Should more Streaming services offer "free" models?

[themistermanguy]

Video streaming apps are slowly overtaking traditional TV networks. They have the benefit of being both on-demand, and multi-platform, allowing viewers to take the content anywhere. However, several of the most popular ones, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime are all subscription only. While that is an attractive option for those wanting to avoid commercial interruption an get a few other perks, not everyone has the budget to add yet another streaming subscription to their monthly bill.

In that context, should more video streamers offer free versions? YouTube, Crunchyroll, and Twitch all come in both free and paid flavors. And some like Crackle, are free only. I believe there's room for both. Free only limits the risks you can take due to advertisers, while subscription only limits your audience, as not everyone wants to fork over $8 bucks a month multiple times across multiple services. But being free WITH a paid option seems like a happy medium. People interested can enjoy it without paying a cent, while hardcore viewers also have the option to fund directly with their subscription. It also extends to programing, as the services can still take risks even with a free ad-supported feature, as advertisements wouldn't be the only way they stay funded.

At least, this is the happy-go-lucky idealistic fantasy I would LIKE to believe would happen. Look, there's probably a perfectly valid business reason why Netflix or Hulu don't offer their services for free in addition to their paid models, but it would be nice if more streamers can offer both free and paid models.

 

[tippy2k2]

I feel like it would be a great idea....BUUUUUT

I also imagine if it was actually viable that one of them would have done it by now. I won't sit here and pretend I understand how the costs for those services work but I know a company like Amazon has a history of taking losses to build goodwill in their customer base and even they don't have that option, which leads me to believe that it would hurt them too much to do it. I certainly could be wrong as that is about as thin and anecdotal as one could possibly get but it's all I have...

I do hope that the big names figure out a way to make that work. As of now, I only have Netflix but there is so much show overlap between the services that it feels like a waste of $10-15 a month to get the handful of shows that Amazon shows that Netflix doesn't (like The Americans for example).

 

[Saelune]

I think more Streaming services should be worth it. I have no intention of being subscribed to a million things, and Netflix never has the movie I want to watch. Its just my Marvel service, well, Marvel Netflix series. Now that I think about it, why doesnt it have all the Marvel movies!?

 

[Wintermute_v1legacy]

I think more Streaming services should be worth it. I have no intention of being subscribed to a million things, and Netflix never has the movie I want to watch. Its just my Marvel service, well, Marvel Netflix series. Now that I think about it, why doesnt it have all the Marvel movies!?

Yep. Every now and then they add a good movie but it's mostly filler. Pretty sure most people subscribe to Netflix for the TV series, because the movie selection just isn't that good. And I don't even have high standards, I'll watch all kinds of shit.

The paid service is alright, but a free version of it with ads (and possibly lower quality/limited content) just wouldn't be worth anyone's time.

 

[Saelune]

I think more Streaming services should be worth it. I have no intention of being subscribed to a million things, and Netflix never has the movie I want to watch. Its just my Marvel service, well, Marvel Netflix series. Now that I think about it, why doesnt it have all the Marvel movies!?

Yep. Every now and then they add a good movie but it's mostly filler. Pretty sure most people subscribe to Netflix for the TV series, because the movie selection just isn't that good. And I don't even have high standards, I'll watch all kinds of shit.

The paid service is alright, but a free version of it with ads (and possibly lower quality/limited content) just wouldn't be worth anyone's time.

I can bare ads. As long as its not Crunchyroll. Fuck Crunchyroll. I finally gave it a try. First episode, the "free sample" in 1080 with like, 2 commercials, was great. Next episode, 480, commercial, intro, commercial, commercial, commercial. All unskppable. I X'd out after commercial 3, hell its probably still showing fucking commercials!

 

[Parasondox]

Can I just add that while Amazon doesnt seem to have a region lock, Netflix does and boy does the UK version suck. Maybe because, once again, bSkyb has a very strong hold on TV and movie rights being broadcasted but they still have good Netflix Original.