Yes, the current $8.99 price point for Netflix’s primary subscription plan is rising to $9.99, but before you flip out, take solace in the fact that if you’re an existing customer, your rate won’t increase for an entire year. All current subscribers can expect to pay $8.99 for their subscriptions until October 2016, so don’t go tweeting outrage just yet.

@DODGraphics As a current member your price isn't changing. The $1 change is for new members.

— Netflix US (@netflix) October 8, 2015

You see, Netflix is still going strong, but they’ve invested quite a bit in original content and securing the rights to stream back-seasons of old and new shows. That kind of investment would inevitably lead to a price hike. Although, I’m reluctant to call $1/month ($12/year) a “hike.” If this means that I need to avoid two cups of green-logoed coffee per calendar year to compensate, I will manage, and I won’t even have to bother with hashtagging #firstworldproblems while I do it.

The $9.99 subscription fee is effective immediately for all new subscribers, and still keeps the service as the lowest-costing option for streaming entertainment without advertisements.

Hulu’s recently announced ad-free* tier will set you back $11.99. HBO NOW (which just finished its 90-day exclusive promotion with Apple devices) will run you a cool $15.99. Amazon Prime Video works out to be around $8.25 per month, with the caveat that you can only pay yearly at $99. I bring up those price points to remind you that, even at a rounded-up $10, Netflix is not gouging their consumer base, especially given the sizable catalog they continually maintain. Notably, Netflix is not killing off their lower-priced non-HD tier. Those who don’t have the bandwidth to support HD still have the option of subscribing to the entire catalog at a lower resolution for $7.99.

Are you fine with the increase? If you currently have the plan, do you think you’ll miss that extra dollar beginning next year? If you’re not a current Netflix subscriber, does this affect your budgeting plans for streaming? Let us know below!

*Hulu’s ad-free tier contains a handful of “exception shows” which will display a 30-second ad before and after — but not during — the shows. The excepted shows are Grey’s Anatomy, Once Upon A Time, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Scandal, Grimm, New Girl, and How To Get Away With Murder.

—

HT: The Verge