The human race survived for thousands of years without TV. The theater was the closest thing to television in Ancient Greece, and it offered only two channels: comedy and drama.
Several decades later, in the 1920s, Philo Farnsworth, the son of a Utah farmer, invented the first working television. For a long time, people were restricted to watching shows and programs on major networks. Then cable television was introduced, and suddenly there were thousands of stations to choose from.
With the advent of Netflix in February 2007, a small DVD mailing service, television was once again disrupted by a company operating in the 21st century. One could argue that there are currently too many streaming services to choose from and that even more are on the way.
We all tune in to the news on the radio and television when something momentous is happening in our nation’s history because we want to know what’s going on and how everyone else feels about it.
This shared experience, however, has become less common as our reliance on streaming services has grown. Not only do we typically stream incompatible content from every other house on the block, but also from every room in the house.
Streaming services were a lifesaver for many people during the pandemic, but as the cost of living continues to rise, we must ask ourselves if we are truly receiving our money’s worth.
Streaming Cost
There have been two price increases for Netflix (NFLX) memberships since the beginning of 2021. The price of the cheapest bundle (one screen, no HD) increased in March, from £5.99 to £6.99.
The price of its basic package (two screens, HD, and downloads) went up from £9.99 to £10.99, and the price of its premium package (four screens, HD, and downloads) went up from £14.99 to £14.99.
What’s more, stopping the reduction in energy prices won’t help the millions of people who are having trouble paying their bills as it stands.
In early 2021, Disney+ (DIS) raised its fees from £5.99 per month or £59.99 per year to £7.99 or £79.90, and there are rumors of more adjustments in 2023.
A price increase for Amazon Prime (AMZN) is coming on September 15th. The yearly price goes rises from £79 to £95 per year, with a corresponding increase in the monthly cost from £7.99 to £8.99.
It’s not surprising that people are responding to the stress on their households by canceling plans.
According to audience research statistics, between April and June of this year, 800,000 UK homes discontinued their Netflix or Amazon Prime Video memberships, and the number of households using any streaming service fell by 380,000.
If the cost of streaming services is prohibitive, there are options to lessen the financial burden.
Setting priorities and boundaries are essential to making the best streaming selection, as it is with any other financial decision. Saving money on things like your monthly phone bill or Amazon Prime membership is possible if you package these services together. It’s possible that purchasing a bundle is the most cost-effective option for you.
We sincerely hope you had a good time on our little safari here in the streaming world. Not even close to being all-inclusive of what is available now or what will be in the future. We know you scanned this as you watched the latest movies and tv series or a sitcom you’ve seen a hundred times, so go ahead and give your undivided attention to the show you were watching.
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