Streaming wars are over and Netflix won

[Arrath]

No one has won the streaming war, most certainly not the consumer.

We're living in a nightmare of market segmentation and separation now that each content owner has tried to go and roll their own service. Its hard to even have water cooler conversations about a show without getting derailed down "wait what service is that on?" and "oh crap I don't have that one I only have x, y, and z"

[webninja]

None of the streaming sites have Dollface anymore and we pay for all of them. But torrents do and it’s a terrific show. Perhaps torrent sites are winning this war instead?

[dudul]

I actually thought about the water cooler conversation a few weeks ago.

I remember how not that long ago you could debrief the last GoT or TWD or whatever show was the hot stuff that everyone watched.

I dont think that happens anymore. Too many shows just to create content, too difficult to see them all, nobody is watching the same at the same time. Most can just be binged in a weekend and by Monday you already moved on to the next content.

[alfalfasprout]

So... Disney licensing content to Netflix means Netflix won?

Yeah, no.

Netflix's content has been on a downward spiral for years now. It's mostly the same rehashed true crime dramas and low budget trashy content. They're rarely willing to pay for good original content anymore.

Compare it to eg; Apple TV+ that has a bunch of amazing originals. From "For All Mankind" to "Severance".

[NBJack]

I wish you were wrong. But it's one service I repeatedly open and realize there's surprisingly little I want to actually watch.

I end up re-watching some older content instead, which is at least something, but so little feels...worth it.

[anarticle]

Many of my friends have cancelled their streaming services. The prices are too high and being gaslit about what to watch where and when is not very convenient. Of course, these are all tech people but I was shocked to hear it. Some have gone plex or even back to physical media.

[skyyler]

My friends are all setting up Plex servers that we are sharing with each other.

It's like having constant access to your friends' media collections. Because it is.

[BizarroLand]

If I didn't get paramount+ for free with my internet provider I would have no streaming. DVDs checked out from the library + Kanopy meets all of my requirements without some stranger watching everything I do over my shoulder.

[feistypharit]

PBS is still $5/mo and has some reasonable stuff. Apps for most platforms. Also nice to support the local college that runs the station.

[evanjrowley]

Thanks, I think I've now just found my favorite streaming service.

[bitvoid]

https://archive.is/bHHHt

[ChrisArchitect]

Story from last week.

When there were related stories and discussion:

Netflix is turning into cable TV

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39111600

Netflix adds 13.1M subscribers, tops revenue estimates

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39111287

Netflix Hammers the Last Nail into Linear TV's Coffin

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39149036

[rurban]

Unlikely. Compare it to quality TV shows, where HBO revolutionized various genres with expensive, proper series. It's just that nobody tried that segment in streaming yet. Apple+ went for movies, Disney+ for their trash, a future Netflix competitor will likely win it with HBO like series. Esp. since Netflix has no idea about quality TV.

[dartharva]

> Disney’s direct-to-consumer unit, which includes streaming service Disney+, is still reporting large operating losses.

Why? Isn't most of the content on Disney+ their own productions? And is maintaining the streaming platform not a largely fixed cost? Where are they struggling?

[mike_hearn]

They've been losing subscribers and Disney have been suffering severe cost control problems lately, where productions require far larger budgets than they should.

[seanmcdirmid]

They have to spend money to produce content (a lot of it Disney+ only or not successful in the theater). They also buy content, it must be a huge cost sink for them.

[hitpointdrew]

Really? I just canceled in favor of Paramount +, which I will likely cancel soon as well.

[tehwebguy]

This is the way folks. Sign up and then cancel so you only pay for a month at a time.

[redrove]

Piracy. Piracy has won.

[rabbits_2002]

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