Netflix's decision to raise the prices of its DVD and streaming combo subscription from $10 to $16 per month has started a massive net protest against the company.

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We are separating our unlimited streaming plan from our DVD plan offerings. The streaming-only plan will remain at $7.99, while we now offer DVD-only plans starting at $7.99, Netflix said in an attempt to explain itself to customers.

The announcement has resulted a wide range of some 5000 comments on its blog. Most of the comments posted are negative and complain of the new changes, with some urging Netflix to strongly reconsider.

Many of them vowed to leave Netflix to try out rivals such as Apple, Amazon and Hulu.com, which is currently looking for a buyer.

Facebook and Twitter Netizens were so upset with the Netflix price hike that there were well over 29,000 comments on Netflix’s FaceBook wall with majority of them expressing their disappointment in this move.

Netflix will no longer be offering plans that include both unlimited streaming and DVDs by mail. The new plans will separate the two services into $7.99 for strictly online streaming and $15.99 for the combo streaming plus one DVD rental at a time.

Unlimited DVDs for one out-at-a-time (no streaming) will cost $7.99/month, and 2 DVDs out-at a-time (no streaming) will cost $11.99/month.

Subscribers will now have a choice between streaming only, a DVD only plan, or the option to subscribe to both. The new pricing will take effect immediately for new members and on September 1, 2011 for existing members.

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