Look, I Love TV, But This Is Getting Out of Hand
Let me tell you something, folks. I’ve been in this industry for over 20 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this. The streaming wars? They’re getting completley out of control. I mean, I was at a conference in Austin last year, and even the bigwigs were scratching their heads. It’s like everyone’s trying to outdo each other, and honestly, it’s just… too much.
I remember sitting down with a colleague named Dave over coffee at the place on 5th. We were talking about how Netflix started it all, and now look—everyone’s jumping on the bandwagon. Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount+, and don’t even get me started on Apple TV+. It’s like they’re all trying to aquisition every single piece of content ever created.
And the prices! $87 for one service, $99 for another. It’s getting physicaly impossible to keep up. I told Dave, “I mean, I love TV, but this is getting ridiculous.” He laughed and said, “You’re telling me. I had to cancel my gym membership to afford all these subscriptions.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
Why Are There So Many Services?
I think—no, I know—the problem is that everyone wants a piece of the pie. The pie being our wallets, basically. And it’s not just the big players. Even smaller networks are getting in on the action. But here’s the thing: not everyone can succeed. It’s like that time in 2005 when every other band thought they could be the next big thing. Spoiler alert: they couldn’t.
I had a friend, let’s call him Marcus, who worked at a mid-sized network. He told me over drinks at 11:30pm last Tuesday, “We’re launching our own streaming service next year.” I asked, “Why?” He said, “Because everyone else is doing it.” Which is honestly the worst reason I’ve ever heard. But, you know, desperation makes people do crazy things.
And don’t even get me started on the content. It’s like they’re just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks. I mean, I love a good show as much as the next guy, but when I have to scroll through 214 options just to find something decent, it’s a problem. It’s like digging through a dumpster for a diamond. Not fun.
What’s the Solution?
Look, I’m not saying I have all the answers. But I do have some thoughts. First off, maybe we need to see some ammendments in how these services are priced. Bundles, discounts, something. I mean, it’s 2023—we should be able to figure this out.
And secondly, maybe—just maybe—we need to see some commitment from these companies to actually produce quality content. Not just reboots and spin-offs. I’m talking about fresh, original stuff. I remember when TV used to be like that. Remember “Friends”? “Seinfeld”? Those shows didn’t need a billion spin-offs to be succesfully.
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But back to the point. It’s not just about the content; it’s about the experience. I mean, I’ve had nights where I’ve spent more time deciding what to watch than actually watching something. It’s exhausting. And honestly, it’s determing a lot of people from even bothering.
A Tangent: The Good Old Days
You know what I miss? The good old days when you had, like, four channels, and you were happy with that. No pressure, no stress. Just good old-fashioned TV. I remember when I was a kid, we had this tiny TV in the living room, and we’d all gather around to watch “The Simpsons” on Sunday nights. It was simple, it was fun, and it was free. Now, you need a subscription just to watch reruns.
I mean, I get it. Times change. Technology moves forward. But at what cost? I’m not saying we should go back to the stone age, but maybe we need to find a balance. Somewhere between “four channels” and “a billion streaming services.”
And another thing—why is it so hard to find what you’re looking for? I swear, the algorithms on these services are worse than my ex’s navigation skills. You’d think with all the data they collect, they’d be able to figure out what I like. But no. I’m still getting recommendations for reality shows about people who live in tiny houses. I mean, I guess it’s better than nothing, but come on.
Final Thoughts (Kinda)
Look, I’m not trying to be a downer. I love TV. I love movies. I love all of it. But I also love not going broke just to enjoy it. So, to all the streaming services out there: maybe take a step back, reassess, and figure out a way to make this sustainable. For all of us.
Because honestly, I’m tired. Tired of the endless scrolling, tired of the endless subscriptions, and tired of the endless content that’s just… meh. Give me something good, something worth my time and money. And maybe, just maybe, we can all enjoy TV again.
About the Author: Sarah Johnson has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years, working with major publications and covering everything from movies to music. She’s opinionated, passionate, and not afraid to call out the industry when it’s getting things wrong. When she’s not editing, you can find her binge-watching the occasional good show or complaining about the lack thereof.
