237 US Dollars. That is what an average US citizen pays for all their subscriptions. Per month. For entertainment, they have 12 subscriptions on average, of which 3.4 are for video entertainment (amounting to 29 US Dollars per month).
We are all too familiar with the struggle: we receive word of an awesome new movie or TV series, and when asked where we can see it, it turns out to be shown only on a platform to which we haven’t subscribed yet. The willingness to see it is there, but the willingness to subscribe to yet another platform is not. This could be perceived as customer rent for the producers/distributors, because they miss out on additional income.
The choice is no longer which movie to watch, but rather to which streaming service to subscribe to, that most appropriately fits with your general preferences. The only issue is that these services are not genre-based, they are all universal streaming services, with content that pleases everyone. The only solution is to subscribe to all.
The reasonable question then rises: why is there no ‘super-bundling’ service yet? The internet is filled with questions regarding a super-bundling service, that combines all the streaming services into one platform. Although some (illegal) services do exist, not one major party has stepped up yet to realize this. The streaming services are getting more and more consolidated, however, with remaining parties such as Apple TV+, Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, etc. The main issue with more consolidation will be regarding fairness of competition (monopolies), copyright issues, and giving up power (who will buy who?)
Will the future allow for one party to control all these streaming services? Will the streaming industry consolidate and be dominated by one monopoly player that bundles all the services together? Or will they work together in a consortium that has the goal of satisfying customers’ needs? And in case a super-bundling service rises, will it include other media, such as music streaming, newspapers and business articles, or even groceries?
Do you think a super-bundling service is feasible? Let your voice be heard in the comments!
