Streaming has changed everything about how we watch TV and movies. Instead of waiting each week for a new episode or rushing to the theater for the latest blockbuster, viewers can now binge entire seasons in a single weekend or scroll through endless films on demand. But with the rise of streaming platforms, higher costs for entertainment and tighter controls on sharing are increasing the cost of TV and movie viewership for audiences.
This convenience comes with its own problems, such as a decrease in movie theater attendance. During the pandemic, people became more comfortable watching movies at home and waiting to see films on streaming services rather than in theaters.
There are seven main media companies and while Netflix is in the process of acquiring Warner Bros’ studios and Home Box Office (HBO), these companies are not only content owners but powerful forces shaping viewer trends and the industry itself. Disney alone runs three major streaming platforms, including Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+. As of Jan. 2026, each one has its own paywall (with bundle options). Additionally, Netflix plans to keep Warner Bros movies in theaters for only two weeks before moving them to streaming. This is essentially speeding up the death of traditional movie theaters.
However, the average student cannot afford to pay for a bunch of streaming services, especially when each costs between $8 and $25. When a streaming service releases a new popular TV show or movie, those who can’t afford the subscription are left out.
Most frustratingly, networks are now giving writers directives to simplify plots so that audiences can follow along while being on their phones. This is called second-screen viewing, which has been happening for some time now but is most notable in the latest season of “Stranger Things.” Characters are constantly explaining what is happening through dialogue to other characters, resulting in on-the-nose writing.
Actors who are more than capable of conveying emotion and motivation are reduced to spelling out the plot for the audience. The overexplanation in screenwriting can also lead to little exposition throughout the season or film, making it all fall flat. The pacing and writing style assume partial attention from audiences, which therefore reduces the storyline’s progress.
Binge-watching has also become a common phenomenon due to streaming services. It really took off during the COVID lockdowns, when people had more free time than usual. Now, people can go through the entire series of TV shows or movie franchises in just a few days, erasing traditional episodic structure and long-term story arcs.
Instead of the old model, about 22 episodes at roughly 35 minutes each released over several months, streaming shows often drop a full season at once, usually around eight episodes that are about an hour long each. This allows shows to peak and disappear, allowing a new show or movie to appear and trend on the platform. This is all in an effort to profit from short-term spikes in viewership and continue the cycle again and again. However, it comes at the expense of the joy that TV shows used to bring viewers.
It also creates several issues for audiences. For example, spoilers are harder to avoid with social media. If you don’t watch a show right away, you run the risk of having it spoiled while scrolling on TikTok or Instagram. The modern model has larger gaps between seasons, so that TV shows that once took months to get through can now be finished in less than a week. But, this makes the wait for a new season feel significantly longer.
As many students have probably encountered, streaming services have also begun making efforts to prevent password sharing. They do this by setting up a ‘household’ using the main TV and any devices connected to the same internet connection. Streaming platforms monitor IP addresses and device IDs to detect unauthorized account sharing.
When a login occurs from a different location, the system may trigger an alert and redirect the user to a notice stating that the device is not part of the account’s household. The account holder is then prompted to either update the household settings or indicate they are away from home by entering a verification code sent to the email associated with the account. However, this is extremely frustrating for college students away from home, who have to repeat the process every week. Unsurprisingly, this system lets streaming services make more money from people who are willing to subscribe just to avoid the process.
Overall, the focus on profit over creativity by streaming service companies like Netflix and Disney+ means audiences are left with plenty of shows and movies, but not always the ones worth remembering.
