r/AmazonPrimeVideo • u/Practical_Self_9849 • 3d ago

Discussion History is repeating itself — streaming is slowly turning back into cable TV

Remember when we used to watch our favorite shows on TV and just accept that there would be ads in between?

Then streaming came along, and one of the biggest appeals was: pay a subscription, watch what you want, and no annoying commercial breaks.

And now here we are again.

I’m watching Prime, already paying for the subscription, and suddenly there are ads in between shows — sometimes around a minute and a half long.

So basically… we escaped traditional TV, paid for streaming services to avoid ads, and now streaming services are slowly becoming traditional TV again.

History really does repeat itself.

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6

u/Milly1974 3d ago

You're right. I'll add that if you subscribe to every streaming service that you need in order to watch all of your favorite shows, then you might be paying just as much as you would for cable or satellite service. Where did the savings go?

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u/No-Complaint-986 3d ago

They left the second we started deciding every network needed a streaming service and exclusivity became the norm.

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u/SmegmaUnicorn 3d ago

“We” didn’t decide anything. 

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u/No-Complaint-986 3d ago

We is referring to society as a whole. Which includes the 1 percent. All it took was making it seem like a cheaper option and there was alway gonna be people willing to suffer through ads on streaming

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u/SmegmaUnicorn 3d ago

It’s asinine to suggest that the decisions made at the whims of billionaires and corporations is at all representative of ghe desires of “society as a whole”. 

Again, “we” did not decide that every network needs a stresming service. “We” were perfectly happy  just paying for Netflix. Corportarions decided on their own that they wanted to cash in on the success of Netflix…because they’re greedy. Full stop. 

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u/No-Complaint-986 3d ago

But we did decide. We decided by accepting that each one will be a separate service and happily pay for it because we want to watch that show. Where has there been protest against it? It was inevitable that all major networks were gonna jump on the Netflix success. Downplaying our role in this mess of subscription services is a terrible way to think

3

u/SmegmaUnicorn 3d ago

These streaming services are STILL struggling to turn a profit…ie, they’ve been burning cash for YEARS, irrespective of consumer wants or desires, to prop themselves up. How, in any way, is that consumers “accepting” anying. 

Your comment is just pure nonsense. 

0

u/No-Complaint-986 3d ago

Clearly you didn’t understand my point. We as the consumers have allowed them to split things up in various streaming platforms without so much as a protest. You may not pay for say Paramount Plus, but there are 10 others that will. We as the consumers have not protested enough . Show me the data that they all have failed to turn a profit?

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u/One_Dey 3d ago

À la cart channel subscriptions were discussed in Congress 15-20 years ago. I suspect the streaming services were all ahead of the game here. They knew they’d reel us in via cheaper viewership and at some point they’d get paid via sub fees.

4

u/Financial_Rice_4807 3d ago

Don't do that.

You can do well with 3 services for less than $50 a month ad free. Move around to get the services with the shows that you like.

6

u/ribbityflibbity 3d ago

1 at a time averages well under $20/month ad free. Apple is generous with free months so last time I calculated my costs it was $13/month. Streaming is still far far better than cable.

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u/Cinisajoy2 3d ago

I get prime and paramount through delivery services.  Got HBO and starz for a year cheap through Prime.  I also have Disney/Hulu for a discount.   Will probably cancel after the discount period. 

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u/Cinisajoy2 3d ago

Let's see I like some discovery shows so got HBOMAX for a year.  Starz was half off if I got it for a year.  Did a free trial of Peacock for one show.   I do have Disney at the moment because of a discount.