The entertainment industry has sunk its claws into consumers

More than 10 million subscribers signed up for Disney Plus on Nov. 12, the same day it was officially released. The Disney Plus mobile app also saw 3.2 million downloads within 24 hours of its release. 

This new streaming service gave viewers access to classic movies they grew up watching such as Lady and the Tramp, the Kim Possible series and The Princess and the Frog. There are also a couple of new shows that can catch viewers’ interests such as the new High School Musical series and The Mandalorian, a Star Wars spinoff. 

This new streaming service highlights a transition away from normal television, but signals just how much control the entertainment industry has over consumers.

Streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO, etc have been fighting for the attention (and money) of consumers for quite some time now. Most services have limited the number of usual shows placed on their site, requiring consumers to choose between them, or pay for all.

In addition to the restricted access, streaming services are also increasing prices. We saw this happen twice this year with Netflix’s biggest increase ever and with Playstation Vue’s price increase this past June.

These services are causing consumers to wonder which ones they should keep and which ones to let go. A recent study round nearly half of all broadband homes has subscriptions to two or more streaming platforms. 

Not only are prices starting to increase, but people are paying for multiple services. This alone highlights how much consumers have been hypnotized by the “cheaper” costs of streaming. Another important thing to note is the content being produced. 

While Disney did create new content for their streaming service, oftentimes we see entertainment companies using the same tactics over and over again. Recent live-action remakes such as Aladdin and The Lion King sent thousands of adults to the theaters so they could relive their childhood, while bringing in millions of dollars in revenue to the creators. But does anyone ever wonder where the new content is?

The entertainment industry has fallen into a cyclical pattern of reproducing content, and consumers fall for it every single time. 

Maybe it’s the nostalgia of reliving the shows that made your childhood, but as of now. There has not been a ton of new content. Of course, services don’t solely base their production on this. We have seen Netflix and Amazon Prime produce a wave of new content for their sites. But it is still a trend that pulls consumers in quite often.

This new Disney service is no surprise since we are moving to a new age of television. However, consumers must find a way to stop allowing media services to control their lives and their wallets.