On Streaming Services

22nd of May, 2025

People are suggesting that streaming has gone the way of cable, especially with the introduction of lower-tier pricing that includes ads. I disagree. I feel like people forget how frustrating cable actually was. You had to tune in at the exact moment an episode aired, or else wait for a re-run (unless you remembered to press record on the DVR).

I’m well aware of the growing pains with streaming services. I’m subscribed to Apple TV+ and Netflix on the ad-tier plan. Ads don’t bother me too much as long as they are tasteful, and so far it appears to be the case.

But my philosophy is this: if I get bored or if the ads start becoming a problem, I’ll cancel Netflix and switch to another service that has something I want to watch. Rinse and repeat.

I consider myself pretty tolerant when it comes to subscriptions. If I like a service, I’ll pay for it. And clearly, I’m not alone. Netflix cracked down on account sharing and saw a rise in subscriptions. The streaming giant has become ubiquitous in households, hotels, and Airbnbs, allowing it to repeatedly raise prices and remove content with little pushback.

And as prices continue to rise, time will tell whether people still find value in Netflix or other streaming services. Convenience will only get you so far. After all, there’s always the option to sail the high seas.