Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Post - Athens, OH
The Post

Sassy Cassie: Streaming services are too expensive

In 2024 86% of Americans paid for at least one streaming service. Streaming services also now get more viewers than traditional cable. At the end of 2023, about 54.4% of households ditched cable for streaming.  Streaming is often seen as cheaper than cable; however, the more popular streaming is getting, the more expensive it is. 

Netflix was the first video-on-demand streaming service in the U.S. When Netflix's streaming service first started in 2007, it was free with the purchase of its DVD plans, the DVD plan at the time cost $15.95 per month. In 2010 when the company split their streaming and DVD services, streaming cost $7.99 per month. Now Netflix's cost has not only gone up, but it has two separate streaming plans. Netflix’s basic plan costs $11.99 per month and the Premium plan costs $22.99 per month.

Streaming was something that people got because you could watch shows and movies without ads. Now basic plans have ads and people have to pay even more for them without ads.

When people make the decision to drop cable in favor of streaming, they often replace live television with YouTube TV. Youtube TV costs $82.99 per month and it includes over 100 channels. Customers can also purchase add-ons for the service. The service has multiple add-ons including Spanish language channels for $14.99 per month, or purchase Entertainment Plus which includes Showtime, Starz and Max for $29.99 per month. For sports fans, these services have NFL Sunday Ticket which is $379 per year, and Sports Plus for $10.99 per month. These add-ons can add up for the customer.

Netflix used to be one of the only streaming services. At the time people could find almost everything on the service from Marvel movies to old television shows. However, now people need multiple services to watch their favorite shows. If someone likes “Criminal Minds,” the show's first 15 seasons are available to watch on Disney+ and Hulu, but to watch “Criminal Minds: Evolution,” users must purchase Paramount Plus. 

If someone loves sitcoms like “Parks and Recreations” or “The Office,” he or she has to purchase Peacock because it has the rights to those shows. Marvel or Star Wars fans who love sports are best off purchasing the Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ bundle starting at $16.99 per month. 

Streaming services are also cutting down on “password sharing.” Netflix and Disney+ both now do not allow password sharing outside of a household. To add members outside of a household people have to purchase an extra member. This adds costs for families who use the same service, but may not live in the same household.

Streaming also affects how society consumes media today. Movie theater attendance is down, causing more films to premiere exclusively on streaming services. “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”  spent one week in very select theaters before it hit streaming, despite its potential box office success. It has also changed how shows are made. To read more about how TV shows have changed because of streaming check out my column on it from last year. 

With multiple streaming platforms available now and each of them having different shows and new originals, it is almost impossible to go without having at least one. However, the cost of these services is getting too high for the average person who purchases them. 

Cassie is a junior studying communications at Ohio University. Please note the views expressed in this column do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Cassie? Email her at cb086021@ohio.edu.


Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2016-2025 The Post, Athens OH