It’s getting a bit more expensive to binge watch your favourite Netflix shows, many of which are filmed right here in Canada. Netflix Inc has raised its monthly standard subscription price to C$16.49 from C$14.99 per month in Canada. The company says the increase is to help pay for new programming to compete in the crowded streaming TV market. In the Netflix Canadian market the premium plan rose by C$2 to C$20.99, and the basic plan will remain unchanged at C$9.99.
“We understand people have more entertainment choices than ever and we’re committed to delivering an even better experience for our members,” a Netflix spokesperson said.
“We’re updating our prices so that we can continue to offer a wide variety of quality entertainment options. As always we offer a range of plans so members can pick a price that works for their budget.”
Netflix Spokesperson
Upon the announcement shares of Netflix rose almost 3% to $533.84 USD on the Nasdaq and ultimately closed 1.3% higher at $525.69.
Netflix promises new fees will increase production value of programming in 2022
This year saw a plethora of new Netflix shows, with some instant standouts and others unstated gems. Due to the markedly significant shift to streaming over the past few years, there has been a massive proliferation in the volume and variety of television show releases, especially Netflix Originals, the top 25 of which have consistently topped the popularity charts. The sheer range of Netflix shows released this year alone is staggering, especially when one considers the various sub-genres involved.
Netflix had promised customers it would spend $17 billion on programming in 2021. Netflix has not disclosed its programming spend in 2022.
United States Netflix customers also will see price increase
The U.S. price of Netflix’s premium plan, which enables four streams at a time and streaming in ultra HD, was increased by $2 to $19.99 per month. For Netflix’s basic plan, with one stream, the cost rose by $1 to $9.99 per month.
The United States and Canada is Netflix’s largest region with 74 million streaming customers as of September 2021. The region accounted for nearly 44% of the company’s revenue in 2021’s third quarter, or about $3.3 billion.
Analysts project the company will report 8.5 million new sign-ups from October through December. Netflix’s subscriber growth declined from a boom early in the COVID-19 pandemic but saw a sharp rise as foreign content hit the top trending content. New series such as “Squid Game” from South Korea were released in September to great critical reviews and high interest from North American audiences. Total global subscriptions reached 213.6 million.
Canadian Netflix content filmed in Canada
From The Queen’s Gambit to MAID, it’s no secret that Canada has provided a boon for the television production companies. With great locations and lower labour costs many of the most popular Netflix shows are filmed north of the border. Netflix in your neighbourhood updates a list of shows filmed right here north of the American company’s border.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
- Virgin River (Vancouver, Snug Cove, Squamish, Burnaby, and Port Coquitlam)
- To All The Boys (Vancouver)
- Restaurants On The Edge (Okanagan)
- Firefly Lane (Langley)
- Always Be My Maybe (Vancouver)
- MAID (Vancouver)
- The Umbrella Acadamy (Vancouver)
ALBERTA
- Black Summer (Calgary, Cochrane, Irricana, Morley, and Beiseker)
MANITOBA
- Fractured (Winnipeg)
ONTARIO
- Motel Makeover (Sauble Beach)
- Umbrella Acadamy (Hamilton and Toronto)
- Locke and Key (Toronto)
- The Queen’s Gambit (Toronto and Cambridge)
- Restaurants On The Edge (Bruce Peninsula)
- Ginny and Georgia (Cobourg and Toronto)
- Anne With an E (Wilmot and Cava Monaghan)
- THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES 1 & 2
QUEBEC
- Somebody Feed Phil (Montreal)
- M’entends-tu? (Montreal)
- Jusqu’au déclin (Laurentians and Lanaudière)
- Single all the way (Montreal)
NOVA SCOTIA
- Locke and Key (Lunenburg)
- Frontier (Louisbourg)
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
- Anne With an E (Northshore)
NEWFOUND LAND AND LABRADOR
- Frontier (Newfoundland)
