Netflix Sees Raising U.S. Prices

Netflix Inc. said it plans to increase its U.S. prices for new members by a dollar or two after seeing limited impact from pricing changes in Ireland.

Any such increase would be Netflix's first such overhaul in the U.S. since the video-streaming company's well-publicized stumbles three years ago.

Netflix's current pricing plan offers unlimited streaming movies and television episodes for $7.99 a month. In addition, Netflix offers a one DVD out-at-a-time plan, also for $7.99 a month.

Netflix revealed the possible pricing changes--which the company also hinted at earlier this year--along with its quarterly report. In the first quarter, Netflix added 4 million U.S. streaming subscribers in the first quarter, topping the company's projection.

Overall, Netflix reported a first-quarter profit of $53 million, or 86 cents a share, up from $3 million, or five cents a share, a year ago.

The company in January had projected a profit of 78 cents a share. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters most recently expected a profit of 83 cents a share.

The last major pricing change by Netflix came in 2011, when it tried to move away from offering a single plan for streaming and DVD-by-mail by introducing two separate plans. The company reversed course after a customer backlash and a major dent in its stock price.

Shares of Netflix, which are frequently volatile following the company's earnings report, rose more than 2% after hours.

Write to John Kell at [e-mail]

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