Business & Finance
Western Europe sees largest streaming price hikes globally over past three years, study finds
Research shows Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video increased monthly rates in Western Europe more than in any other market, though the pace of price hikes is slowing.
The short version
- Subscribers to Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video in Western Europe experienced an average monthly price increase of $1.86 over the last three years, higher than in any other region globally.
- The rate of price increases has slowed from an average jump of 24% in 2023–24 to 14% in 2025–26 as streaming services hit limits on consumer willingness to pay.
- To drive revenue growth, streaming platforms are increasingly shifting toward ad-supported tiers and premium ad-free pricing rather than blanket rate increases.
Key facts
- Western European monthly subscription costs for Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video rose by an average of $1.86 over three years, compared to $1.70 in the US, according to Ampere Analysis.[The Guardian]
- Sub-Saharan Africa saw the lowest average monthly price increase over the same period at less than $1.[The Guardian]
- Average price increases across the three streaming giants declined from 24% of subscription costs in 2023–24 to 14% in 2025–26.[The Guardian]
- Netflix UK's annual revenue surpassed £2bn for the first time, reaching £2.06bn, with pre-tax profits rising from £63m to £72.5m.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- A third season of Netflix's series The Gentlemen has not yet been officially greenlit by the streaming company.[The Guardian]
Sources
- Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon price rises in western Europe ‘highest in world’The Guardian - World