7 ms·

I agree. - I recently realized I had only turned on my TV just about 4 - 5 times in about 6 months and yet I was paying close to $140 per month, so I downgrade

by NearAP 4y ago

I agree. - I recently realized I had only turned on my TV just about 4 - 5 times in about 6 months and yet I was paying close to $140 per month, so I downgraded my cable subscription to the minimal (combined cable & internet is cheaper than only internet). - Also realized I rarely watched Netflix (hadn't watched in months) cos I no longer found shows that I liked and I was paying $15.49 per month. And then I saw HBO Max was $9.99 a month. So I canceled Netflix and signed on to HBO Max. There's also the psychological part that HBO Max allows me to pay for the whole year upfront (Netflix doesn't) so I can close my eyes and just pay them $100 and be done with it. - I also realized I rarely have time to watch long form content except for weekends. This is one advantage that Amazon Prime has - apart from it being 'free' to me since I already paid for prime, I can rent movies for $2.99 for those few times that I need to be 'entertained'. Maybe I spend $6 in one month and $0 in others. It's still better than $15.49 (or $140) without watching at all. - It's possible that lots of people have a variation of these reasons. I understand that Netflix had to raise their prices given how much they were spending on content. It looks to me like they 'overspent' on content without taking into consideration that they would have to recoup the cost from increased subscription fees and this might not be palatable to their members given that there are now multiple alternatives

ghaff 4y ago
I think a lot of people have become conditioned to monthly subscriptions that they don't need to think about. But, especially if you're more into films than TV shows, there's something to be said for cutting back on subscriptions and buying/renting a la carte. Netflix still even has their DVD by mail option although the back catalog isn't nearly as good as it used to be.
- capitainenemo 4y ago
  Yep. It even has an android app. And I agree, the catalog has more holes than it used to. Still more content than the streaming service though.
greggman3 4y ago
> There's also the psychological part that HBO Max allows me to pay for the whole year upfront (Netflix doesn't) so I can close my eyes and just pay them $100 and be done with it. Interesting. My behavior has been that when someone recommends a show on Netflix and I decide I want to watch it it subscribe and cancel which means I pay for 1 month. I watch the show. I've tried browsing for others but hate browsing on Netflix. I'm happy that "I'm done with it" immediately and that I'm not billed anymore. Netflix makes it super easy to start again, and to cancel and also like that having it cancelled provides a tiny hurdle against binging random stuff.
- bhaak 4y ago
  > I've tried browsing for others but hate browsing on Netflix. Is this Netflix or do you hate browsing on other streaming services as well? Regarding UI IMO Netflix is still top. Disney+ is somewhat close in handling but noticeably slower and you notice its focus on movies. Series are not as easily navigatable as on Netflix. Amazon Prime is abysmal. They don't even group different seasons of a series together. Here in Switzerland, it's even worse, I get a mix of French and German stuff recommended.
  - watwut 4y ago
    Not OP, but Netfix UI is uniquely bad. It looks good ... and make it impossible to find shows you might like and be at mood for ... despite them actually being there.
  - yupyup54133 4y ago
    I also do not like browsing for content on Netflix because whenever I pause on a title it starts playing trailer with sound when what I really want to do is look at the average user rating and read the premise blurb.
    - FredPret 4y ago
      That is so bad; I always mute my TV when browsing Netflix
    - 4y ago
indigodaddy 4y ago
Also if you look for sales on Slickdeals for 4K movies (digital as well as physical), you can OWN (albeit another discussion exists for what owning digital content actually means for the buyer) a 4K movie for as little as $4-5 dollars when sales slide down that low.
- mrguyorama 4y ago
  I don't have any 4K screens, so I like to just buy used DVDs off of ebay or local thrift stores and rip them. Theoretically you could then resell the same discs if you don't care for copyright law, but I'm too lazy.
  - indigodaddy 4y ago
    Absolutely I try to find used DVD/BRs as well. thriftbooks is also a good source for used. For new, hamiltonbook occasionally has nice sales.
karmakaze 4y ago
I agree that it would be best for consumers if we could pay for as much as we consume at an all-inclusive buffet of content. This isn't what providers want, they don't want their utility to be commoditized. But it could work for a first mover providing such a platform. What if Amazon instead of Prime Video had an open content marketplace? Sure there would be a lot of rubbish, but with a good recommendation system could outdo Netflix in matching content with consumers, which was Netflix's core competency until they decided otherwise.
leothecool 4y ago
> combined cable & internet is cheaper than only interne Be careful. Its not cheaper after they include local programming fees.

by NearAP 4y ago

ghaff 4y ago

I think a lot of people have become conditioned to monthly subscriptions that they don't need to think about. But, especially if you're more into films than TV shows, there's something to be said for cutting back on subscriptions and buying/renting a la carte. Netflix still even has their DVD by mail option although the back catalog isn't nearly as good as it used to be.

capitainenemo 4y ago
Yep. It even has an android app. And I agree, the catalog has more holes than it used to. Still more content than the streaming service though.

greggman3 4y ago

> There's also the psychological part that HBO Max allows me to pay for the whole year upfront (Netflix doesn't) so I can close my eyes and just pay them $100 and be done with it. Interesting. My behavior has been that when someone recommends a show on Netflix and I decide I want to watch it it subscribe and cancel which means I pay for 1 month. I watch the show. I've tried browsing for others but hate browsing on Netflix. I'm happy that "I'm done with it" immediately and that I'm not billed anymore. Netflix makes it super easy to start again, and to cancel and also like that having it cancelled provides a tiny hurdle against binging random stuff.

bhaak 4y ago
> I've tried browsing for others but hate browsing on Netflix. Is this Netflix or do you hate browsing on other streaming services as well? Regarding UI IMO Netflix is still top. Disney+ is somewhat close in handling but noticeably slower and you notice its focus on movies. Series are not as easily navigatable as on Netflix. Amazon Prime is abysmal. They don't even group different seasons of a series together. Here in Switzerland, it's even worse, I get a mix of French and German stuff recommended.
- watwut 4y ago
  Not OP, but Netfix UI is uniquely bad. It looks good ... and make it impossible to find shows you might like and be at mood for ... despite them actually being there.
- yupyup54133 4y ago
  I also do not like browsing for content on Netflix because whenever I pause on a title it starts playing trailer with sound when what I really want to do is look at the average user rating and read the premise blurb.
  - FredPret 4y ago
    That is so bad; I always mute my TV when browsing Netflix
  - 4y ago

indigodaddy 4y ago

Also if you look for sales on Slickdeals for 4K movies (digital as well as physical), you can OWN (albeit another discussion exists for what owning digital content actually means for the buyer) a 4K movie for as little as $4-5 dollars when sales slide down that low.

mrguyorama 4y ago
I don't have any 4K screens, so I like to just buy used DVDs off of ebay or local thrift stores and rip them. Theoretically you could then resell the same discs if you don't care for copyright law, but I'm too lazy.
- indigodaddy 4y ago
  Absolutely I try to find used DVD/BRs as well. thriftbooks is also a good source for used. For new, hamiltonbook occasionally has nice sales.

karmakaze 4y ago

I agree that it would be best for consumers if we could pay for as much as we consume at an all-inclusive buffet of content. This isn't what providers want, they don't want their utility to be commoditized. But it could work for a first mover providing such a platform. What if Amazon instead of Prime Video had an open content marketplace? Sure there would be a lot of rubbish, but with a good recommendation system could outdo Netflix in matching content with consumers, which was Netflix's core competency until they decided otherwise.

leothecool 4y ago

> combined cable & internet is cheaper than only interne Be careful. Its not cheaper after they include local programming fees.