Are Streamers Starting to Die?

[NotASlayer]

I have noticed recently that, when it comes to paid streamers, companies are putting their own content onto their own streaming platforms rather than on others. For example, I noticed that some things that were included with Amazon Prime now require the, additional, Paramount+ subscription in order to get it. So, are we going to end up in a situation where, if you want to watch something, you may well need to get the streaming service related to the company that makes them? Netflix material only on Netflix, Disney only on Disney+ and so on, until you end up with dozens of streamers, none of which have much other than their own content. Which doesn't seem sustainable in the long run, because people only have so much money, and how many can afford a dozen different streaming services just to watch what they want to watch. So, each streamer gets less and less money.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Oh, oops sorry. I take it you don't mean them streamer thingies you can throw at parties.

 

[Stake fodder]

I've noticed that too, over the last few years. It used to be a handful of streaming platforms with loads of content. Now every production company or TV channel wants its own platform. I think a lot of them will become unprofitable, and I hope that means we will revert back to a few powerful ones. I don't usually like small companies swallowed up by big ones, but this is a situation that calls for a few profitable, large platforms, rather than many that you will subscribe to for a month, then quit. I think it will result in better programming.

 

[NotASlayer]

I've noticed that too, over the last few years. It used to be a handful of streaming platforms with loads of content. Now every production company or TV channel wants its own platform. I think a lot of them will become unprofitable, and I hope that means we will revert back to a few powerful ones. I don't usually like small companies swallowed up by big ones, but this is a situation that calls for a few profitable, large platforms, rather than many that you will subscribe to for a month, then quit. I think it will result in better programming.

Yes, I agree. Some of them don't put out enough content to justify it for one thing - Apple for instance doesn't create very much of its own content - and the amount of content available on individual platforms is declining drastically to the point where many will not be worth it at all.

I think a lot of content producers saw what the original streamers were doing and have decided they wanted a more direct piece of the pie. And set up their own services at a time when streamers were starting to run into problems anyway. So, instead of, say, paying £10 a month to get Paramount content on Amazon Prime, it's. say, now £10 a month to Amazon and £5 a month to Paramount.

 

[November]

I just stick to free to air tv. And whoever wants to give me their netflix access for a while lol.
TV in general hasnt had many stories to interest me the last couple years. Duno why, maybe I am more brain damaged, maybe its healed. Cant tell.

 

[NotASlayer]

I just stick to free to air tv. And whoever wants to give me their netflix access for a while lol.
TV in general hasnt had many stories to interest me the last couple years. Duno why, maybe I am more brain damaged, maybe its healed. Cant tell.

There is probably a reason why most of what I watch on streamers is older programming!

 

[DeepBlueJoy]

My hard limit is 2 paid services. I get one changeable one included in my internet tv bundle. I simply have other important things to pay for. I am sure some people will pay for more but if i cant watch hit super stuff new i can always go walk in the park.

I used to watch CBS over the air but i am not following shows to paramount after they leave cbs and netflix. I would have a dozen services if i followed it all. Not rich enough. Not willing to sit that much anyway. Diabetes is so not a life goal!

When they went behind a paywall I went old school and bought a few fav shows on dvd - yep dvd. I like to own things i love. Glad i can still watch buffy free. Sometimes hard copies are cool!

 

[NotASlayer]

I used to watch CBS over the air but i am not following shows to paramount after they leave cbs and netflix. I would have a dozen services if i followed it all. Not rich enough. Not willing to sit that much anyway. Diabetes is so not a life goal!

It looks like Paramount is trying to increase the value of their service by removing their content from other streamers then, given it was Paramount stuff disappearing suddenly from Prime that I noticed. And I'm not following that content. Which means they are losing out.

When they went behind a paywall I went old school and bought a few fav shows on dvd - yep dvd. I like to own things i love. Glad i can still watch buffy free. Sometimes hard copies are cool!

I have been picking up DVD box sets of series when I see them in charity shops. I'd rather pay £1-2 for them there than get another streamer.

 

[DeepBlueJoy]

#ParamountIsTooGreedy!

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

#ParamountIsTooGreedy!

You could insert any streamer and that would still work

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Yeah, they're desperate for busines. They keep asking me if I want to subscribe to Disney Plus and Hulu. I mean, when the economy is bad people cut out unnecessary expenses, including streaming services. Personally, I invested in a Roku, and only use the free apps like Tubi. I did subscribe to Shudder last month so I could watch a lot of horror movies but canceled it.

I also rent movies from the library.

 

[Stake fodder]

I just stick to free to air tv. And whoever wants to give me their netflix access for a while lol.

Personally, I invested in a Roku, and only use the free apps like Tubi.

Yeah, I'm with you both! I did buy a Roku ($20-25) about a year ago, and loaded up a lot of free platforms. I have a friend who lends me her Netflix password, but it kicks me out regularly, and I made a big enough list of things I want to watch that I might end up subscribing to it eventually.

 

[November]

Im surprised the government didnt crack down on streamers further here, especially in regards to ads. The ad breaks were a great vehicle of social control. We still have ad breaks on free to air telling us to have 4 minute showers, about water restrictions, recycling, medical industries, warnings, ads for community services. When people are watching streamers, they are blissfully unaware of all that. Same in regards to radio programing. Now they wonder why no one knows about all these things in the general community anymore. I have done countless surveys from companies desperate to understand why their messages arnt getting out as widely spread as they used to. Internet algorithms for social media have diluted their markets even more. Heaps of people who grew up in this state of my age, can sing the jingles of ads, like this one, you just dont see that sort of collective consumer memory anymore -

unless its a viral internet meme.

Each streamer has its own agenda and background funding, they are sending the messages and opinions they want out into the community. Everyone is aware of this, of course, so some will actively avoid the streamers that are going against their politics, others will choose a streamer because they feel specifically represented by it, others (like me) are just looking for stories and will take what they can get. It breaks everything up further, fewer people are on the same page. I'd have assumed governments would want us all consuming similar ideas, for easier management of the population. I wonder how we will see this play out in the future. My guess is that geoblocking will start to become a bigger thing.

 

[Moptop]

I just stick to free to air tv. And whoever wants to give me their netflix access for a while lol.

We can't do that anymore here in the States as Netflix has a way of tracking your IP address the TV is connected to and if it doesn't match the one on the subscription they won't give you access.

I have a TV with Roku built in so I just watch whatever is available on the free apps and over the air broadcasts.

 

[November]

We can't do that anymore here in the States as Netflix has a way of tracking your IP address the TV is connected to and if it doesn't match the one on the subscription they won't give you access.

Right now, I use my landlords netflix, but I've told them Im happy for it to be cancelled next time it runs out. The only thing I needed it for was The OA and I would like to see the rest of Outlander once its released on there too. But besides that, Im not missing much from there. I'll probably watch stranger things cos lots of people have seen that, and its something to talk about.

 

[Moptop]

It still blows me away that in the UK you have have a buy license to watch over the air broadcast TV!
Is it the same for AM and FM radio?

 

[hoponlilmama]

I have noticed recently that, when it comes to paid streamers, companies are putting their own content onto their own streaming platforms rather than on others. For example, I noticed that some things that were included with Amazon Prime now require the, additional, Paramount+ subscription in order to get it. So, are we going to end up in a situation where, if you want to watch something, you may well need to get the streaming service related to the company that makes them? Netflix material only on Netflix, Disney only on Disney+ and so on, until you end up with dozens of streamers, none of which have much other than their own content. Which doesn't seem sustainable in the long run, because people only have so much money, and how many can afford a dozen different streaming services just to watch what they want to watch. So, each streamer gets less and less money.

Also, if you treat your customers poorly, they'll move. Removing content, hiking up prices frequently, lack of quality content, and any other restrictions means people will vote with their wallets.

In a perfect world, I'd love to see all of these platforms rolled into one.

Besides, even if someone has 4 different platforms (or more) - are you actually chewing through all that content? Probably not.

 

[nightshade]

It still blows me away that in the UK you have have a buy license to watch over the air broadcast TV!
Is it the same for AM and FM radio?

Radio no, and it's only for BBC and live tv. I don't have a licence and can watch plenty of free stuff, just a few minutes behind live tv, on various apps from other channels.

 

[NotASlayer]

We can't do that anymore here in the States as Netflix has a way of tracking your IP address the TV is connected to and if it doesn't match the one on the subscription they won't give you access.

This only works when IP addresses are static. In the UK at least, the majority of IP addresses aren't.

Also, if you treat your customers poorly, they'll move. Removing content, hiking up prices frequently, lack of quality content, and any other restrictions means people will vote with their wallets.

In a perfect world, I'd love to see all of these platforms rolled into one.

Besides, even if someone has 4 different platforms (or more) - are you actually chewing through all that content? Probably not.

Plus now having to pay to remove ads, sometimes being unable to remove ads, basic packages having lower resolutions (Now TV has a pretty awful basic package) and more.

Indeed, there is so much content that Paramount moving their stuff from other streamers probably isn't going to draw many more to their own. Because people will, unless they are very invested in a series, look for something similar they can get already included, or find that series or similar on free to air.

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

Pretty much. HBO Max and Discovery Plus lead to some of the worst business decisions ever made, and the once proud remains of AOL Time Warner will be sold off to whichever Sovereign Wealth Fund wants them the most. Paramount Plus lead to the reconstituted Viacom being sold off. Disney only survived because of its sheer size, and the diversity of it's assets.

What's more, everything has been defaced. Marvel, DC, Star Wars, Star Trek, LOTR, Doctor Who and anything else have been flooded with a collection of streaming services that are all more forgettable than one of those syndicated shows that would air after Hercules and Xena.

So yes, the years when studios and networks decided to gamble the entire work of prior generations on making sure Netflix couldn't strong arm them on licensing fees at some unspecified point in the future is over. The future of streaming is Tubi and Pluto.