The average American household has 4-6 different TV and streaming service subscriptions. This means that the average U.S. citizen is spending between $55- $100+ each month on these services. The number of these streaming services has increased from 3 in 2010, to roughly 239 available in the U.S. in 2024. Wouldn’t it be so much simpler if there was one universal service that allowed access to all the same TV shows and movies we are paying for on 5 separate services?
Traditional cable television, once a staple of living room entertainment, is increasingly being sidelined by a wave of digital streaming services. The original three platforms available in 2010, being Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu are now being overlooked by services like HBO MAX, Disney+ and YouTube TV which offer much of the same entertainment, but are offered at a higher price. The appeal is very clear, viewers can watch what they want, when they want, and where they want. However, this level of convenience comes with a huge price.
Many households may argue against this point, saying that they have a subscription to Netflix for the TV shows offered, and Disney+ for family-friendly content. I just don’t see why all of these platforms cannot be rolled into one. On the other point, these companies need to make enough money to continue updating their offered content. However, if combined, the number of people who would purchase one subscription to an all-inclusive platform would be so astronomical, that it would pay enough for each service.
There are also so many ways to keep the prices of these services and subscriptions down. Thus, allowing them to be more accessible and affordable for so many more people. Some streaming services, like Hulu, offer ad-supported plans that are cheaper than their ad-free counterparts. This means that they can make money not only from subscriptions but also from advertisers who pay for ad placements. By offering these ad-supported plans, they can offset some of the costs and make their services more affordable for consumers. Also, along with Hulu, services like Disney+ and ESPN offer some bundling options. This means that if you pay for one service, you also get a second one for free. This is a great plan which not only allows consumers more access to different services, but also brings in pay to both companies involved. Lastly, many services are owned by one, overarching company, which allows the option that they can use these other revenue streams to subsidize their streaming services and keep subscription costs down. For example, Disney owns ABC, ESPN, and other networks, so they have multiple revenue streams to support Disney+. While it's true that streaming services need to make money to stay in business, there are other ways they can do this besides raising subscription costs.
The rising number of streaming services and their associated costs are a growing concern for the average American household. With the average household having 4-6 subscriptions, the monthly expense can quickly add up to a significant amount. This has led to calls for a more streamlined and affordable approach to accessing entertainment content. By being aware of this growing issue, the hope is that all 239 streaming services take accountability for what they have done to our society, as well as adopt innovative ways to reduce costs and make services more affordable. By doing this, we can ensure that everyone has access to a wide array of content, regardless of their financial situation.
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