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Is this the final state of attempting to maximize profits? It feels like it's converging back towards the cable model [0]. Especially now with ad-supported stre

Is this the final state of attempting to maximize profits? It feels like it's converging back towards the cable model [0]. Especially now with ad-supported streaming plans on Hulu [1] and increasingly more and more service exclusives [2] (same site as OP). Streaming services are slowly but surely becoming cable "Channels"/"Packages" now, and of course that's going to increase piracy - we've seen it happen before. If you make something people want, but make it overly expensive or inconvenient to consume, piracy is an attractive (albeit morally grey) alternative for many. Sure you can buy the disk set for whatever shows you like and skip out on the streaming services, but that in itself comes with a level of inconvenience (and cost) - why use physical disks when you can just download the content, share on a NAS/Plex server, and have it on any device? Once you've made it more inconvenient than people are used to, you've again made piracy an option. I wonder when we'll start seeing bundles of streaming services for a single price! [0]: https://www.itproportal.com/features/is-streaming-in-danger-of-repeating-the-fate-of-cable/ https://www.itproportal.com/features/is-streaming-in-danger-... [1]: https://help.hulu.com/s/article/how-much-does-hulu-cost?language=en_US https://help.hulu.com/s/article/how-much-does-hulu-cost?lang... [2]: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190627/11202942488/streaming-tv-sector-still-doesnt-realize-exclusives-will-drive-users-back-to-piracy.shtml https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190627/11202942488/strea...

pmiller2 7y ago
Considering the average streaming service cost is a $12-15 subscription, once you start subscribing to 2-4+ of those, the cost becomes comparable to basic cable. Welcome to a la carte cable. More precisely, I would say it's the balkanization of streaming services that's the real problem. If I could sign up for one service that offered everything I wanted to watch, on demand, for $50, I'd consider that. Now, Disney stuff is on the Disney service, some shows are on Netflix, others on Hulu, and a few on Amazon. On top of that, you have to consider that all the major TV streaming services also produce their own content, which is exclusive to their services and not licensed elsewhere. Even keeping track of what's on what service is a chore. My personal compromise has been to use Prime Video and Netflix, because I already subscribe to Amazon Prime, anyway, and Netflix is a good incremental add. But, I don't want 5 subscription services and to have to keep track of what's on what service. It's bad enough with 2.

pmiller2 7y ago

Considering the average streaming service cost is a $12-15 subscription, once you start subscribing to 2-4+ of those, the cost becomes comparable to basic cable. Welcome to a la carte cable. More precisely, I would say it's the balkanization of streaming services that's the real problem. If I could sign up for one service that offered everything I wanted to watch, on demand, for $50, I'd consider that. Now, Disney stuff is on the Disney service, some shows are on Netflix, others on Hulu, and a few on Amazon. On top of that, you have to consider that all the major TV streaming services also produce their own content, which is exclusive to their services and not licensed elsewhere. Even keeping track of what's on what service is a chore. My personal compromise has been to use Prime Video and Netflix, because I already subscribe to Amazon Prime, anyway, and Netflix is a good incremental add. But, I don't want 5 subscription services and to have to keep track of what's on what service. It's bad enough with 2.