About 40 percent of Americans have cut back on streaming services in the last three months because of financial concerns, according to a recent report

About 40% of Americans have cut back on streaming services in the last three months because of financial concerns, according to a recent report

Americans are quitting subscription streaming services in droves as the cost of living continues to climb, a recent report has found.

Streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu have become increasingly popular in recent years, but Deloitte’s 2026 Digital Media Trends report, released late last month, shows how Americans are getting frustrated over the cost to have their favorite movies and TV shows at the click of a button.

“As the cost of everyday essentials like food and housing remain high, many consumers are reevaluating their budgets and cutting back on nonessential expenditures,” Deloitte said in its survey results. “At the same time, prices for media and entertainment services continue to climb.”

  • ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    7 days ago

    I’m sure Netflix, Hulu, and similar services will compensate for subscriber losses in the usual manner: by continuing to increase their prices and further screwing over their remaining subscribers. You know, the time-honored cable/satellite TV strategy.

    In fact, that’s already been happening for several years. Which is why (along with them offering mostly shit content that I never watched) I cancelled almost all my streaming services a couple of years ago.

    • criss_cross@lemmy.world
      0·
      7 days ago

      I just got a notice from them saying they’re increasing prices and “are here for me if I have questions “.

      Uh huh.

      • Lemmyng@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        7 days ago

        I have a question:

        WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU RAISING PRICES EXPECTING PEOPLE TO STAY SUBSCRIBED IN THIS ECONOMY, NETFLIX?!

    • Foni@piefed.zipEnglish
      0·
      7 days ago

      And don’t forget the old lobbying to push for greater persecution and criminalization of torrents and VPNs

    • djdarren@piefed.socialEnglish
      0·
      7 days ago

      I’ve never really understood the mentality of businesses. They’re losing customers, so they bump the price to compensate, therefore losing more customers.

      I guess those that hang on end up making up for those they lose, and because all the other services are doing the same, they end up getting people who’ve jumped ship from another one and signed up at a good introductory cost.

      But, like, just charge a bit less and have more customers.

      • MalReynolds@slrpnk.netEnglish
        0·
        7 days ago

        I’ve never really understood the mentality of businesses. They’re losing customers, so they bump the price to compensate, therefore losing more customers.

        It’s the mentality of CEOs, MBAs and Venture Investment, line must go up this quarter, nothing else matters, we’ll be jumping out leaving suckers holding the bag before the business goes under. Scam culture, and it fucking works.

        Long term strategy is dead (except for privately owned, see Valve), this is late stage capitalism baby, take what you can, give nothing back. Seems fair to do unto them.

      • AbidanYre@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        7 days ago

        I remember when Netflix paid someone good money for improving their recommendation algorithm. Now they help trying to shove live boxing matches in my face no matter how many times I say I’m not interested.