Technology Archives — Beating Broke

5 Streaming Services Scaling Back Amid Subscriber Losses

January 30, 2025 By Teri Monroe Leave a Comment

streaming services losing subscribers — Image Source: Pexels

According to Fortune Business Insights, the video streaming market is now valued at over $670 billion. Additionally, there are approximately 1.8 billion subscriptions to video streaming services and 34% of all TV usage is dedicated to streaming. The industry enjoyed a significant boom during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and many companies hoped subscriptions would continue to grow at the same rate. In many cases though, streaming services are now losing subscribers.

Now there are so many streaming services available to consumers that some of the ambitious hopes companies placed in streaming services are being dashed. Many consumers are unsubscribing from multiple platforms due to rising costs and cutbacks on family sharing. Outside economic factors have also forced many Americans to cut back on subscriptions within their budgets. As a result, some of the major streaming services are scaling back their content. Here are 5 streaming services that are scaling back because of subscriber loss.

1. Starz

According to Forbes, Starz lost the most amount of subscribers among streaming services, losing a total of 840,884 paid subscribers from December 2023 to May 2024. As a result, the company canceled many of its original programming like Heels and Run The World. Starz also separated from its parent company Lionsgate. However, Starz claims that it is one of the only profitable streaming services and that membership numbers fluctuate due to outside factors. Ultimately though, the loss of subscribers has had a negative impact on the service.

2. Apple TV

While Apple TV is known for producing some of the best content, the platform is still losing subscribers. After spending $20 billion on shows and movies since it launched, Apple TV still lost 528,285 paid subscribers from December 2023 to May 2024. According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is planning to cut back on its massive TV spending, leaving consumers with less content.

3. Disney+

While Disney+ and Hulu were profitable in 2023, Disney has said that the production company is scaling back on its movie production and focusing on quality. The streaming service Disney+ lost 294,956 paid subscribers from December 2023 to May 2024. Disney+ costs $9.99 per month for the Basic plan, and $15.99 per month or $159.99 per year for the ad-free Premium plan. These steep costs may be making subscribers think twice.

4. Hulu

In the same period of December 2023 to May 2024, Hulu lost 504,426 paid subscribers. As of last February, Hulu cracked down on password sharing which may account for some of the loss of subscribers. Some users on Reddit have voiced frustrations about excessive ads and the platform’s limited movie selection.

5. Netflix

Netflix losing subscribers — Image Source: Pexels

In 2023, Netflix price hikes and a crackdown on sharing accounts led to many subscribers canceling the streaming service. A recent study by TransUnion found that Millennials are especially intolerant of rising rates, with 53% saying they’ve given up a service after a price jump. Many consumers aren’t a fan of Netflix’s ad-supported tier for $6.99 as opposed to the ad-free tier which is $15.49 a month.

The Race for Subscribers

Ultimately, retaining subscribers is a challenging task for streaming services. Many streaming platforms churn and burn subscribers after sign-up promotions end, or prices increase. As platforms lose subscribers, they typically cut back on content. Customers then drop the service due to lack of content creating a vicious cycle.

Which streaming services do you subscribe to? Are there any subscriptions you have cut this year? Let us know in the comments.

3 Upgrades The Outside Of Your Home Needs This Year

Teri Monroe

Teri Monroe started her career in communications working for local government and nonprofits. Today, she is a freelance finance and lifestyle writer and small business owner. In her spare time, she loves golfing with her husband, taking her dog Milo on long walks, and playing pickleball with friends.

Epic AI Failures of 2024: What Went Wrong?

December 6, 2024 By Teri Monroe Leave a Comment

While many of us are still fascinated by AI’s capabilities, it has let us down in many ways this year. So, what has gone wrong? While artificial intelligence has so much capacity for good, there are inherent dangers that we as a society are grappling with. AI has spread misinformation, broken our trust, and changed industries. Here, we’ll discuss six ways that AI has utterly failed us in 2024.

1. Spotify Wrapped Disappointment

AI Fails Spotify Wrapped — Image Source: Pexels

It has become a tradition to wait for the release of your Spotify Wrapped results each year. The detailed insights are fun to share with friends and see your music listening year in review. However, this year was a huge letdown. The company relied heavily on AI to generate content which fell flat. Spotify didn’t provide listeners with their top music genres or their top albums. Instead, listeners were given a “Music Evolution” list that detailed a selection of interestingly titled musical micro-genres. Mine included Mulled Cider Folk Phase, Pink Pilates Princess Strut Pop Season, and Breakup Slow Dance Country Moment. These results seemed strange and inaccurate. Some users even asked if AI hallucinated these results.

2. Taylor Swift AI-Generated Endorsement

Taylor Swift AI Fails — Image Source: Pixabay

President-Elect Trump released an AI-generated endorsement from Taylor Swift during the election. Swift responded a month later with an endorsement for Kamala Harris. She said, “It really conjured up my fears around AI and the dangers of spreading misinformation.” But this was not the first time that AI has targeted celebrities this year to promote products, scams, and fake news. Swift was also used in a deepfake video earlier this year to sell Le Creuset cookware.

3. Netflix’s What Jennifer Did Controversy

In the true crime documentary What Jennifer Did, Netflix allegedly used AI-generated images to tell the story of Jennifer Pan. Viewers say that some of the images of Pan have irregularities in her hands, and the backgrounds contain strange, unidentifiable objects. The director, Jeremy Grimaldi, denied any AI use and said that Photoshop was used to conceal the identity of the person who provided the photo. Despite the controversy, this situation begs the question: Can viewers trust documentary films?

4. New York City Chatbot Failures

A New York City chatbot encouraged small business owners to break the law. The Associated Press reported that the AI tool “falsely suggested it is legal for an employer to fire a worker who complains about sexual harassment, doesn’t disclose a pregnancy, or refuses to cut their dreadlocks.” The chatbot disclaimer now says that it can’t provide legal advice. This is a prime example of how AI can make up information when asked specific questions that it may not have the correct information to, leading to serious consequences.

5. Holiday Coca-Cola Ad

Fast Company writer Michael Grothaus wrote that he is so over AI-generated art. He explained that the Coca-Cola holiday ads used to be magical and now they are just adding to the slop. This year’s ad was a remake of the “Holidays Are Coming” ad from 1995. Except it had the common characteristics of AI-generated art that somehow just don’t relate to reality. Here’s a look at the ad in question…

6. Shrimp Jesus Images

Social Media Likes — Image Source: 123RF

Facebook has become littered with AI-generated content and images. One of the most notable from this year is images of Jesus circulating around the platform. “Shrimp Jesus” was one image that got a lot of traction. The AI image fused Jesus Christ with underwater shrimp. Other AI-generated photos of Jesus began popping up everywhere. A study from Stanford University took a deeper look into the spam and scams rampant on Facebook. It found that the AI-generated posts they analyzed received a ton of engagement from hundreds of millions of people.

Greatest AI Failures of 2024

Artificial Intelligence — Image Source: 123RF

What does this mean for the future of AI? More oversight is needed to prevent AI failures. Left unchecked, this technology can have unforeseen consequences that are far more serious than a disappointing Spotify Wrapped. Until we recognize AI’s power and complexity, failures will continue to happen. There is still a need to create better models and improve the inner workings of artificial intelligence before it becomes something people can rely on.

Have you experienced any AI failures? Let us know in the comments.

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Teri Monroe

Are Your Devices Spying on You? The Truth About Being Tracked

December 3, 2024 By Teri Monroe Leave a Comment

Are your devices spying on you? The answer is yes. Your devices are full of your personal information and, oftentimes, your user data is bought and sold by third parties. In reality, your data is a goldmine of information about you and your habits. The rate at which we produce data is shocking too. According to Edge Delta’s research, the average person produces 1.7 MB per second or 6,120 MB per hour of data. Every time you share something on Instagram or stream something on Netflix, you are creating data. Beyond that, your devices have the ability to track you physically. With that in mind, here are some of the biggest threats to your privacy and how you can protect yourself.

1. Location Tracking

One of the most obvious ways your devices are spying on you is by sharing your location. Some location services make sense. Google Maps needs to know your location to give you accurate directions or your Pizza Hut app might need your location to confirm delivery or carry out. However, it seems like just about every app wants permission to access your location these days. Oftentimes, it isn’t needed and could potentially put your safety at risk. Make sure to read the fine print when agreeing to location services. You can also shut off permissions in your settings.

2. Installed Application Methods

Cell Phone Apps Are Your Devices Spying on You? — Image Source: Pexels

Your Android may be snooping on you without your knowledge. Many developers use installed application methods or IAMs to see the data stored by other apps on your phone. Researchers explain that more than 50% of apps in the Google Play Store use IAMs. IAMs are usually used for debugging purposes and can be useful, but this information can also provide developers with intimate details about your life. For iPhone users, the same is true but in general, Apple has stricter privacy control policies than Android.

3. Website Cookies

Many of us are aware that our browsing history is tracked by stored cookies. When you visit a new website, you may have seen a pop-up asking you to accept that your cookies are being used. If you accept, your data and activity on that site are stored and can be accessed by the website operator. Cookies are most often used for targeted advertising. They also allow for your login information, shopping carts, and searches to be stored. You can always opt out of cookies when you visit a new site to keep your data safe.

4. Microphone and Camera Access

While your camera and microphone aren’t actively spying on you, they can be hacked. A red flag is if your camera light turns on when you’re not using it. Hackers can record you or listen in without your knowledge. The best way to protect yourself is to cover your camera when not in use, keep your anti-virus software up-to-date, and manage permissions to your camera with caution. One of the most notable cases of hacking involved Ring doorbells. The FTC settled a lawsuit this year with Ring “over charges the company allowed employees and contractors to access consumers’ private videos and failed to implement security protections, enabling hackers to take control of consumers’ accounts, cameras, and videos.”

5. Physical Security

Your devices have the keys to all your information. If you lose your smartwatch or cell phone, anyone could have access to sensitive details like passwords, schedules, and more serious info. It may sound like common sense, but using a lock screen password, face ID, or Touch ID on your devices could save you from trouble in the future. If you do lose your phone, you can use Find My Device if you have an Android. Find My iPhone is available for Apple users. You should also report your phone as stolen if it goes missing. This way, you can be proactive about protecting your information.

Your Devices Are Spying on You But You Can Take Control

In a world where privacy is never guaranteed, it’s important to protect yourself. Your devices are spying on you. Ultimately, the more data you share, the more vulnerable you will be. While it may seem impossible to keep a low profile, you can limit the amount of data you share. Just be sure to manage permissions, use strong passwords, limit cookies and data sharing, and always read privacy agreements.

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Teri Monroe