Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

If you watch movies and television, you’ve likely heard of or used Netflix, Disney+, or Hulu. But have you ever heard of Crunchyroll or Philo? What about Hi-Yah or Xumo? In 2023, IBIS World reported the existence of 2,286 media streaming services in America.

It would appear at first glance that more streaming platforms would mean more easy-to-use options. Contrarily, in recent years, media consumers have found it increasingly difficult to afford to stream media, find their favorite movies and shows, know what subscription packages each service offers, and follow strict “password sharing rules.” 

SAU sophomore, Nariah Einfeldt, expressed her disdain for the current streaming culture. “I think it would be better if there was just one platform. Our society is very interested in capitalism as a whole. I could see how more streaming services would appeal to the consumer because there are more options, but ultimately it doesn’t.”

This wasn’t always the case. One of the first video streaming services, YouTube, was founded in 2005, with Netflix quickly following two years later, offering just one simple subscription package with unlimited viewing for eight dollars a month.

Thus, video streaming began to grow in popularity as Americans realized they could have uninhibited access to their favorite shows and movies all in one place, with no commercial breaks. They could watch any episode of “The Office” at any time of the day. But, like any new product, it was only a matter of time before competition entered the market.

In 2019 the “steaming wars” began. Every major media company started creating their own streaming services to keep up with the growing demand. HBO, Paramount, Disney, and Discovery were some of the big players that joined the game around this time. The increase in competition led to many, perhaps unforeseen, problems. 

For one, streaming prices have steadily risen, and the average American spends $552 on streaming platforms every year.

Nick Zepeda, a sophomore, says “I think they (streaming services) are more harmful to the consumer financially because it started out as only a few streaming services and then everyone wanted a piece of the pie. Now the prices are all about the same as cable because every single channel has its own platform.”

In addition, the plethora of streaming services have all claimed the rights to their own movies and television shows, making it difficult to find exactly what you are looking for. Sometimes, consumers have to purchase an entire subscription to the exact streaming service just to view one specific movie or show. 

Freshman Josie McMeen says she struggles with this. “I never know which ones have what specific show I want. I know that Disney+ has only Disney, but when it got too expensive for me I had to look for other places for Disney movies. Hulu sometimes has them, but they cycle through so I have to try and keep track of how much time is left on certain movies on specific services.”

As if that weren’t confusing enough, each platform offers more than one subscription package for consumers to choose from. Netflix, for example, now offers a standard plan, standard with ads, and premium (they recently discontinued their basic subscription option), each with varying prices and capabilities. Some services, such as Disney+ and Hulu, even offer an option to get both of them together or to add ESPN+ for an additional charge.  

Above: All of Netflix’s subscription packages and their prices over time. Photo courtesy of Flixed.

“At the beginning of the year, I had Disney+ because my parents gifted it to me to use in college,” said McMeen. “I chose the monthly plan because I wasn’t sure that I would end up using it enough to pay for a whole year at once. It was a bit hard to choose because you have to consider what package is best for your lifestyle.”

Sometimes, the more affordable options only allow you to watch on one device and don’t allow you to share your subscription with friends and family, or “password-share.” This used to be an easy way for people to save on streaming services, especially once there started to be many to choose from. 

Sophomore Sofie Garcia shared her frustration about password sharing rules. “I was gonna boycott Netflix, but I can’t because Bridgerton is on there. I usually don’t have problems when I use it on my computer, but when I use a TV there are literally constant problems. I don’t get why companies are doing that (cutting back on password sharing) in the first place. Like what if you had divorced parents?”

Einfeldt agreed. “The streaming services haven’t really figured it out yet, but the fact that they are trying to stop password-sharing is irritating. It is only in the company’s interest to get the most profit they can.”

Despite calling for change, it doesn’t seem like SAU students will be getting their wishes granted any time soon. Until something changes in the media industry, the surplus of streaming services will continue to be confusing and expensive for consumers of movies and TV everywhere. With 99% of American households paying for at least one streaming service, it’s safe to say they’re here to stay.