Are Commercial-Packed Streaming Networks Just Becoming A Worse Version Of Cable?

If you’re old enough to remember the heyday of cable television, you’ll recall two tiers: basic and premium. For a set price, you could access a slate of channels with a range of programming, but there was no escaping those incessant ad breaks.

But big spenders could upgrade to plans that included premium networks like HBO, which provided, among other perks, a commercial-free viewing experience.

Then came the streaming revolution. And optimists thought it would be able to bring out the best of what cable had to offer.

The commercial creep

At the outset, it seemed like having the ability to pick and choose from providers would result in a more competitive monthly cost … and industry leaders capitalized on the fact that they took away all the ads.

Then, as costs increased, streamers introduced less expensive plans that included commercials, and even that struck many as a reasonable tradeoff.

But now, watching content regardless of your subscription will subject you to intrusive commercials on many platforms. And in the streaming industry’s apparent quest to reinvent cable, Netflix and Amazon recently brought in big stars to appeal directly to potential advertisers.

The celebrity-studded “upfronts,” which has been a TV industry mainstay for decades, is now dominated by streamers. But the focus on securing advertiser money hasn’t changed.

Nowhere to hide

Consumers are naturally perturbed by this full-on embrace of commercials, but there’s not a lot they can do about it right now aside from complain.

Streaming networks have been expanding at a breakneck speed while losing a ton of money, and now they’re trying to emphasize profits. The quickest (and perhaps only) way to do that appears to be by selling ad space.

After all, there’s a reason traditional TV included ads since the very earliest days of the medium.

Chris Agee May 27th, 2024

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