Many people are subscribed to some sort of streaming-service ‘Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video, etc. or are able to gain access to one relatively quickly. Since cable is becoming more and more expensive, many are cutting the cord and going to streaming services. These alternatives are not only cheaper but provide better quality content than most cable channels. But with more networks and companies seeing the market trend, the more everyone wants a piece of this rising market. 

For the most part, the big networks have stayed out of the streaming market. They have not seen it as a viable way to make money until recently. Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Video have been able to establish a fan base and been able to keep a hold on their share of the market. Over time, slowly and steadily, other companies have been able to get into the streaming market. More streaming services like YouTube TV, HBO Now and Sling TV have been able to carve into this market and take away from some of the original and turning a profit. This is only the beginning of what may be the end of cheap alternatives to entertainment. 

In November of this year, Disney is planning on launching their streaming service, Disney +. Disney, who owns a lot of property including Pixar, Lucasfilms, Marvel, ESPN, ABC and National Geographic, is jumping into the market with their brand and shows that may be the apocalypse that all of these streaming services feared: a media giant tapping into another market and may be the end for all streaming platforms. Disney + starts at $6.99 a month across the board while Netflix will cost $9.99 for the basic package and $13.99 for their best package offer. Disney will be able to run Disney + at a loss for years before they lose money in general, which makes the price so low compared to other streaming services. But Disney will have to battle others to get to the top.

Apple TV is becoming more of a presence between Apple TV + as the company continues to increase their roster of shows available on the platform. Shows including “See,” “Servant,” and an unnamed project with Oprah Winfrey. These shows will feature the talent caliber of Steve Carell (“Welcome to Marwen”), Jason Momoa (“Aquaman”) and M. Night Shyamalan (“Glass”) leading the “Servant” production. Pricing for Apple TV is way more than Disney + or YouTube TV but Apple TV + will be starting at $5 a month. Anyone buying new Apple devices this fall will be treated to a free year subscription to Apple TV + and everyone else (including Android users) will be allowed a seven day free trial. Apple TV + is another streaming service that plans to release in November and will be in direct competition with Disney +. The two giants will battle it out for the new number one spot for streaming services.

While the 2010’s are coming to an end, we as consumers will not see the full effect and the end result of big companies jumping into the market until the next decade. The result of saturating a market will hit people who decided to cut the cord but will suffer with too many options to choose from. When this occurs, some may return to pirating shows from multiple platforms and watching what they want. Some may argue that having too much to choose from is a good thing but as some point out, streaming services may be no better than cable in the next decade. 

Image from Disney via YouTube