Netflix Changes Policy To Allow Streaming To Two Devices At Once Company Previously Limited Streaming-Only Subscribers to Single Concurrent Device
By Todd Spangler Multichannel News 9/7/2011 11:30:10 AM http://www.multichannel.com/article/473384-Netflix_Changes_Policy_To_Allow_Streaming_To_Two_Devices_At_Once.php Netflix is changing its policy that restricted U.S. streaming-only customers to a single device at a time for watching TV shows or movies -- which it was not actively enforcing until last week -- to let them use at least two devices simultaneously, a company spokesman said Wednesday. "No Netflix member is limited to less than two concurrent streams," Steve Swasey, Netflix vice president of corporate communications, said in an e-mail. netflixlogo.jpgThat's a change from Netflix's previous policy. "If you are on the Unlimited Streaming plan, the Unlimited Streaming + 1 DVD out-at-a-time plan or a limited streaming plan, you may watch only one device at a time," the company says in an FAQ on its site. Though the one-stream-per-household policy was not new, Netflix reportedly began enforcing that restriction only starting last week. Netflix is updating its site and terms of service to reflect the number of devices streaming-only subscribers can access, Swasey said. In July, Netflix irritated many customers by announcing a price change eliminating the combined DVDs-by-mail and streaming plans. Now, Netflix offers U.S. customers the streaming-only plan for $7.99 per month, as well as DVD plans starting at $7.99 per month for one disc out at a time. The price change went into effect for existing customers Sept. 1. At the end of June, Netflix had 25.56 million subscribers (24.6 million in the U.S., 970,000 in Canada), up 70% from the year earlier. However, the company expects its torrid growth to slow in the current quarter ending Sept. 30, because of the pricing change. Netflix also suffered a setback after Starz Entertainment last week said it won't renew their distribution deal, set to expire in February 2012. -- ================================================= George Antunes Voice (713) 743-3923 Associate Professor Fax (713) 743-3927 Political Science Mail: antunes at uh dot edu University of Houston Houston, TX 77204-3011 _______________________________________________ Medianews mailing list [email protected] http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews
