Ultra tier.
Based on TuttoAndroid’s report, both of these plans are being tested internally and externally. CordCutting.com has also spotted the new plans in Germany with price tags of €16.99 and €19.99. Netflix has confirmed the new tests saying, “in this case, we are testing slightly different price points and features to better understand how consumers value Netflix.” They also said that only a subset of subscribers will see the more expensive plans and that the company could scrap the idea altogether based off of customer feedback.
Netflix first introduced the four-stream “family plan” back in 2013 as a premium alternative to their standard HD plan, which only allowed for two concurrent streams per account. In 2014, they changed it so UHD content would only be available on the more expensive plan. Now, it seems Netflix is changing things up again.
Netflix is currently producing new seasons of Castlevania and The Witcher. Season three of Castlevania was confirmed already even though the second season has yet to air. Netflix pricing increased in the fourth quarter of 2017 with both the HD and Premium tiers plans going up a dollar.
Are you interested in a new Ultra tier plan? Leave us your thoughts in the comments below.