THE BIG STORY Are you still watching? |
How much are streaming services worth to you? Providers are taking a hard look at the bottom line. And two big takeaways — to Wall Street's delight and customers' chagrin — are to raise prices and crack down on password sharing. Netflix saw a surge of sign-ups in the aftermath of its password-sharing crackdown, Insider's Nathan McAlone writes. Now, Disney+ seems likely to follow in its footsteps. Meanwhile, analysis from Bernstein Research found the combined monthly price of a handful of popular streaming services increased 24% from last year, writes Insider's Alistair Barr. What's more: Streamers seem likely to keep upping prices. (To be sure, you can still get a handful of subscriptions for under $50 a month — as long as you don't mind some ads — writes Nathan.) |
A chart from Bernstein's Mark Schilsky showing data on streaming services. Bernstein Research |
Streamers remain adamant that the positives (more revenue) outweigh the negatives (losing customers). But viewers will only take so many price increases before eventually pushing back. So which streamers are the "stickiest" for consumers? And which ones are likely to get the boot? Let's dive in: |
- Netflix: The OG streaming service, Netflix is streaming in many people's eyes. There's more competition these days, but Netflix remains a trendsetter. Case in point: How many of you are binging "Suits"?
- Hulu: It's been a long and windy road for the 15-year-old streamer. But Disney's takeover in 2019 was a turning point. With newer hits like "Only Murders in the Building" and "The Bear," along with the award-winning "The Handmaid's Tale," Hulu has climbed high on viewers' queue list.
- Disney+: The Mouse House's main streaming service might not be a draw for some, but it's a must-have for fanbases of certain franchises (Marvel and Star Wars). However, Disney+'s content for kids makes it non-negotiable for parents with young children.
- Max: What it lacks in branding consistency — It's not TV, it's HBO Now HBO Max Max — it makes up for in quality programs. The king of "prestige" TV, Max's combination of one or two flagship shows a year, along with its deep library, gives it a leg up on other streamers.
- Peacock: The end is near for Peacock's biggest exclusive draw, Yellowstone. But it still maintains a slight advantage with live sports, specifically the rights to WWE's entire catalog and PPV events.
- Apple TV+: Yes, Apple TV+ has two major feathers in its cap: "Ted Lasso," winner of a Primetime Emmy, and "CODA," the first film distributed by a streaming service to nab the Best Picture Oscar. But a single movie and a now-sunset series isn't enough to keep consumers paying forever.
- Paramount+: Name a show on Paramount+ that you're excited about. Don't worry; we'll wait.
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What makes a streaming service essential to you? Let us know. |
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TOP READS 3 things in markets |
- Nvidia is partying like it's 1995. The buzzy chip company playing a key role in the AI revolution crushed its second-quarter earnings, reporting $13.51 billion in revenue. The results were so good some analysts described it as "unlike anything we have seen since the internet in 1995." Plus, Nvidia mentioned VMware again and again during its blockbuster call.
- Goldman Sachs would like you back at your desk. The prestigious investment bank is reportedly cracking down on employees who haven't been showing up to the office five days a week. Here's how the bank's RTO stance compares to others calling their employees back, like Meta, Zoom, and Amazon.
- Making sense of the stock market slump. It's been a tough go for US stocks, but don't let that get you down. These eight charts show that the market still has plenty of upside.
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(Left) Reuters/Carlos Barria, (Right) AP Photo/Patrick Semansky |
- The finger-pointing over TSMC's Arizona chip factory continues. Some workers at the site blame delays on poor management, refuting claims it's due to a labor shortage. Workers have also accused TSMC of safety violations.
- Tech salaries revealed: Amazon, Google, Apple, Meta, and other major companies. Our database includes info taken from thousands of salaries disclosed to the government. Roles include — but aren't limited to — engineers, analysts, developers, product managers, salespeople, scientists, and marketers.
- Zoom employee says CEO's mantra is "RTO or GTFO." According to a leaked meeting recording, Eric Yuan said, "For any 'Zoomies' who feel like this is not a company I want to work for, absolutely OK." He added that culture is the company's No. 1 problem.
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- The hottest — and most divisive — name in literary criticism. Merve Emre is the current "it girl" of the literary world, according to one senior editor. While most academics are content to hide behind their work, Emre thrives in front of an audience. But her approach to literary criticism has its detractors.
- A real ambition for this cash: Job applicants have record-high salary expectations. A new study found the average job seeker is looking for a nearly $80,000 salary minimum. Although the job market has slowed, it shows workers might still have the upper hand.
- The top five up-and-coming cities for real estate — and the two riskiest. Top real-estate researcher Doug Ressler says Columbus and Nashville are among the best-positioned cities for growth. Meanwhile, he warned that Minneapolis is in a less promising position.
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IN OTHER NEWS Prigozhin, rental arbitrage, & more |
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WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY Waffles, Donald Trump, & more |
- Former President Donald Trump is expected to surrender in Georgia today on charges connected to 2020 election interference.
- The US Gymnastics Championships kicks off. The two-day elite competition is for men's and women's gymnastics. Former Olympic all-around champions Simone Biles and Suni Lee will both compete.
- Earnings on deck: Nordstrom, Intuit, Gap, Workday, and more.
- Happy National Waffle Day! It commemorates the day that the waffle iron was patented.
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LAST LOOK Visiting Iceland |
Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images ; Talia Lakritz/Insider |
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