Kaylee Totten

With the influx of subscription-based streaming services — nearly 200 and counting, according to Forbes — consumers wonder when enough is enough. With prices continuing to rise, streaming services can quickly become very costly. The cost is definitely worth the quality of content on these platforms.

Streaming services gained popularity in 2020 because of the pandemic. They provided customers with multiple outlets for entertainment when social interaction was impossible. According to Forbes, the most popular platforms are Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Hulu and Max.

Post-pandemic, streaming services began regulating password and account sharing. Netflix now detects if users are not in the same household and restrict access even though you pay for the account. Disney+ removed a feature to screen share over Facetime, which allowed friends and family to watch a movie together while apart. Many sites created premium memberships, which remove features that were once a part of the standard package deal.

Despite their apparent flaws, streaming services offer a variety of quality content, many of which exist only on specific platforms. Many streaming services use the term “originals,” such as Netflix’s “Bridgerton” or HBO Max’s “Game of Thrones.”

The alternatives to streaming services are cable and non-subscription-based streaming services. Both lack a level of content found on streaming services. Tubi’s quality, for example, has become a joke amongst Gen Z.

“For college students, it’s hard for us to watch streaming services because they are expensive,” freshman psychology major Lecey Cox said. “But I still prefer it over cable because I can watch what I want when I want.”

Aside from quality, streaming services are typically less expensive than cable. According to CNET, which provides reviews, articles, and news on technology, “Basic cable TV and internet access is an average of $144, while basic streaming services with no ads are only $33.”

You decide where to spend your money, whether on streaming services or alternatives. However, they are worth the cost if you want something fresh to watch.