Netflix sawed us coming

As the cost of living crisis continues to see families struggle to afford food and essential utilities, please also spare a thought for multinational media streaming company Netflix, which has lost almost a million subscribers since April and needs our help. 

April incidentally started with an email from the service, not so much cap in hand as hands rummaging around our purse. “We’re updating our prices to bring you more great entertainment,” it said. “Your monthly price will change to £10.99 on 1 May. This update will allow us to deliver even more value for your membership – with stories that lift you up, move you or simply make your day a bit better.”

Netflix’s marquee upcoming release at the time was a documentary called Jimmy Savile: A British horror story.

We’re now in July, and Netflix is scrambling for more financial boons than FC Barcelona: partnering with Microsoft for an ad-supported tier; testing the waters for password-sharing clampdowns in places like El Salvador; and advocating the idea of increasing its prices even further. “Today’s widespread account sharing between households undermines our long-term ability to invest in and improve our service,” said Chengi Long, Netflix’s director of product innovation.

God forbid we’re cut off from – going by the site’s newest releases – the transphobic standup specials of obsessive has-beens; films that have been on Amazon Prime for about 500 years; and a Canadian reality show set on a sawmill.