Look, I’m Tired
So, I was sitting there last Tuesday, scrolling through my phone at 11:30pm, and I realized something. I’m done. Completely, totally, no-more, done with streaming services. And honestly, I think you should be too.
I mean, let’s back up. I’m Mark, by the way. I’ve been a senior editor at CongoTVNews for, oh, about 22 years now. I’ve seen the industry change, like, alot. And I’ve had it up to here with these streaming services.
It Started With Netflix
You remember when Netflix was just DVDs in the mail? Yeah, me too. Good times. Then they went and ruined it by streaming stuff. And I was like, “Okay, fine, I’ll give it a shot.” And it was great! For a while.
But then they started raising prices. And then they started making their own shows. And then they started canceling shows. And then they started raising prices again. And then—well, you get the picture.
I had a conversation with my friend Marcus about this, let’s call him Marcus because his real name is boring. He said, “Mark, it’s just the way of the world now.” And I said, “Marcus, I refuse to accept that.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
The Price Gouging Is Real
Look, I’m not some cheapskate. I’m willing to pay for good content. But these companies? They’re getting greedy. I’m paying $87 a month for, like, three services. And what am I getting? A bunch of shows I don’t care about and movies I’ve already seen.
I talked to a colleague named Dave about this. He said, “You’re just resisting change, Mark.” And I said, “Dave, I’m resisting price gouging.” He didn’t have a good comeback to that, by the way.
And don’t even get me started on the algorithms. They think they know what I want, but they’re always wrong. I don’t want to watch a documentary about ants right now, Netflix. I want to watch something good.
The Quality Is Questionable
I’m not saying all the content is bad. But come on, some of this stuff is completley ridiculous. I watched a “hit” show last week, and it was like watching paint dry. I mean, who greenlit this?
I was at a conference in Austin a few months ago, and I heard a producer say, “We’re just making stuff to fill the void.” And that’s the problem. They’re not making quality content; they’re making aquisition content.
And the physicaly impossible plot lines? Don’t get me started. I watched a show where the hero survives a car crash, a gunfight, and then swims to safety. And I’m like, “Okay, that’s enough.”
Community Events Local Activities
You know what I miss? Going to the movies. I miss the experience. I miss the popcorn. I miss the community events local activities that used to happen at the theater. Now, I’m just staring at a screen in my living room. It’s not the same.
I’m not saying I’m gonna stop watching TV. But I am saying I’m gonna cut back. I’m gonna go to the theater more. I’m gonna find other things to do. I’m gonna live a little.
A Brief Digression About Music
You know what else is annoying? Music streaming services. I was listening to a song the other day, and it’s like, “Oh, you wanna hear this song? That’ll be $0.002.” And I’m like, “No thanks, I’ll just listen to the radio.”
But that’s a story for another time. Back to the main point.
I’m Not Alone
I did a little digging, and I found out I’m not the only one feeling this way. There’s a whole community of people who are fed up with streaming services. They’re talking about it on forums, on social media, everywhere.
A friend of mine, let’s call her Sarah, told me she canceled all her subscriptions. “I feel freed,” she said. And I’m like, “Yeah, me too.”
The Future Is Unclear
I’m not sure what the future holds. Maybe these companies will wake up and start making good content again. Maybe they’ll lower their prices. Maybe they’ll stop canceling shows after one season.
But until then, I’m out. I’m done. I’m going back to the basics. I’m gonna watch what I want, when I want, and I’m not gonna pay an arm and a leg for it.
So, if you’re feeling the same way, join me. Let’s take back our TV time. Let’s go to the theater. Let’s find other things to do. Let’s live a little.
About the Author: Mark Johnson is a senior editor at CongoTVNews with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. He’s a self-proclaimed TV and movie buff who’s not afraid to share his opinions. When he’s not working, you can find him at the theater or enjoying community events local activities.
