VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: How streaming services are overwhelming American consumers
Margaret McCann: With over 200 streaming services available worldwide, Americans are overwhelmed when it comes to deciding where to spend their money. Syracuse University sophomore Amya Howell says that the constant search for her shows across different platforms is a complete waste of money and time.
Amya Howell: A couple of times a month, I would say, I’m trying to figure out where I’m supposed to find this and where I can watch it. And it’ll be, like, streaming services I’ve never even heard of.
McCann: Howell says that the number of platforms has gone too far, and that they should work together to reduce the frustrations that Americans feel about the nature of streaming. According to a recent survey, more than 62% of Americans feel “streaming fatigue”– there are just way too many platforms to keep track of, and they can’t keep up. According to the New York Post, the average American spends 110 hours a year scrolling through streaming services while trying to find something to watch.These frustrations have caught the attention of tech entrepreneurs. Cleveland-based startup Streamline is trying to solve this problem by providing users with a search engine that make finding content easier in exchange for your streaming-habit data. Streamline audience engagement and marketing intern Carson Fowler says that their app could be the solution to this time-suck.
Carson Fowler: If we can help people save those 15, 30 minutes they spend trying to find what they want to watch, that’s a win.
McCann: The streaming industry, valued at over $500 billion, is an inevitable part of our lives. With so much money on the line, Americans can expect to see more streaming fatigue services emerging—something Howell calls a necessary solution to an increasingly unmanageable situation. Reporting for NCC News, I’m Margaret McCann.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — There are over 200 different streaming subscription services available to American consumers. From Netflix to Paramount Plus, customers are left unaware and confused on the best ways to spend their dollars.
According to a recent survey conducted by Reviews.org, 62% of Americans are currently experiencing streaming fatigue, which can be described as the feeling of being overwhelmed with the increasing number of streaming apps. The increased anxiety over the surplus of services is due to rising costs, changing dynamics and more.
Amya Howell, a sophomore at Syracuse University, pays for all of her streaming subscriptions out of pocket. She says that the amount of subscription platforms leaves her with too many options.
“A couple of times a month, I would say, I’m trying to figure out where I’m supposed to find this and where I can watch it,” Howell said. “And it’ll be, like, streaming services I’ve never even heard of.”
Howell also said that the market competition has started to affect the average American, and that the platforms should work together in order to ease some of this streaming noise.
“Shows that we all want to watch shouldn’t be dispersedly spread over five different streaming services. They should be loyal to one streaming service, so we can all be loyal to that service.” Howell said.
She noted that it simply doesn’t make sense for Americans to subscribe to every possible subscription, as the overwhelming amount of content sometimes only creates more of an issue for consumers.
According to the New York Post, the average American spends about 110 hours a year searching for something to watch on various streaming platforms. Therein lies the problem: there is almost too much content for busy Americans to scroll through in their limited free time.
Even tech entrepreneurs have taken notice of the issue of streaming fatigue. Cleveland-based startup app Streamline is attempting to help streamers tune back into the watching experience and reduce time-wasting.
The app acts as a search engine across different platforms for customers in exchange for their streaming behavior data.
“If this app can save people time, save you that 15 minutes of clicking and searching and trying to find the show you want to watch, I think that’s a win.” said Carson Fowler, a Streamline audience engagement and marketing intern.
The American television streaming industry, which is worth over $500 billion, is a prime market for advancement of the current frustrating customer experience. Of course, major players in the industry are not expected to simply combine their services anytime soon.
Until then, Americans will have to keep juggling their subscriptions—hoping they spend more time watching and less time searching.