Streaming services have been all the rage these days, they are known to do things differently; cheaper, ad-free, no contracts and one can watch at their convenience. They have transformed the way we entertain ourselves.

Pioneering streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu used aggressive marketing tactics to garner a huge subscriber base. They signed contracts with TV networks acquiring an impressive range of hit movies and crown jewel TV series. There is a very high possibility that you might have subscribed to Netflix because of the impressive line-up of Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, and Friends, years ago.

Streaming services were dawn to the new way we watched TV series. Rather than rushing home to catch an episode of Game of Thrones on our reliable cox cable TV, all we have to do is wait for it to come on our streaming service so we can conveniently have a GOT marathon over the weekend. However, the fine line between streaming and cable TV is disappearing gradually, read on to find out how:

Streaming Services becoming TV Channels (?)

Keeping crown jewel shows like Friends is becoming more expensive than Netflix can afford to keep it. Owing to these changing financial dynamics, Netflix is now investing in more of its original content to try and hide a possible absence of famous shows and maintain the subscriber base. They build all the hype around the original shows, 4 of which can be produced in cost less than the renewal cost of a single show like Friends.
The practice has reached a point where the only good shows on Netflix are the ones originally produced under Netflix’s banner. This is slowly becoming a persistent practice in the streaming industry with Apple TV, Amazon Prime and Hulu are following suit. This step ensures that no competitor gets to steal the cream show from a streaming company.

This trend of original content doesn’t harm the end viewer, however, if this trend continues to grow then there is a very high possibility that you may want to watch one show from one service and the other from another. Thus making you subscribe to a whole assortment of streaming services leaving little to no difference between the cable and streaming ‘bundles’.

Streaming Live TV is Just like Cable (?)

Sports and News channels are the glue that keeps people stuck to cable still, however, there are live TV and sports streaming services like Hulu Live and Fubo operating effectively. They, however, are a little more expensive than the traditional streaming services with packages starting at a whopping $45 per month for basic channels. Similarly, Sling TV starting at $25, and you’ll have to pay more if you wish to access more channels on top of the basic ones. Rings some bells? Well, this practice sounds familiar to anyone who has subscribed to a cable TV service even for once. Well, why not. Since these streaming TV services are owned by cable giants themselves, so they are ought to be similar.
Consumers are cutting the cords to save some bucks from their monthly utility bills, but the pace at which streaming TV services are becoming expensive, it seems not too far away when cutting the cord will reap no benefit to the consumer.
Not to mention the fact that if the practice continues to grow at the same pace, then there might be a time when subscribing to cable may be cheaper than a streaming TV service. Make sure you make an informed choice, before getting carried away in the status quo!

I’ve tried the whole streaming platforms over satellite-offering before. It was too much hassle at the end and I ran back to DStv after a while. However, I will go with a combo of Netflix, Disney, HULU, Amazon Prime and the likes over only DStv or Multichoice and the few mediocre options one is punished with in this country. Streaming services give you the very best of entertainment and one is sure of no movie repeats, which is a staple with TV services’ offering. The picture quality of online programming is better as they offer full 720p/1080p and 4K with some platforms as opposed to a visually inferior 1080i.

Now, if only one could get an offering for sports varieties. That will pull me off TV content for good.