Streaming Service Cancellation Trends
Early last year, Josh Meisel and his wife decided to watch the new Peacock drama, “Poker Face,” starring Natasha Lyonne. Despite having multiple streaming subscriptions, they were hesitant to add another service. They made a pact to cancel Peacock if they lost interest after two weeks. True to their agreement, they canceled the service soon after.
Josh Meisel, a 39-year-old scientist from outside Boston, took it a step further. After canceling Peacock, he evaluated his other subscriptions and decided to cut loose HBO Max, Apple TV+, and Hulu as well. Subsequently, he resubscribed to Hulu and Apple TV+ for specific shows like “The Bear” and “Slow Horses,” only to cancel them once they finished watching the content.
Shifting Consumer Behavior
Americans are becoming increasingly impulsive when it comes to canceling streaming services. Recent data from Antenna, a subscription research firm, indicates that over 29 million domestic paying streaming subscribers have canceled three or more services in the past two years, which accounts for about a quarter of all subscribers. This trend highlights a significant change in consumer behavior, moving away from the traditional cable model where viewers stuck with a single provider.
The current landscape contrasts with the early days of the streaming wars when consumers were adding services without much consideration for culling or switching between platforms. The data signals a new era where viewers are more selective and willing to cancel subscriptions based on their viewing preferences.
This revised content provides a structured overview of the streaming service cancellation trends and the shifting consumer behavior in the streaming industry.
