this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2023
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With the simultaneous rollout of restrictions on account sharing and price increases/addition of advertising, I’m cutting back severely on streaming services.

I allowed my streaming subscriptions to grow without thinking about it. Without trying to remember the constant merging and bundling, I was subscribed to probably a dozen services at one point. They ranged from Netflix and HBO and Hulu to Shudder and Showtime. I had Paramount, Criterion, Disney, Peacock, and others. I’d do the typical thing where I’d search for a movie, find it is exclusive to a platform, and grab the free trial and forget to cancel. I excused it if I found a movie even every couple of months on it. There were still nights where it’d take an hour to find something I wanted to watch. I was probably closing in on $200/month all told, and I don’t have sports subscriptions.

I’m interested in learning what other people are doing regarding the price hikes and service compromises. Are you cancelling? Are you taking advantage of bundles with your internet services? Are you rotating on some interval? Or are you not changing at all?

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Yes, I cancelled Netflix and Max this month. I'll probably cancel Paramount+ once I'm done rewatching Star Trek. That will leave me with Hulu with ads and I only have it because it's part of my Spotify subscription.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Built a small NAS for contingency since they remove shit but with a family and wanting to support the artists, it's hard to pull the plug. I know they only get fractions off a penny.. give me a better idea.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

For music, buy merch. For tv/movies.... Idk support the writers strike I guess. Patreon for writers you like?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I dont watch too many series/movies. Never payed for streaming, planning on never doing so because of all that bullshit. I prefer my media on stamped and metallized plastic discs that work offline, or plain DRM-free video/audio files on my HDD.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I cancelled Netflix about 8 months ago after realising that my wife and I weren’t enjoying it and my kids were just watching the same 2-3 shows on repeat. Cancelled Netflix and bought the shows my kids like via AppleTV.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

It's pisseasy to download the highest quality movies imaginable at any point in time, anywhere, totally free of charge. Makes no sense to ever even think about paying for any of the "streaming services".

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I already canceled Netflix. They rarely have anything good anymore. If there's something that I want to watch, I'll get it for a month and then cancel it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The only one I have is Netflix and that is only because it comes with my cell service for like $3/mo extra.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I cancelled Netflix a few months ago and that was my only subscription out of the main ones (I currently have a subscription to Nextup which is a comedy streaming platform but that's it). I haven't missed it much as there's not been anything on there that I've been keen to watch. If there ever is I'm sure I can find another way to watch it. I find I am using my free channel streaming apps more though (BBC iPlayer/Channel4, etc).

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Never had them

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

No because I never subscribed to any. I mooched off my father's subscriptions :U

I did switch away and have been trying to convince him to use my Emby homeserver though.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Yes, the lionsgate+ and paramount+ existing was the tipping point for me. I paid for Netflix when it had good stuff. I still try to watch on official platforms where its available but sometimes it's literally impossible to get

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I’ve been cutting down and only keep the ones I actually watch. I had a constant Netflix subscription since 2014 but a month ago I cancelled it. Will resubscribe temporary once enough shows pile up that I’m interested in (which might take a while).

Since Futurama is done, I’ll probably cancel Disney now.

Youtube Premium is the one I will keep for longer because I watch it all the time and I’m splitting the costs with family.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I cancelled the last of mine years ago. Been watching a lot of free stuff like Pluto.tv, Roku, Tubi, YouTube, etc.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Great results streaming movies with any of these services https://rentry.co/megathread-movies-and-tv#streaming

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I'm definitely cancelling Hulu and Disney+ this month to avoid their pending increases.

I'm probably making moves to cancel Amazon prime before the add thing. I've been feeding that beast for far too long. : /

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

We have a budget for streaming services. ATM Netflix, HBO max and Showtime. About 20€ a month. Me and my wife like a good classic flick every now and then, so the two latter stay. The kids eat up crap Netflix series like candy. Everytime they ask to get prime or Disney they have the choice to give up Netflix to change.. but they don't.

If ads come, or the price goes up too much will consider canceling. Until then, it suits our wants.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I'll probably keep two at most, though I'm pretty close to dropping one in favor of an eyepatch and a peg leg

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Don't know how, but my shared Netflix account is still working without issues. That said, once it stops working, I probably won't subscribe again any time soon. I'm currently only using it to watch TNG a couple times a week anyway. I also have Spotify, found no reason to cancel that so far.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I never use these. My wife does though, so keeping them is her call.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

RiffTrax Friends, The Gizmoplex, and Twitch Turbo give me everything I need.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Kodi with a Real Debrid subscription for me.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

We'll be keeping Spotify, and Prime AFAIK hasn't announced anything crazy so that will stay as well. We'll most likely - if we get the "don't share accounts" screen - will subscribe to Disney+ as we enjoy the Star Wars content and regularly watch movies using this together (Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar are our go tos). Netflix may be on the chopping block but my wife enjoys it more than I do so we'll have to see.

We don't subscribe to anything else, partly because the content isn't appealing and partly because - as Canadians - they don't even have it up here anyway!

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I stopped subscribing in my own country and started subbing in other countries to take advantage of regional pricing. Now for the cost of less than a month of Crunchyroll in my country, I'm getting a full year. For Netflix, what would normally cost a month in my country, I get about 3 months worth of service.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Partner has Netflix which we all use (in same house), I have Deezer. We get good usage from both, not cancelling either one

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Canceled my Netflix subscription a few months ago and I'm now using Kodi + Real Debrid. As of yet, I'm really happy with my decision.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nope, we pay for Netflix and Disney+. Our friends pay for Hulu and HBO so we swap passwords so we all benefit.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What are you going to do when Netflix stops the account sharing?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I was going to cancel my Max and Peacock account but my niece was still using it. I pay for Nebula, YouTube, and Spotify but I use them enough to feel that it's worth it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I get a lot of value out of Netflix, I watch tons of their shows every month.

I use Prime quite a bit also obviously for Amazon shopping and try to watch Prime Video a few times each month, and now they've expanded the music I'll try that too.

I will be canceling Disney and just pirate what I want to see, which isn't much, literally just one show.

E: I canceled Spotify ages ago and use their free version but for my favorite bands I downloaded their MP3 discographies. I buy their music on CD because it pays them better than streaming their songs thousands of times, plus I buy merch and go to the concerts so I'm OK with that.

E2: someone mentioned Patreon, I cancelled most of those as well because my gaming group broke up and all my patreons are for gaming 3D files. I have years worth of stuff to print and will never reach the end.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

All I have is Spotify and Netflix and Netflix is going after next month. The quality is shit and the suggestions are worse. I don't want to big actors in big budget bad movies on Netflix. Give me decent thrillers, dramas and comedies. I'll go to the movies for blockbusters.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I have tidal for music and I really want to drop it since their price hike. The only thing still blocking me is that I don't have a decent way to listen to music in my car without a subscription service. It sucks.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Eventually Netflix will kick me off the family account but there's no way I'm paying for that garbage. I might pay for Hulu as they have a much better selection for my tastes.

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