In September, streaming accounted for 36.9% of the content viewed on TV screens. That’s up from 27.7% in 2021, and slightly higher than broadcast and cable television, once seen as nearly unconquerable.
And now that they’re as ubiquitous as the broadcast channels, they’re either increasing their prices or implementing ad-supported tiers – usually both.
According to a report released by Nielsen, streaming now overpowers cable and broadcast television by just 0.04%. Still, this figure is enough to show people that streaming services have more than firmly planted themselves in their households.
With the continuing reliance on streaming services and the volatile pricing schemes of these companies, consumers must stay informed on the upcoming changes to their favorite streaming platforms to budget for them adequately. Not only are prices increasing, but the amount of media available for paid public consumption continues to increase.
Where Netflix and Hulu used to be the familiar staples of the industry, relative newcomers are demanding space within the market, leaving consumers to decide which streaming service to stop subscribing to and which to sign up for.
Here’s a short list of streaming services that are anticipating price hikes:
How To Start Saving on Streaming Services
While some streaming services have teased their plans to increase prices in the upcoming year, many providers randomly announce their price hikes. It’s unclear how, why, or when some of these changes will affect families and their ability to stream media, making it difficult to plan ahead for the price hikes.
Choose a Cheaper Tier
In response to or in anticipation of price increases, families can choose to pick lower tiers which often include ads – just like the commercials you would see on cable or broadcast television. Many households might prefer to avoid this, but choosing a plan with ads can reduce their monthly costs by at least a couple of dollars. With the increased price, many families will have no choice but to return to streaming with ads enabled.
Consider making this change sooner than later for those on a budget. You are likely to get priced out of ad-free viewing shortly, so there is no harm in getting used to the return of ads and saving your hard-earned money at the same time. Users of Hulu can enjoy saving an extra $7 a month in their bank account just for viewing commercials.
Share Accounts
Some services, like Hulu, limit account sharing, but others have fewer limitations – for now. In this case, families can save money by sharing streaming service accounts and cutting their monthly costs. While it is likely that some providers will begin to crack down on sharing accounts – Netflix recently announced plans to do so – you can at least save money before the rollouts of these programs start.
Sharing accounts can work within average households. While streaming services limit the number of users accessing the platform simultaneously, two or three homes within the same family unit should be able to utilize streaming logins without breaking the bank.
Bundle Subscription Packages
When the race to the top of the streaming industry began, nearly every television network created its own streaming service. However, as the market demands fewer options, companies have been forced to bundle and merge their networks to stay alive. If you want to shop and save, you can take advantage of bundled pricing to get more bang for your buck.
For example, Disney owns Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ and offers a bundle deal for a discount that is nothing to scoff at. Your family could save additional money on streaming through these special bundle deals.
Cancel One of Your Streaming Services
If your family bought into the rise of streaming services, it is more than likely that there is at least one subscription that you pay for that is underutilized. Identifying this freeloading subscription service and canceling it will allow you to free up some additional room in your budget.
Many people choose to hold onto these extra streaming services on the off chance that they might want to watch something on it. There might be a new season of the TV show you watch on that platform coming out in a few months. But the few months between now and the new season of your show can save you some serious cash, especially if you have this mentality for multiple services that you pay for monthly.
Become a Savvy Saver for The Upcoming New Year
Combating the rising prices of streaming service subscription plans starts with working smarter, not harder. Consumer dissatisfaction is another way the market can steer streaming services in the right direction. Making your opinion known through your wallet, and unsubscribing to some services can help these markets sort themselves out.
Families should start planning early because expenses might get higher this upcoming new year. With some platforms openly plotting price hikes and major shakeups, 2023 is the year to start addressing your subscriptions differently.
The article was produced by The Money Dreamer and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
Cindy started her blog, The Money Dreamer, when she realized the 9-5 job was not the lifestyle she wanted anymore. After designing for a while, she wanted a more meaningful life, so she decided to venture out. She took action and decided to learn how to save, budget, and invest while helping others along the way.