Netflix testing ₹250 monthly subscription plan in India to woo users

Netflix Inc is testing a ₹250 monthly subscription for mobile devices in India, the video streaming giant said, aiming to boost its presence in a price-sensitive market where data consumption on smartphones is surging.

California-based Netflix currently offers three monthly plans in India, ranging from ₹500 to ₹800, but those are still expensive compared with similar offerings from rivals.

Amazon’s Prime service, which offers video streaming, music and faster shipping of purchases, is priced at ₹999 a year while local rival Hotstar has a free service as well paid plans starting at ₹365 a year.

Netflix’s test plan at ₹250 a month gives users access to standard definition video on smartphones and tablets, a company spokesman said.

“We will be testing different options in select countries where members can, for example, watch Netflix on their mobile device for a lower price and subscribe in shorter increments of time,” he added.