Streaming prices have surged nearly 70% in four years, and they're still going up

[Plutoisaplanet]

Sort of, they're retention has dropped. Streaming services have turned into something people rotate when a show they like has more seasons. There are also weird deals like I think my phone plan offers free Hulu and my homeowners insurance was offering a year of some combo of streaming services if we upgraded to some plan. So when they post these numbers I'm wondering how many of those belong to the same household. And like my phone offering Hulu, they probably have some deal for a fraction of the price for bulk licensing

LOL, and how long ago was it everyone said "cut the cord cut the cord" when it came to cable tv.
Go to streaming! It's cheaper! It's better!
LMAO! When netflix was pretty much it, it was pretty good. But as the studios figured out THEY could make money, they started their own streaming services, yanked everything pretty much from Netflix, or at least when something first is released, and streamed it themselves. And, they started with no or little ads.
But, after everyone is hooked, they start tossing ads in...UNLESS you pay a higher rate.
Now, maybe people will start "cutting the streaming cutting the streaming".

You two are almost there. Once competition arrived for Netflix, customers started rotating services and saving money that way. Then, in order to maintain revenue streaming prices went up. The end result? Customers have far more choices albeit at a higher price.

The people who complain about the higher prices act like it's expensive. But while the article cites cable-like prices at $150 for ad-free streaming on eight services combined, only stupid customers would actually do that.

Unlike other services like Internet, cable/satellite television, or cellular providers, rotating streaming services is incredibly easy. The market is different in that way, and so the pricing model is different.

 

[GeoffreyA]

Ahoy matey! I been sailing the high seas for over 20+yrs. Before that it was old school newsgroups, which are still great today. I don't care if they all raise their prices to $100 a month, . If they keep raising prices those who were only curious about pirating will most likely make it permanent, and I say good.

What is wanted is a streaming service whose library contains every film and TV programme made. Instead, it's a fragmented jumble where people have to subscribe to ten different services to get the content they want.

The seas already have the ideal libraries, and not necessarily scattered across several torrent search engines. Some sites, such as YIFY's modern successor, have excellent presentation and organisation, whilst containing practically every film (barring certain categories of course).

 

[Win7user]

I don't pay for any streaming service, and I don't pay for what I watch or download either.

 

[Angga B]

In the not too long past ago, more competition in a new business field always drove price down. That almost not happening in this era. We should wonder WHY.

 

[Melkor Unlimited]

The Matrix was right about the peak of our civilization. It helps that I have limited time for TV.

No that show was "Green Acres" though the Matrix was good

I thought it was

The Fall of the Roman Empire​

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058085/

 

[dangh]

Usenet, jellyfin, vps. Eweka with vpn, indexer and selfhosted proxmox. Even with today's hardware prices investment returns in a few months.
And to think back in the days I was first to jump on streaming platforms... all in one place, good selection, simple, cheap.... not anymore.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

In the not too long past ago, more competition in a new business field always drove price down. That almost not happening in this era. We should wonder WHY.

Well we know why: its basic supply and demand.

More competition drove prices down because they were fighting for the same pool of consumers, and if they didnt lower prices their cheaper competitors would beat them out of the market. If the number of competitors dropped too low and there was less pressure to gain consumers, prices would start going up.

In the market today, people are desperate to buy as much as possible. Saving up for a major purchase, doing without, only buying what you need, these are all out. Now its all about racking up massive debt, working multiple jobs, extending WAY beyond ones means, all to indulge in temporary pleasure.

Despite all the streaming platforms available today, all the content being split up, and the prices going up, the number of subscribers still went up. Call it rotation, call it whatever you want, the likes of Netflix have more paying customers every year. So the Demand of streaming content is still outstripping the Supply of content, so prices rise. Until consumers stop consoooming constantly, this will continue, because there is no reason not to.

Sort of, they're retention has dropped. Streaming services have turned into something people rotate when a show they like has more seasons. There are also weird deals like I think my phone plan offers free Hulu and my homeowners insurance was offering a year of some combo of streaming services if we upgraded to some plan. So when they post these numbers I'm wondering how many of those belong to the same household. And like my phone offering Hulu, they probably have some deal for a fraction of the price for bulk licensing

But the total number of paying consumers has INCREASED. It has more then doubled in 6 years. If retention was dropping and people were rotating services, then paid subs should be going down, not up.

If they ARE rotating and not retaining membership, then the sheer number of temporary account payments has increased so dramatically that it doesnt matter, netflix is rolling in dough. Realistically, though, they're not losing subscribers, people are just eating the cost and justifying it. The percentage of consumers that actually maintain 1 month subs for specific shows then rescind payment on these services has to be in the single digit territory.

 

[yRaz]

But the total number of paying consumers has INCREASED. It has more then doubled in 6 years. If retention was dropping and people were rotating services, then paid subs should be going down, not up.

If they ARE rotating and not retaining membership, then the sheer number of temporary account payments has increased so dramatically that it doesnt matter, netflix is rolling in dough. Realistically, though, they're not losing subscribers, people are just eating the cost and justifying it. The percentage of consumers that actually maintain 1 month subs for specific shows then rescind payment on these services has to be in the single digit territory.

So I get Hulu include in my phone but I have never used it. My carrier is paying for it. We don't know what they're paying for it. In currently in Florida and Spectrum is the cable provider down here. They seem to have Paramount+, Netflix, Hulu and Starz included with their cable service. We don't know what they're paying for the bulk licensing. If I was paying for Spectrum and T-Mobile then I would be paying for 2 licenses as 1 subscriber and both might be paying 10% the advertised price of those services.

Subscribers do not equal people and as long as they keep bundling services at bulk rates then they're actually making less money per person.

The one that made me really go down this rabbit hole was seeing my homeowners insurance offering me a year of something and there are lots of people trying to sell services as a subscription where they use streaming services as a way to attract customers.

Franky, it's my opinion that these ad tiers were made for this type of business model so that the streaming service could recoup some revenue from the bulk deals.

The numbers are "real" but the market is fake. Sure they have more"subscribers" but what they aren't tell you is they're selling 4 licenses to the same person at 10% cost

 

[Mark Fuller]

Just like I have been saying all along. DVD's (and VCR's too) are still good and no hassel with buffering times and internet traffic that contains bugs. The only advantage I can see with streaming is early access to new releases. If you download everything to extenal storage you have something that is yours and it has easy access to use. And once you own it you don't have to keep up the subscriptions.

 

[Mark Fuller]

You two are almost there. Once competition arrived for Netflix, customers started rotating services and saving money that way. Then, in order to maintain revenue streaming prices went up. The end result? Customers have far more choices albeit at a higher price.

The people who complain about the higher prices act like it's expensive. But while the article cites cable-like prices at $150 for ad-free streaming on eight services combined, only stupid customers would actually do that.

Unlike other services like Internet, cable/satellite television, or cellular providers, rotating streaming services is incredibly easy. The market is different in that way, and so the pricing model is different.

Yes, rotating streaming servces is easy, but I think that paying the high price is what is difficult and that I think is driven by the Oligarical type of industry that can dictate what prices they want. Just like changing software requirements so people will have to buy new hardware. If you want early access to new releases you have to pay, and also if you want "comes with your subscription", you still pay a subscription fee, Like my Paramount plus. Moreover, even with a basic subscription, you still have to pay to have ads removed and that even includes "free" games on your cellphone. BTW, when I worked for Directv, had a cancellation fee to prevent customers from cancelling the subscription after a short period of time.

• • Rising Prices: Cable and satellite providers raised prices by $1 to $11 recently, pushing many users to reevaluate costs.
    Yahoo Finance
  • Frequent Hikes: Discussions on platforms like Reddit r/DirectvStream show a consensus that recurring price jumps are the main driver for cancellations.
    Reddit·r/DirectvStream
  • Limited Retention Options: Users on the DirecTV Community Forums note that loyalty departments offer fewer discounts to save aging satellite accounts than in the past.
    DIRECTV Community Forums

AI responses may include mistakes.

Don't be surprised if the streaming industry doesn't relatiate to rotating.

 

[Karlos95]

Paying $0 on the high seas is fantastic. Corporate greed can get in the bin.

 

[LemmingO]

Streaming companies are rife with financial mismanagement. It is a matter of time until they implode completely. The worse they manage their money, the higher the subscriptions, and the more people will don the jolly roger.

 

[RudyBob]

I thought it was

The Fall of the Roman Empire​

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058085/

Only if Sophia wore the same outfit she wore as a sponge diver

 

[DirtyDan]

Big reason why I started my own Jellyfin server. Its been great. I use old parts I had lying around. 6TB Raid 1 setup. Tailscale so I can watch on the go on my phone or laptop. All my favorite movies, shows, and music. I also use it for minecraft, satisfactory, palworld, etc.

 

[maxxcool7421]

Im sO ConFuSeD? I tHouGHT RebluBliCAN bOYcOtS w0uld 3Nd NeTFlix aka GayFlix?

ahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhaaaaahahhahahahahahaha... losers.

 

[jbright]

We've fully circled back to cable, just with more logins and worse remote controls.

 

[BobHome]

My annual Hulu is (was) going from $59.99 in 2021 to $119.99 in 2026 -- 5 years to double price.
I Canceled.

 

[trents]

Unadulterated greed! Yeah, and with the "original programming" costs you get 12, maybe 18, episodes per year of your favorite program and then they tease you for months with the moving target of next season's debut date. When I was growing up in the 1950's and 60's we got 9 months of weekly programming for any show and a lot less time devoted to commercials.