[lostphilosopher]

I think we have collective amnesia around just how bad "traditional cable" is/was (in no particular order):

1. Tons of ads

2. Ads with terrible content

3. Expensive

4. Piecemeal content (having to pay for multiple packages to get all the programs you're interested in, some options being nearly mutually exclusive)

5. You could either watch live at a time you didn't choose, record (hassle), or use a pretty terrible "on demand" UI (which may also only have the last 3 episodes or other weird restrictions)

6. Bad content

I've used Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, CBS All Access, HBO Max, and Disney Plus.

None of them have issues 1 or 2. The "previews" can get more ad like than I'd want, but no where near cable. Huge win for streaming in my book.

Combined they are about on par with the cost of cable, though I rarely have all of them subscribed at once and could easily cut back to a much cheaper combo (so, draw on issue 3, but possible win for streaming).

Issue 4 is still an issue (and I can't really imagine it not being an issue given how for profit business works).

Issue 5 is a win for streaming. Better UIs, better content strategies, etc.

Issue 6 is subjective so I'll leave that to the reader

[mitchdoogle]

Issue 4 (piecemeal content) is a bit ridiculous if you think about it. Netflix, as an example, has enough content to last a person their entire life and adding more every month.

[jerf]

That's assuming a rather undiscriminating consumer, and honestly, may not even be true in all cases anyhow... Netflix has become extremely adept at building a UI that hides how thin their offerings have actually become. If a 20-year-old tried to make the Netflix April 2021 library last their entire life I suspect they'd be disappointed well before they are 30 assuming reasonably average amouts of time spent watching it.

[selfhoster11]

Content is not fungible. I want that show in particular and not something else, and Netflix often cannot deliver on that want.