Spoiler alert: it’s Hollywood’s need to get every dollar they can out of everyone that has the ‘right’ to view streaming media, even if they don’t actually do so.

While they[Netflix] originally offered digital streaming bundled with DVD rental, many of the rural customers likely never actually “connect” to the digital product. This argument may have worked for a while, but eventually Hollywood said, “No way. Here is how it is going to work. You will pay us a $/user/month for anyone that has the ‘right’ to connect to our content – regardless of whether they view it or not.” This was the term that changed Netflix pricing.

(Via The Angry Drunk which was via Daring Fireball)