Netflix is turning into cable TV
Streaming users increasingly see Netflix and its rivals converging on the old cable TV model, with rising prices, ads, fragmented content across many services, and re-bundling dynamics. Commenters argue this reflects broader “enshittification” and the end of cheap, investor-subsidized growth, as studios pull content into their own platforms, cancel shows quickly, and lean into mass-market “trash TV.” Proposals range from compulsory or non-exclusive licensing and stronger copyright-access rules to simply cycling subscriptions or returning to piracy as a way to regain choice and affordability.
Netflix Becoming “Cable” and Enshittification
- Many see Netflix converging on traditional TV: ads, generic content, and eventually live news/sports.
- Commenters link this to “enshittification” and compare it to carcinization: new platforms drift toward proven, revenue-maximizing cable-era models.
- End of the zero-interest-rate era forces “disruptors” (Netflix, Uber, etc.) to abandon subsidized pricing and resemble the incumbents they displaced.
Bundling, Fragmentation, and Costs
- Early streaming (dominant Netflix catalog, low price) is viewed as a temporary anomaly financed by investor money and lax licensing.
- Now, studios have pulled content to build their own services, causing a “re-cabling” with multiple subs and rising total cost.
- Some argue streaming is still better than cable due to easy month-to-month churn and selective subscribing.
- Others note that once you chase specific shows across platforms, total spend can approach old cable bills.
Content Ownership, Licensing, and Availability
- Studios and regional rightsholders often “hoard” older or niche titles or price them too high, leading to gaps across services and region-locked catalogs.
- This drives users back to piracy or à la carte digital rentals.
- Free, ad-supported services (Tubi, Pluto, etc.) are becoming the new home for mid-tier and back-catalog movies.
- Some propose compulsory licensing and/or rules forcing works to remain available or fall into the public domain.
Quality of Catalogs and Originals
- Netflix is criticized as a “graveyard of prematurely canceled originals,” often ending on unresolved cliffhangers.
- This leads some users to avoid new shows until a series is complete, or to abandon Netflix entirely.
- Others argue traditional TV also canceled most new shows; the difference is perception and the promise of on-demand choice.
- Several say streaming should favor long-tail, loyalty-building series, but current metrics push “cancel early and often.”
Competing Services and Market Dynamics
- HBO’s shift to “Max” with more reality/trash TV is seen as chasing mass-market tastes at the expense of prestige.
- Disney+, Prime Video, and Apple TV+ are viewed as hit-and-miss: some standout shows, but lots of filler and weak discovery/UIs.
- Despite constant online complaints, Netflix continues to post strong subscriber growth, though churn is significant industry-wide.
User Behaviors and Desired Changes
- Strategies include rotating subscriptions, relying on libraries or physical media, and avoiding incomplete series.
- Some want slimmer, cheaper plans (e.g., 4K originals only, single screen, no extras).
- Technical gripes: desktop resolution caps, low bitrates even for “4K,” and poor recommendation/discovery systems.