Entertainment

Will Netflix and Other Streaming TV Services Be Commercial Free in 2023

Published

1 year ago

2022-12-12

Will Netflix and Other Streaming TV Services Be Commercial Free in 2023

Before this year, Netflix’s decade of unstoppable streaming TV subscriber growth enticed nearly all of Hollywood’s major entertainment companies (as well as some major tech companies) to embrace streaming as the future of television.

In 2019, Disney and Apple both launched streaming services. In 2020, HBO Max and NBCUniversal’s Peacock will join the fray. In 2021, Paramount Plus and Discovery Plus joined forces.

Consumers benefited greatly from the so-called streaming wars. New services launched with big-budget content at low prices, eager for your membership. Some companies provided additional discounts. Throughout much of the pandemic, a slew of theatrical films were streamed the same day they were released in theatres, sometimes for free.

However, subscription prices are increasing: the latest increase hit Disney Plus members on Thursday, followed by Apple TV Plus and Hulu in October and Netflix raising US prices earlier this year. New crackdowns on password sharing are on the way. Ads are also appearing on streaming services where binges were previously commercial-free.

This year brought the costs of combat to light. The first casualties from the battles between these titans will likely be revealed next year. The question is how much you might suffer as well.

It’s a high-stakes battle for the companies involved. New competitors poured billions of dollars into rival services to catch up with Netflix’s now $17 billion annual budget for shows and movies.

According to Jason Kilar, the CEO of both Hulu and HBO Max, spending $10 billion per year on original programming is essentially the entry fee for streaming’s big leagues.

But, this year, Netflix’s freight train of growth jumped the tracks, dragging the rest of Hollywood with it. Then everything started going off the rails all at once.
Netflix’s reversal

Netflix reported its first subscriber losses in a decade in the first half of 2022. When Netflix reported 200,000 lost accounts in April, 30% of the company’s market value vanished overnight. Another 970,000 subscribers left three months later.

Netflix dealt with a sort of corporate identity crisis by launching itself headlong into dramatically different strategies, some of which it had dismissed for years.

Before revealing its shrinking membership, Netflix began testing password-sharing fees in a few counties. Its crackdown will become more widespread next year to get an estimated 100 million people to pay up after using someone else’s account.

After establishing ad-free viewing as the de facto model for streaming, Netflix introduced a new, cheaper tier with advertising only six months after reporting subscriber drops. Another first is that it is experimenting with live programming. It has a live Chris Rock comedy special scheduled for early 2023, and Netflix is reportedly considering adding live sports.

Netflix

Nonetheless, losses had already been reversed before new measures could impact its subscriber. New members who have joined since June have more than compensated for those who left in the first six months.

Although Netflix’s streaming subscriber growth is expected to be the slowest since the days when DVDs-by-mail were still a significant part of the company’s business, the company’s programming is attracting massive audiences: three of its top-five most watched shows ever were released this year. (The other two will be released in late 2021.)

However, greater harm was done. Netflix’s shrinking membership sent shockwaves through Hollywood, knocking the legs out from under the assumption that a big bet on streaming would result in a big payout later.
Disney’s binge has gone too far.

Disney

Disney had long warned investors that its streaming bet would be costly, but the CEO did not expect it to cost him his job.

Disney Plus, the crown jewel of the company’s streaming strategy, emerged as the most successful combatant in the streaming wars. As of early October, it had more than 100 million members, outnumbering any other new service. “It has only taken three short years for Disney Plus to transform from a nascent business to an industry leader,” said CEO Bob Chapek in November. He was fired less than two weeks later.

Chapek’s perceived sins varied. Analysts, investors, and Disney customers have pointed to a variety of issues, including Disney Parks price increases and fees that felt like gouging amid record inflation, an internal restructuring that harmed morale and complicated bureaucracy, clumsy responses to contentious issues such as an anti-LGBTQ bill in Florida, and sluggishness in dealing with cord-assault cuttings on ESPN’s business, which was once a profitable engine of profit for Disney.

However, Chapek’s flaws included a failure to adapt Disney’s streaming business so that it could begin earning returns on the billions of dollars invested in it. The company had planned for Disney Plus’ peak losses to occur in its fiscal year 2021. However, Disney’s total streaming losses in fiscal 2022, which ended in October, were more than double those in fiscal 2021. The losses had not reached their apex last year; they had only scaled a portion of the ascent.

In an unexpected move, Disney’s board fired Chapek last month and recalled his predecessor, Bob Iger, to lead the company again.

Nonetheless, Chapek was fired just weeks before two of his planned Disney Plus profitability measures went live. The service launched its ad-supported tier on Thursday, pricing it at the $8-per-month level that members could previously stream ad-free while raising the ad-free tier by $3 to $11 per month.

It won’t be the last time you see a price increase on your streaming bill.

HBO Max

HBO Max is in disarray after its ownership changed yet again. HBO Max was acquired by the newly formed company Warner Bros. in April. Discovery is a merger of cable-channel behemoth Discovery and WarnerMedia, which AT&T purchased for $85 billion less than four years ago.

Warner Bros. has a mountain of debt and is led by Discovery’s famously frugal CEO, David Zaslav. Discovery has cancelled many HBO Max shows, including a nearly finished Batgirl film that reportedly cost $90 million.

And the costs will eventually be passed on to you.

HBO Max and Discovery Plus will merge into a single service next year. Aside from pairing prestige fare like House of the Dragon with basic-cable reality hits like 90-Day Fiancé, combining $15-per-month HBO Max with $7-per-month Discovery Plus may result in a price increase for some subscribers.

If this is the case, it will join price increases at Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, Hulu, and Apple in the last year. Only Paramount Plus and Peacock have recently raised their prices among the major US streaming services.

And, at least according to Kilar, to be a profitable winner in the streaming wars, services will eventually need average global subscribers to pay around $15 per month.

That may appear to be the price you’re already paying for many of them. However, if you live in the United States, your price will almost certainly need to be raised to compensate for lower subscription fees charged elsewhere. Netflix’s standard tier – its most popular plan – costs $15.50 per month in the United States.

However, in Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy, the same plan costs half as much. In India, the standard tier of Netflix costs $6, and a mobile-only plan costs less than $2.

Subscription prices must rise everywhere for any global service to reach a $15 average.

Some of 2022’s challenges, such as Netflix’s new ad-supported tier, appeared to benefit streaming customers. It was launched in November and is the cheapest way to access its service in years.

Even so, a sharp right hook is poised to land shortly after. Netflix will begin charging new fees for password sharing early next year. After years of relatively lax enforcement, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarados said Tuesday at a UBS conference that the new account-sharing charges “will be a big focus” in 2023.

“That, like a price increase, doesn’t make anyone happy,” he admitted.

So binge while you still have the money. And if you can’t, at the very least, you’ll get some sleep.

Source: CNet, VOR News

Related Topics:Entertainment Netflix streaming TV VOR News

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Geoff Thomas is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills and deep understanding of SEO, he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Thomas' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

Entertainment

Lord of the Rings to Return in 2026 With Two New Films

Published

15 hours ago

2024-05-10

Geoff Thomas

File Image: The franchise's return to its New Zealand sets

New Line and Warner Brothers announced Thursday that two new films set in the magical worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” book series are in the works.

Director Peter Jackson and screenwriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who helmed the blockbuster “Lord of the Rings” film trilogy in the early 2000s, will collaborate to produce the two upcoming films.

Andy Serkis, a former “Lord of the Rings” actor, will star in and direct the first new film, provisionally titled “The Hunt for Gollum.” Serkis voiced and motion captured the titular creature in the first film series. Walsh and Boyens will create the screenplay alongside Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou.

Serkis announced the news on Instagram, including a photo of himself posing with his “Lord of the Rings” avatar. “We is baaaaak, Precious!,” he wrote in the caption. The “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” star said in a press release that he is delighted to reunite with Jackson, Walsh, and Boyens, whom he described as “incomparable guardians of Middle-earth.”

“It’s just all too delicious,” he said, previewing Lord of the Rings return to its New Zealand sets.

In a joint statement, Jackson, Walsh, and Boyens echoed the sentiment, saying “it is an honour and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth with our good friend and collaborator” Serkis.

Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line did not release any other details on the second picture.

The original “Lord of the Rings” trilogy from the early 2000s was not just a box-office smash, but also an awards-circuit sensation. The franchise got 30 Academy Award nominations for its three films and won 17 Oscars.

“The Return of the King” won best picture at the 76th Academy Awards, 20 years ago. Jackson won his first directing Oscar for the picture.

Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-chairs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy commended the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy’s continuing effect and expressed their continuous commitment to bringing Tolkien’s words to the screen with Serkis’ “The Hunt for Gollum.”

“We continue an important commitment to excellence that is a true hallmark of how we all want to venture ahead and further contribute to the ‘Lord of the Rings’ cinematic history,” the two of them stated in a statement.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav reportedly said in an earnings call on Thursday that “The Hunt for Gollum” will be released in 2026.

Lord of the Rings Actor Bernard Hill Dead at Age 79

Lord of the Rings Actor Bernard Hill Dead at Age 79

Celebrity

Renewing Their Vows, Justin And Hailey Bieber Are Expecting A Child.

Published

22 hours ago

2024-05-10

Kiara Grace

Peples - VOR News Image

NEW YORK — Baby Bieber is here! Play his massive smash “Baby” from 2010. In addition to renewing their vows, Justin and Hailey Bieber (née Baldwin) are expecting their first child together.

PBS – VOR News Image

Renewing Their Vows, Justin And Hailey Bieber Are Expecting A Child.

A representative for Hailey informed the Associated Press on Thursday that the model is slightly over six months pregnant.

With matching posts, the couple shared the news on their individual Instagram profiles. A brief, amorous video clip featuring the couple kissing opens both.

People – VOR News Image

Renewing Their Vows, Justin And Hailey Bieber Are Expecting A Child.

White lace envelops Hailey, her baby bump showcasing the sheer, form-fitting material. A picture session in which Justin takes pictures of his wife comes next. They have each other tagged in every caption.

The luxury brand Yves Saint Laurent claims in a press release that the picture and video are from the Biebers’ vow renewal ceremony that took place in Hawaii on Thursday.

The singer shared a photo of the couple holding hands on Instagram in 2018, remarking, “My wife is awesome,” confirming the long-rumored marriage. At the same time, Hailey updated her username from “Baldwin” to “Bieber” Within a month of dating, they engaged in the Bahamas earlier that year.

Hapers – VOR News Image

Renewing Their Vows, Justin And Hailey Bieber Are Expecting A Child.

Hailey is a model as well as the creator of the skincare brand Rhode. With eight No. 1 songs under his credit, including “Sorry,” “Love Yourself,” “What Do You Mean?” and “Despacito,” which features Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, Justin, who first gained notoriety as a youngster, is a Grammy winner. “Justice,” his most recent album, was published in 2021.

SOURCE – (AP)

Celebrity

A Judge Determines That Brian Wilson Of The Beach Boys Need Conservatorship Due To Mental Deterioration.

Published

22 hours ago

2024-05-10

Kiara Grace

AP News - VOR News Image

Los Angeles — Brian Wilson, Due to what his doctor refers to as a “major neurocognitive disorder,” a judge determined on Thursday that Beach Boys founder and legendary musician Brian Wilson should be placed under judicial conservatorship to govern his personal and medical decisions.

Following the death of his wife, Melinda Ledbetter Wilson, in January, who was in charge of the majority of his affairs and chores, the 81-year-old Wilson’s family and inner circle filed a petition, which Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gus T. May granted during a hearing.

During the brief hearing, May stated, “I find from clear and convincing evidence that a conservatorship of the person is necessary.” The judge found that Brian lacks the capacity to make decisions about his own health care, and the evidence supports his assent to the arrangement.

May named manager LeeAnn Hard and publicist Jean Sievers, two seasoned Brian aides, as his conservators.

Rolling stone – VOR News Image

A judge Determines That Brian Wilson Of The Beach Boys Need Conservatorship Due To Mental Deterioration.

No substantial complaints were voiced.

Through their attorney, Carnie and Wendy Wilson, two of Wilson’s seven children and members of the musical trio Wilson Phillips, requested that all of the children be included in a group text chain regarding their father and that they be considered when making medical choices. The judge accepted the agreement.

At a hearing on April 30, the two daughters had requested a postponement of the proceedings while the difficulties were resolved; nevertheless, it was evident during the hearing that a consensus had been achieved.

Wilson is receiving medicine for dementia, has a “major neurocognitive disorder,” and “is unable to properly provide for his own personal needs for physical health, food, clothing, or shelter,” according to a doctor’s affidavit that was filed with the petition in February.

Sievers and Hard have maintained strong contact with Brian and his spouse for many years. According to a report written by Robert Frank Cipriano, the lawyer the court assigned to defend Wilson’s interests, Wilson acknowledged the need for the conservatorship. Brian also expressed confidence in the two women’s judgment.

According to Cipriano’s report to the court, Brian lives with two kids and a long-term live-in caregiver at his “impeccably well maintained residence in Beverly Hills.”

PBS – VOR News Image

A Judge Determines That Brian Wilson Of The Beach Boys Need Conservatorship Due To Mental Deterioration.

According to Cipriano, Wilson has a decent understanding of who he is, where he is, and when he is. He can move around with assistance from a walker and the caregiver, but he is unable to name any of his children other than the two who live with him.

According to him, Brian “was largely difficult to understand and responded to questions and comments in very brief ways.”

Wilson’s broad approval, according to Cipriano, was a major factor in his approval of the conservatorship.

Following their marriage in 1995, Brian praised Ledbetter for stabilizing his well-known turbulent life. The two had met in the mid-1980s.

According to a family statement, Brian, his seven children, his caregiver, and his doctors conferred before the petition was submitted. To guarantee that “there will be no drastic changes” and that “Brian will be able to enjoy all of his family and friends and continue to work on current projects,” the decision was made, according to the statement.

people – VOR News Image

A Judge Determines That Brian Wilson Of The Beach Boys Need Conservatorship Due To Mental Deterioration.

In California, judges have the authority to choose a conservator for an individual, their assets (also known as the estate), or both, as was the case with Britney Spears. Legislative changes were sparked by Spears’ case, which raised awareness of conservatorships—also known as guardianships in some states—most of it unfavorable. Wilson’s situation is more in line with the conventional use of conservatorships, which are frequently established for elderly individuals experiencing permanent mental impairment.

Since Hard is a trustee of the trust in which Wilson’s assets are placed, the Wilson petition did not ask for a conservator of the estate.

Regarded as a great inventor of vocal harmony and a co-founder, producer, arranger, and principal songwriter of the Beach Boys, Wilson’s career was completely turned upside down in the 1960s due to his struggles with mental health and substance misuse.

In 1988, he was admitted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside his bandmates, which included his cousin Mike Love, siblings Carl and Dennis, and brother.

SOURCE – (AP)