Ahoy, matey! Streaming costs are bringing back piracy
How much do pirates pay for corn? A buck-an-ear! How much do they pay for streaming services? Uh, they don’t.
On a recent Friday podcast, Andrew mentioned all the services he subscribes to to watch football. A reader sent a note with a suggestion: “Just watch on an illegal streaming site. Oh, and be careful what you click.”
Streaming service costs are increasing by the minute, and more folks are turning to illegal downloads. I’m all for saving money, but that is not the way. Let’s dive into how expensive things have gotten and better ideas than riding the stormy seas of stolen content.
Rising tides
Today, half of the major streaming platforms cost twice as much as they did when they hit the market. Sorry, sports fans, ESPN+ has jacked up its price by 120% since it launched.
Just last week, Apple TV+ raised its monthly subscription from $6.99 to $9.99. Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ and Netflix all took their prices up a notch in October.
Oh, and Amazon Prime customers now have to pay an extra three bucks a month to avoid ads … that weren’t originally there. Netflix charges extra to share passwords. Want to watch Max in 4K? That’s now extra, too. Sheesh.
Abandon ship
Piracy is making a comeback and it costs the U.S. economy at least $29 billion in lost revenue each year. Yep, billion with a B.
One study found that piracy through streaming sites increased by 16% in 2021 compared to 2020. Researchers blame the uptick partly on the pandemic forcing everyone to stay home, but price increases play a part, too.
The trend continues. Illegal streaming and downloading of films and TV shows make up the most significant portion of global piracy statistics. In 2023, it accounted for 24% of the global bandwidth.
Music piracy used to be a wildfire. If you were a Napster user, it’s probably time for an under-eye cream. However, the flames were put out once platforms like Spotify and Apple Music became more affordable than purchasing actual albums and singles.
Have Verizon? Your bill is about to go up
As sure as death and taxes, you can bet your bottom dollar that prices will increase for almost everything. As U.S. inflation topped a four-decade high in March, many companies are looking at price hikes to secure their bottom line.
Think food prices are high now? Get ready to pay even more
Gas prices are incredibly volatile during world events. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted the supply chain, and millions of barrels of Russian oil were pulled off the market.
Last year’s cyberattack on the East Coast fuel pipeline led to gas shortages, hoarding and wildly fluctuating prices. There are ways to find cheap gas in your area that can help offset the rising costs. Tap or click here to learn more.
Check the mail for this letter about your final IRS stimulus payment
The global pandemic shows no signs of letting up, with millions of people still struggling from furloughs or price increases. If you need to get tested for COVID-19, here’s where you can find at-home tests that are in stock.
Yet another streaming service just bumped up its prices
Just as certain as death and taxes, so too are price increases for certain services. Several mobile service providers hiked prices over the last few months, and streaming services are following suit. Netflix increased its standard offering earlier this year to $13.99, and Spotify did the same in April.
Our top 5 tech predictions for 2021
Tech is a strange beast. In some instances, it can seem painfully static. In others, it forges ahead at lightspeed without skipping a beat.
Since we’ve just begun a new year, you’re probably looking for ways to become a better you. There are plenty of tech items out there that can help you keep your resolutions and kick those bad practices you’ve wanted to get rid of. Tap or click here for 15 things to help kick bad habits.
Cable TV and internet price hikes coming in 2021 - check the list
As certain as the ball drop in New York City on New Year’s Eve, internet service providers will also be ringing in the new year with a host of price increases.
Fortunately, a new law could help keep your monthly fees in check. You’ll at least get more transparency with your bills. Tap or click here to find out how the Television Viewer Protection Act will impact you.