One of the advantages of streaming is that you choose what to watch whenever you want. And, unlike pay TV, you don’t need to be tied to just one provider. There are some platforms and all with interesting prices, which do not weigh too much on the monthly budget.
But, like everything in life, streaming also has its drawbacks. And what is most annoying today is precisely this great variety. And that value that seemed small becomes larger, since you don’t hire just one service. By the time you realize it, you already have more than 6 subscriptions – and the final price is very similar to that of pay TV.
Story of your life? Yours and millions of people around the world. In the United States, where platforms have existed for the longest time, this accumulation has given rise to a new phenomenon, a sort of new habit among Americans: detachment.
Let me explain: since there are no fines for cancellation or additional costs for reinstatement, people simply watch the films and series they are interested in and subsequently cancel their subscription. If the platform later shows a show they like again, they will sign up again. And so on.
New times, new habits
Companies will have to reinvent themselves
It is true that this change offers consumers much more flexibility, but the ones who suffer are the platforms, which require high investments to maintain films and series, but work with this instability of subscribers.
Traditional media companies like Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCUniversal and Disney lived in a kind of paradise in the days of cable TV, which was very profitable for them. Today, however, streaming suffers. NBCUniversal’s Peacock, for example, lost $2.8 billion last year.
As a result, companies are reducing investments in programs, cutting their production and increasing the prices of their services. Yet sometimes they close in the red.
Given this situation, platforms are thinking about survival alternatives. In the US, Disney, for example, has had some success in bundling Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ into one package.
The giant is also preparing to launch a sports streaming service in collaboration with Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery. It is expected to go into operation in the second half of the year.
Furthermore, brands are increasingly launching promotions and betting on “coming soon” functionality to maintain their subscriber base.
It is not yet clear whether it will work. The only thing that is certain is that this consumer behavior seems destined to last.
The information is from the newspaper The New York Times.
American posts are changing streams like clothes change; understanding this new habit appeared first on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
