Streaming Thru Society

My bank account is guilty of an overwhelming amount of automatic charges to streaming services. I become the victim of a heavy thumb when it comes to the “install” button. It is almost as if it is easier to submit a payment to a streaming service rather than hit “decline.”

I remain astonished at how much of a continued impact said streaming services, such as Netflix and Hulu, have on society. These platforms have created new ways of drawing existing and potential customers into their business models. Their business models have grown over the last 10 or so years, when the Netflix platform really had its peak.

My family has remained true to the typical American family dynamic in the ways we pay for a monthly cable bill. A 2021 report shows, the average monthly bill ranges around $116 a month for cable. To the naked eye this is seen almost as an arm and a leg to just watch your favorite shows, such as The Bachelor or Yellowstone.

Yet, this is where the interesting aspect of a streaming service such as Hulu and YouTube TV come into play. Their business model is displayed to society as a replacement of your families cable bill. Offering the option of live TV for only $65 a month, it is no question that saving the $51 is worth it.

Being a consumer myself, I was skeptical starting a Hulu subscription. I was unsure if I would have the ability to watch my local nightly news, or have to sacrifice some of the luxuries of the cable I grew up on. Now I find myself recommending the new ways of TV to my family and friends. It is an exciting time when I pay my new “cable” bill, knowing the amount of money I am saving per month.

Throughout recent years, more companies such as Disney, HBO Max, and Peacock have began their trek in making their impact on society, just as the 1997 based company, Netflix, did. So much so that there seems to be a competitive understanding within the streaming universe of who can offer the consumer the best deal and who has the most content to offer.

In short, although I have become guilty of hitting the “accept” button when it comes to these streaming services, I find it to pay off, literally.