If you cut the cord and switched to streaming services at least 3 years back, you probably enjoyed the initial affordability compared to traditional cable subscriptions.
You were really happy because you could save a significant amount of money every month on your entertainment bill.
However, over time, streaming providers changed their approach.
Now they don’t really care about giving you more freedom, they just want to make more money like the old cable companies. They tried to take over the cable market by offering low prices and in most cases, they succeeded.
Initially, they attracted customers with a simple promise: “Pay less, watch more.” They offered on-demand content at a very low price and even encouraged password sharing to broaden their user base.
Related: Before COVID-19, Streaming Services Offered Good Value, But Now the Situation Has Changed!
Look at what Netflix said in 2017 on X.
Love is sharing a password.
— Netflix (@netflix) March 10, 2017
That’s fine for a business, but things have changed a lot since then. After the pandemic, in 2023, most streaming services raised their prices a lot. The average streaming price went from $5-$8 to $7-$15.
So we need to be smart and save as much as we can!
That’s where “Churn” can help you
Basically, “Churn” is the percentage of streaming subscribers that cancel their service in a given period of time. It is a common metric used by streaming services to measure how many users are leaving or unsubscribing from their platform.
But you can use this method to your advantage, by subscribing or pausing your streaming service subscription when you know you aren’t going to be using it.
For example, if you only watch a certain show on a streaming service, you can subscribe for a month, binge-watch the show, and then cancel your subscription before the next billing cycle.
This way, you only pay for what you watch, and you don’t waste money on a service you don’t use.
You can also resubscribe later when you notice they are offering free trials or promotional offers or there is something else you want to watch on that service.
Related: Over 50% of Cable TV Companies May Abandon Traditional TV By the End of 2024
Do Streaming Providers Know About This?
Of course, streaming services are aware of this behavior, and they try to prevent it by offering incentives such as discounts, bundles, annual subscriptions, or exclusive content.
But who knows, probably in the near future, they could introduce a new pricing model and restrict “Churning”
Ultimately, the choice is yours, and you have the power to decide what streaming services are worth your money and time.
So, the next time you feel overwhelmed by the number of streaming services you have, or you want to save some money on your entertainment bill, consider using the churn method.
You might be surprised by how much you can save and still enjoy your favorite shows. Just remember to keep track of your subscriptions and cancel them before they renew automatically.
Happy streaming!
Related: TV Company Wants You to Purchase a New TV Every Few Years (Report)
Abdur Rahman is a seasoned journalist who covers all things related to TV and streaming. As of May 2, 2023, Abdur is writing for Homespoiler.com. More about him