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Fortnite and YouTube Scares Netflix More Than The Upcoming Disney+

Netflix came out to reply to the many people thinking that the most popular streaming platform in the world would lose subscribers when Disney+ comes out. Netflix thinks Fortnite and YouTube are greater competitors than the upcoming Disney+, HBO, or Amazon, according to a recent shareholder letter the company released.

So, according to Netflix, the streaming platform’s representatives are more concerned with Fortnite and YouTube than with the forthcoming Disney+ streaming platform, HBO, or Amazon. According to the company, Netflix has already earned 10 percent of all US television screen time, while “Bird Box” totaled 80 million viewers in its first month. The streaming platform expects that “You” would sum up to 40 million viewers over the same period.

Thus, Netflix wants to ensure people that the emergence of new streaming platforms such as Disney+ will not make subscribers ditch Netflix. On the other hand, Netflix is more concerned with the growth of Fortnite and YouTube.

Fortnite and YouTube Scares Netflix More Than The Upcoming Disney+, HBO, or Amazon

“Our focus is not on Disney+, Amazon or others, but on how we can improve our experience for others. We compete with (and lose to) Fortnite more than HBO. When YouTube went down globally for a few minutes in October, our viewing and signups spiked for that time,” said Netflix in its shareholder letter.

“We compete so broadly with all of these providers, that any one provider entering only makes a difference on the margin,” said Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix.

While the YouTube presence on the list of Netflix’s competitors is not surprising, the thing that Netflix mentioned Fortnite might be confusing. In reality, it shouldn’t be so, as Netflix aims to compete with all kind of entertainment out there and go live on as many devices as they exist out there, including gaming consoles.

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Netflix Discontinued In-App Subscriptions For iOS Users

Following the example of Spotify and other high-profile streaming services and apps, Netflix discontinued in-app subscriptions for iOS users. That means, now, the most popular streaming service at the moment, Netflix, will not anymore support sign-up from either new or returning customers who use iOS devices. iPhone and iPad users can only sign up on Netflix using the service’s website.

“We no longer support iTunes as a method of payment for new members. Existing members who currently use iTunes as a method of payment can continue to do so. From our mobile to TV experience, working with Apple helps us deliver great entertainment to members around the world, and they remain a valued partner,” said Netflix’s representatives for MobileSyrup, via email.

What Netflix was saying is that, from now on, iOS users who use in-app subscriptions but miss a payment won’t be able to return to the platform via the application. Otherwise, nothing is changed for them if they never miss a payment.

Netflix Discontinued In-App Subscriptions For iOS Users

Even though Netflix did not state why it adopted such a change, given the situation of Apple, it might be possible that Netflix, as well as the other streaming services, is not accepting anymore the high cost of using Apple’s in-app subscription program.

Currently, Apple charges Netflix and other apps with 30% out of all in-app subscriptions made on iPhone and iPad devices. However, that cut is reducing by half if an iOS user keeps its membership for at least 12 months. Nonetheless, the high cost of Apple’s in-app subscription program forced Spotify to give up on in-app subscriptions for its iOS apps.

On the other hand, this situation is similar to that of Google Play Store which has been ditched by Fortnite, the renowned Battle Royale title, also due to the high cost of the app taxes.

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Netflix v11.12.0 for iOS Is Available With New Features

New in the popular Netflix streaming service, the Netflix App v11.12.0 for iOS (iPhone and iPad) arrived on App Store with several updates, improving the end-user experience with the application. After a recent update that allowed compatibility with the new iPad Pro 2018 and its rounded screen, here comes a new version that is aimed at all users, as the in-app navigation improves.

Netflix is the most popular streaming service out there, and the company is frequently updating its apps for Android and iOS. Now, it’s the turn for iOS-based Netflix App to upgrade to the new v11.12.0 version which enhances the in-app controls and navigation to make the users experience the best.

Since recently when the new Netflix v11.12.0  for iOS rolled out, the famous streaming service is bringing a new video player to iPhone and iPad users, with a focus on the new iPad Pro 2018 models. That’s what Netflix has thought to offer via its official application update.

Netflix v11.12.0 for iOS Is Available With New Features

For example, there are new Front and Rear buttons for easy access to a scene, while the controls have generally been enlarged. Also, the almost unobservable new switch, the “Next episode” one, is more than welcomed, as we no longer have to leave the screen we’re on, to select the list of available episodes of a TV series on Netflix app for iOS.

“The new 10-second Front and Rear buttons provide easy access to a specific scene. Tip: Touch the left or right side of the screen twice to fast-forward or rewind in the program currently playing. Some controls have been enlarged for added convenience, such as Play/Pause, with thumbnails that allow you to select an episode or activate subtitles and audio quickly. Tap the new “Next episode” button to access it even faster,” the Netflix v11.12.0 for iOS release note reads.

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Netflix Will Offer Low-Cost Subscription Plans for Developing Countries

In order to expand its reach and win subscribers in developing countries, Netflix is expected to launch a low-cost subscription plan in the near future. This cheaper version of Netflix service will only be available in certain countries, with a focus on the countries across Asia.

Netflix will focus on Asian countries

According to Bloomberg, Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, said in an interview that he wanted to experience a new subscription plan with different movies and TV series content, but at a lower rate than the present monthly plans, the streaming service is offering.

The cheapest subscription plan is now $7.99, and it allows users to view content on one device. It can go up to $13.99 to access four screens simultaneously.

While the CEO of the streaming service has not disclosed anything about where and when this test would be carried out, there is every reason to believe that some Asian countries should enjoy the new low-cost subscription plan.

Having arrived on the before-mentioned continent three years ago, Netflix has since invested heavily in projects in India, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Taiwan. According to estimates by Media Partners Asia, cited by Bloomberg, the company has not yet reached 2 million subscribers in Asia, while it has 130 million worldwide.

Netflix is increasingly popular worldwide

Worldwide, Netflix claims about 130 million subscribers and does not intend to stop there. The video streaming service is notably present today all over the world and allows its users to watch hundreds of movies and TV series.

However, many other companies launched their own video streaming services to compete with Netflix directly. Amazon Prime, for example, is one of them and it also offers vast movies and TV series content, but it can’t yet compete with Netflix in this regard.

Additionally, in 2019, Disney will also launch its own video streaming service which could be the fiercest competitor for Netflix.

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PlayStation Plus Prices Go Up, As The State of Chicago Adopted a New ‘Entertainment Tax’

The United States is a country in which each state has its own tax law, so it is normal to see that there are taxes in one state that are not adopted in another. The same thing will happen soon in Chicago, a state that has passed an ”entertainment tax”, a tax that taxes online entertainment services, such as Netflix, and that will raise the price of PlayStation Plus, among other Sony services, too.

Some time ago, the city of Chicago passed a law that boosted the tax on streaming content services. Xbox, Netflix, and Spotify, among others. These are now services for which users in that state must pay 9% more than those in other states of the country, and now Sony will see how this tax will damage several of its divisions. And yes, PlayStation Plus games will now cost a little more.

PlayStation Plus Prices Go Up, As The State of Chicago Adopted a New ‘Entertainment Tax’

Starting on November 14th, the price of PlayStation Plus will rise 9% in Chicago, but the tax will also affect other services such as PlayStation Now, PlayStation Vue, PlayStation Music, PlayStation Video on Demand and PlayStation Video Live Events. All these services operate in the cloud and precisely this ”cloud tax” could be implemented in other cities, such as New York.

Mayor Ralph Emanuel’s explanation for this ”entertainment tax”, as it is known locally, is that it helps pay pensions, no more, no less. Of course, companies don’t stand idly by, since it’s the users who have to pay that extra 9%, and companies can witness many unsubscriptions due to the tax.

Companies like Apple and Netflix are, at the moment, trying to act to eliminate this tax, which does not tax the physical content, for example, or the sales of digital games, but in the meantime, it will be time to go through the checkout process, if you live in Chicago, of course. Let’s hope a ”cloud tax” doesn’t reach other regions as well.

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