A streaming dream — watch what you want, whenever you want, for a fraction of your cable bill. —The end is near.
Deloitte research shows that price hikes on video streaming apps like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Hulu mean the average household with subscriptions to four streaming apps will end up paying the same amount as a cable subscriber. There is a possibility that it will happen.
Just a few examples of how streaming video (ad-free) prices have skyrocketed over the past year or more: Amazon’s ad-free Prime Video went from $9 to $12 per month. Netflix has increased the price of its premium plan, which allows you to watch content on four devices, from $20 to $23 per month. Disney has increased the price of its Hulu service from $15 to $18 per month. HBO’s Max now costs $16 a month, up from $15.
If you, like many people, subscribe to all of these services, you’ll end up paying about $70 a month, which is about the same as a modest cable TV package.
More changes are coming and people will start paying more for streaming. Disney announced this month that it would crack down on password sharing for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Netflix told shareholders last month to expect further price increases.
Streaming services still offer more flexibility and potential cost savings than cable bundles. If that’s why you’re interested in streaming, the solution may seem obvious. For example, you can manage your subscriptions more carefully, such as canceling Netflix as soon as you finish binge-watching “Love Is Blind.”
But it’s more difficult than it seems. Streaming apps are designed to make you forget that you can unsubscribe.
Tony Hu, program director for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s School of Engineering, said he doesn’t receive notifications when his subscriptions are due for renewal. “When you enter a casino, you don’t see any exit signs prominently placed,” he added.
So it’s helpful to know what companies are doing to help you manage your subscriptions. There are some things to note here.
Reasons for forgetting to unsubscribe
In May, designer and artist Caroline Sinders published her own research into how companies like Netflix, Hulu, Vimeo, and the New York Times are making it harder to unsubscribe from their services.
The study, conducted in 2022, found that some media companies, like the Times, caused friction in the process, in some cases requiring phone calls to cancel subscriptions. The Times now allows subscribers to cancel online instead of calling.
The study found that streaming services like Netflix and Hulu are easy to cancel, but the lack of service may keep you subscribed for longer than you’d like. Cinders said. You will not receive an email notifying you of an upcoming bill. If a charge is made, you generally will not receive an email payment receipt.
Harry Brignull, a user experience consultant and author of a book about the tactics tech companies use to control users, said the streaming industry has conditioned consumers to accept this practice. transaction.
“How are we okay with this?” he asked, adding, “You’d want them to give you a receipt when you leave the store.”
However, after a user cancels, the streaming app sends a barrage of emails trying to lure users back with marketing messages about new TV shows and movies.
Netflix declined to comment on why it didn’t send monthly payment receipts or renewal notifications, saying it’s best for users to manage their subscriptions and view past payments using the website’s account settings. He said that this is the method. Hulu, Disney and Maxx did not respond to requests for comment.
“Is the lack of reminders a harmful design pattern?” MX Cinders said. “I think so. It puts a huge burden on the user to remember.”
Create a reminder system
The above practices have become the industry standard, so it’s up to us to create a system that reminds us when it’s time to unsubscribe from a streaming service.
Brignull said setting a monthly reminder a few days before your subscription renewal deadline can go a long way. MIT director Hu also keeps a list of the streaming apps he pays to track each show he and his family watch, and to decide when to cancel. Helpful.
Paying through a third party is another way to receive reminders. For example, if you subscribe to a streaming service through Apple’s App Store, Apple will bill you and email you a monthly payment receipt. The same goes for PayPal. Apple is also making it easier to see all your subscriptions and renewal dates in one place within the Settings app, making it easier to make choices.
I take a more proactive approach. To disable automatic renewal, cancel your subscription immediately after signing up. This means you will have to re-register each time if you want to continue your membership after the current billing cycle, but I think it’s worth it because you have control over the billing process.
Whichever path you choose, the most important step is to slow down, Mx. Cinders said. When you’re ready to unsubscribe, do it on your laptop or tablet instead of on your phone, where you’re more likely to be interrupted and distracted. Also, if you want to create a reminder in your calendar to cancel your subscription, set it a few days before the next charge is due to your credit card.
