iWorld
Netflix raises US subscription prices again across all plans
Second hike in a year pushes premium tier to top of market pricing
NEW YORK: Netflix has raised its subscription prices in the United States once again, marking its second increase in just over a year as it looks to fund a growing slate of content and new formats.
The revised pricing, updated on 26 March, lifts costs across all tiers. The ad-supported plan now stands at $8.99 per month, up from $7.99, while the standard ad-free plan rises to $19.99 from $17.99. The premium tier, which includes 4K and spatial audio, now costs $26.99, making it the most expensive standalone streaming plan currently available.
Extra member fees have also gone up, with ad-supported add-ons increasing to $7.99 and ad-free slots to $9.99. New users will see the revised rates immediately, while existing subscribers will get a notification and a roughly 30-day window before the changes take effect.
Notably, while prices are climbing, the features across plans remain unchanged, with no additions to screens, resolution or user benefits.
The move comes after a strong growth phase for Netflix, which added nearly 20 million subscribers in 2025 despite earlier price hikes. The streamer had also explored a potential $83 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery before stepping back to focus on organic expansion.
With subscriber momentum still intact, Netflix appears confident that audiences will continue to stay tuned, even as the cost of streaming keeps edging upwards.
iWorld
Uber spotlights Rs 25 bike rides with music led IPL campaign
Uber uses 15 second music films with Divine and Roll Rida to push Rs 25 rides
MUMBAI: In a season where ads usually swing for sixes with celebrity spectacle, Uber has chosen to play a clever single sharp, fast, and straight to the point. Uber has rolled out a distinctly stripped-down IPL campaign, putting its product Uber Bike rides starting at Rs 25 for up to 3 km front and centre, rather than leaning on big-budget storytelling. The campaign features hip-hop artist Divine in Mumbai and Roll Rida in southern markets, using music as the primary vehicle for recall.
IPL advertising has long been dominated by high-production narratives packed with cricketers and film stars. Uber’s approach flips that playbook. Instead of elaborate storytelling, the brand opts for 15-second music-led films quick, rhythmic bursts designed to mirror the pace of urban mobility itself.
The message is deliberately simple, affordable, fast rides that cut through city traffic. No layered plots, no extended build-up just a functional promise delivered with cultural flair.
In the Mumbai-led film, Divine zips through traffic on an Uber Bike, turning the Rs 25 price point into a hook with his signature wordplay around “pachisi”. The campaign cleverly reframes affordability as a moment of delight, the kind that leaves commuters with a “32-teeth smile” after beating traffic at minimal cost.
Meanwhile, Roll Rida’s version leans into southern sensibilities, blending Telugu and Tamil influences with high-energy visuals. Set to the beat of tape drums, the film celebrates how low-cost rides can unlock a more connected and vibrant city experience. Together, the films reflect a conscious push towards regional authenticity, rather than a one-size-fits-all national narrative.
The campaign also signals Uber’s sharper focus on India’s growing bike taxi segment. While the company offers multi-modal services spanning cars, autos, metro integrations and intercity travel, this push zeroes in on two-wheelers as a key growth lever in dense urban markets.
By anchoring the campaign around a Rs 25 entry price for short distances, Uber is targeting everyday commuters, particularly younger users navigating congested cities where speed and cost matter more than comfort.
With IPL advertising clutter at its peak, even the most straightforward message risks getting lost. Uber’s answer is to embed the proposition within culture using music, regional nuance and repeat-friendly short formats to drive recall. The creative team has also layered subtle visual cues including multiple references to “25” within frames encouraging repeat viewing and reinforcing the core message without over-explaining it.
The campaign reflects a broader shift in advertising priorities. As attention spans shrink and media environments get noisier, brands are increasingly favouring clarity over complexity and speed over scale.
Uber’s IPL play may not shout the loudest, but it lands where it matters in the everyday commute. Because sometimes, in a marketplace full of grand narratives, a Rs 25 ride is story enough.
