Netflix Testing a New ‘Ultra’ Tier for 4K Viewing

Netflix is tinkering with their plan options once again, and it may spell trouble for current subscribers. CNET writes that Italian site Tutto Android first reported on the testing of a new “Ultra” tier, which will allow for four simultaneous screens to view Netflix with up to 4K resolution. If you want to watch their upcoming Witcher series, rewatch Stranger Things, and tune into something else at the same time, the ultra tier is the plan for you.

That may sound great, but that means there may be some changes to current plans. Right now, Netflix offers three different subscriptions:

• Basic – $7.99 per month – Only one screen can watch Netflix at a time.
• Standard – $10.99 per month – Two simultaneous screens at a time.
• Premium – $13.99 per month – Four simultaneous screens at a time.

A screen can be a television, tablet, laptop, or smart phone. Promotional material on Tutto Android indicates that the new tier would cost $16.99 per month, and it would also bump down the amount of screens that each current plan could view simultaneously. The premium tier would drop to two, and the standard to one. The only difference between standard and basic in this new structure would be in whether or not you could watch programs in HD.

In an email to CNET, a Netflix spokesperson wrote, “We continuously test new things at Netflix and these tests typically vary in length of time. In this case, we are testing slightly different price points and features to better understand how consumers value Netflix.” It seems unlikely that too many customers are clamoring for a price increase, but thus is the nature of corporate press releases.

We will keep an eye out and see if Netflix moves forward with this new subscription model. In the meantime, you may want to check out what is available on the streaming service this coming month, in case you’re nervous about ponying up more cash in the future.