According to a report at The Guardian, Amazon will merge its U.K. Lovefilm business into Amazon Prime in the U.K. and raise the price to $131 a year, up from $81. The instant video service can still be purchased separately in the U.K. at its current cost of $10 a month.
The cost of a Prime membership in Germany will rise from $40 a year to $67. Users can lock in a first-year price of $67 or $40 in the U.K. and Germany, respectively, by signing up for a trial by February 26th.
Current subscribers won’t be hit with a price increase until their subscriptions come up for renewal, and, at least for the time being, Amazon will pass Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) as the largest digital TV and film streaming business in the U.K.
Is this a test run to see how a price increase might be received in the U.S., where Prime costs $79 a year for free shipping and a subscription to Amazon’s streaming video library. Amazon’s statement that it was looking at raising U.S. prices did not have near the impact on customers as Netflix’s ill-fated attempt a couple of years ago to ditch its DVD mail subscriptions in favor of only the digital streaming format. There have been complaints and threats to cancel Prime if Amazon raises the U.S. price, and what happens in Europe will likely have an impact on whether the U.S. price remains the same or goes up; and if it goes up, by how much.
Cash Back Credit Cards Have Never Been This Good
Credit card companies are at war, handing out free rewards and benefits to win the best customers. A good cash back card can be worth thousands of dollars a year in free money, not to mention other perks like travel, insurance, and access to fancy lounges. See our top picks for the best credit cards today. You won’t want to miss some of these offers.
Flywheel Publishing has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Flywheel Publishing and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.