In a post-cable society, streaming services rule television. There are plenty of options to choose from. Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock, and Apple TV to name a few. However, one may find themselves wondering…are all these streaming services really worth it?
To answer this question, lets take a look at a brief history of streaming services. The first “real” streaming service was Netflix, which started off as a DVD rental before becoming what it is widely known as today. Founders Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph launched Netflix in 1997 with the proposition that for $20 a month, subscribers would be able to rent any movie they’d want at any time, seem familiar?. However, instead of streaming it, a DVD copy of the movie would be sent in the mail. Fast forward to 2007, When Netflix made the switch from hard copies to streaming, and the rest is history. Netflix now has more than 120 million subscribers and is one of the most well known media platforms around.
Netflix has been the pioneer of modern day streaming, with tons of other companies seeing their billion dollar idea and wanting a slice. As more and more companies began releasing their take on the streaming service, the outdated cable television became rarer and rarer.
The question still remains however, are all these services really worth it? Let’s break some of these numbers down:
-A Netflix subscription can cost anywhere from $6.99-$30 a month
-Amazon prime: $8
-Hulu: $8-$17
-Disney+: $10
-Apple TV: $10
-HBO Max: $10
Some of these numbers may seem extreme, this list includes the various bundles and other plans that the services offer.
Now, compare these monthly numbers to that of some of the top ranked cable services
-Xfinity: $20-$80
-Spectrum TV: $25-$105
-Verizon TV: $70-$130
The numbers do favor the streaming services, however streaming services vs cable is pretty subjective. Some might think cable is way too overpriced for being offered, streaming services are cheaper and yes you may have a lot of them, but you can pause the subscription at any time. Some might think it’s worth the price and provides more content then the streaming services, plus streaming services could seem too expensive and confusing.
There are pros and cons to both streaming services and cable, but again, it is subjective. One of the biggest debates regarding streaming services is it seems like someone can never just own one. Shows and movies are constantly being circulated around the various platforms. Here’s an example: let’s say someone starts watching a show on Netflix, and they really like it. Let’s say there’s 6 seasons, they get through the first 3 on Netflix, but Netflix has the rights for the show for only a month before having to pass it on to Hulu. It leaves Netflix and goes to Hulu, but the person doesn’t have Hulu, but they HAVE to finish the show. So, they rent Hulu, and the cycle repeats itself. Movies and shows tend to stay on a streaming service for a couple of weeks to a few months before moving to the next platform.
Streaming services are growing in number and cost, they will only get more and more popular and more and more will get released. Whether or not one hops on the streaming service bandwagon is completely up to them, there are pros and cons to doing both. Due to it being so subjective, there really is no answer to the question: are streaming services worth it?
