Streaming costs are higher than ever - Take steps to save now

I think we’re all wondering the same thing. Am I really saving any money since I ditched cable for streaming? And about those commercials … they’ve come to streaming, too.

Just this week, Disney+ and Hulu said that come October, prices will increase. Ad-free Disney+ is going from $11 to $14 — ad-free Hulu from $14 to $18. You could pay less to watch some ads, but … they’re annoying.

These increases are the second time Disney+ and Hulu raised prices within a year, and they’re not the only ones getting greedy. Keep reading to catch up on all the changes and what you can do to save money.

Well, that escalated quickly

Disney and Warner Bros. (which owns Discovery) say their original prices were too low on purpose to drive subscribers. Now that they got what they wanted, we’re getting the ol’ switcheroo.

It’s not just hikes on subscription costs. Ad-free used to be the default, and now you pay more for that. Then come the password-sharing crackdowns. Bad news for family members who share plans … and that ex that still has your Netflix password.

Price hike roundup

Things aren’t pretty out there, people.

Streaming provider price increases

Don’t forget these price hikes are going down at the same time as the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes. If the Hollywood machine isn’t turning, it’s only a matter of time before the supply of new shows runs dry. Are we shelling out more cash to watch reruns of “Seinfeld”?

Streamline your streaming spending

I know you don’t want to ditch your favorite streaming options altogether, but there are many ways to save.

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Streaming prices are out of control - See what services are charging

We’ve come a long way from the days of visiting Blockbuster Video on a Friday night to find a few movies to pass the weekend. These days, you don’t have to get off the couch to rent the latest Hollywood smash hit.

Now, you just fire up the smart TV and connect to your favorite streaming service to have fantastic content at your fingertips. Giants like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Paramount+ have emerged as dominant players, offering a vast array of movies, TV shows and original content.

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Fastest camera cars in the world

This video unveils the Hollywood secrets behind those jaw-dropping car chase sequences that leave us on the edge of our seats. Buckle up as we dive into the thrilling world of the fastest camera cars ever used in the movie industry.

AI brings dead celebs back to life

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Well, kinda… Hollywood is spending millions to resurrect the likeness of screen legends like Judy Garland with AI. Creepy or fine? Plus, YouTube’s new pause ads, why to skip the blue light filter, and a warning for iPad Pro owners: iOS 18 is bricking devices!

The estates of long-gone celebrities are raking in money: It’s not just voice cloning, like Judy Garland reading “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” (paywall link). Using old footage and the right AI, Hollywood can create digital models that look, sound and move just like the real person. Even concerts with de-aged virtual avatars like ABBA Voyage pull in over $2 million a week. They’re alive, but you get the point.

Trivia

What was the first feature film to use computer-generated imagery, aka CGI? Was it … A.) “Star Wars: A New Hope,“ B.) “Tron,“ C.) “Westworld“ or D.) “Alien“?

Find the answer here!

These handy sites can help you find the streaming shows you’re looking for

Thanks to streaming, we’ve reached a point where we have too much of a good thing. You can watch just about any TV show or movie you can think of, from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to nostalgic cartoons of your youth.

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Can you solve this time-travel riddle?

Time travel is one Hollywood tool that can make your head hurt. Wait, what year is it? Is that the same guy from that other timeline? It can be so confusing. If you can keep up with some of those cinematic twists and turns, you may have what it takes to solve this puzzle.

🎙️ Speaking badly of the dead making money is a grave mistake: AI is driving new money into the estates of Hollywood legends in ElevenLabs’ Reader App. You can listen to audiobooks narrated by stars like Judy Garland, James Dean, Burt Reynolds and Sir Laurence Olivier. They only needed 30 minutes of audio to create these eerily accurate “professional voice clones.”

Trivia

Which Hollywood actress played a big role in the development of Wi-Fi? Was it … A.) Audrey Hepburn, B.) Marilyn Monroe, C.) Hedy Lamarr or D.) Elizabeth Taylor?

Find the answer here!

How do you sell a $20K TV? By including lots of freebies. TCL is giving a free Super Bowl ticket to the first 115 people to buy its massive 115-inch TV. Fine print: If they run out of tickets, you might have to settle for a Hollywood movie premiere or a trip to the next CES tech conference.

🔊 Old Hollywood returns: AI company ElevenLabs is bringing dead celeb voices to its Reader app. Soon, James Dean, Burt Reynolds or Judy Garland will voice your next audiobook. The app can turn PDFs and other text formats into voiceovers, too.

American tourists are big targets abroad: You can thank Hollywood stereotypes that paint us all as wealthy. In some countries, you could be robbed, drugged or worse. If you’re traveling, keep your voice down (everyone knows an American accent), ditch USA-branded clothes and if something feels off, get outta there.

What a trip: An American Airlines passenger’s lost suitcase turned up in a Hollywood homeless encampment. After flying from Dallas, her AirTag tracked the bag’s detour to Denver, back to Dallas, then to Burbank and somehow into central L.A. How it happened is still a mystery. Her friend recovered the bag by paying off a local, who had the woman’s lost belongings in a shopping cart.

🌄 La La Land: That “Hollywood Mountain” pic everyone’s been passing around on social? Fake news, folks. The devil’s in the AI details. There is no beautiful green mountain overlooking downtown Los Angeles from this angle, and the hotels on top don’t exist. Want to visit a real Hollywood hill? Try the Griffith Observatory.

Trivia

What was the first feature film to use computer-generated imagery, aka CGI? Was it … A.) “Star Wars: A New Hope,“ B.) “Tron,“ C.) “Westworld“ or D.) “Alien“?

Find the answer here

🎮 Keeping up with the other Kim: Kim Kardashian: Hollywood fans, say goodbye to your digital dream life. The game is shutting down in April, and players like Alexis Costello (WSJ, paywall link) are heartbroken to lose their jets and Tokyo homes.

Netflix tries to bust the writer's strike

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The streaming titan just announced a job vacancy that’s turning every head in Hollywood. The full scoop, in just 60 seconds.

DUMB MONEY - Official Trailer

GameStop vs. Wall Street was a wild ride with several twists and turns. It’s so wild Hollywood is turning it into a major film called “Dumb Money.” You won’t believe how crazy this real-life story is. Warning: The trailer is full of f-bombs.

What makes movie punches look realistic?

Have you ever watched a really good action movie and thought, “Wow, it looks like they are really punching each other.” Well, tons of secret Hollywood tricks make it seem genuine. And sometimes actors actually make contact.