Blog #3 is it time to ditch the streaming services for Audiobooks?

If you were to ask me what shows I've been watching recently it would not be a long conversation. I haven't really watched much of anything for a while now and I don't feel like I'm really missing out on much. I can't remember the last time I was genuinely excited to see a new season drop or a new episode to release. Streaming has failed to pull me in these past few months.

When streaming first came on the scene it really was incredible. Going from DVD rentals to a Netflix account is a serious upgrade from the convienience to the selection and the cost it was the better option in every aspect. But in the past couple of years Netflix and its contemporaries have gone to shit.

The first big shift to the streaming landscape and likely the largest complaint your used to hearing is the need to have to pay for a dozen different services.

When Netflix was first to the scene they were easily able to secure streaming rights for popular Movies and TV but that is no longer the case. Everyone else realised how much more money they could make by simply doing it themselves and now there are too many streaming services for anyone to reasonably afford; which brings me to my next point.

The costs have shot up. Services like Disney+ and Netflix which less than a decade ago cost less than $10 a month now cost almost $20 a month. These services provide less value than they ever had. Some may shout "inflation" to this point as if it could wash my argument away. However, this price hike is a sign of something much more troubling.

Back in the 2010s when these services all were first launched and begun their rise the world was in a different place. Corona was simply a beer and home ownership was realistic. Interests rates were also much lower, simply put this meant that the billionaire investors that funded these platforms had no issues keeping the money flowing. Did you ever wonder why so many tech companies always gave away so much free shit to their employees? 

Now it's 2024, tech firms no longer offer free office perks, there have been mass lay-offs across the tech sector, and these investors are asking for their money back. Many tech companies are now scrambling to turn profits after years of living off endless investor cash. You may have noticed that many social media platforms now have more ads than they used. Or even advertising paid versions of the service that give you extra perks.

the consumer value of streaming services has also decreased. Netflix has made headlines for cracking down on password sharing. Now you can't use your parents account after leaving home... Fuck that! These platforms have also bombarded its users with rushed shows designed to make up for the gaps in their catalogues created by rival streaming services. The whole Marvel sector of Disney is now less popular and valuable because they bombarded everyone with shit shows that no one asked for.

Hollywood also isn't in great shape. Many projects have been cancelled or severely delayed due to strikes by the writers and actors guilds. These strikes were necessary thanks to poor conditions created by an industry obsessed with exploiting its talent. A lot of the stuff that is coming out of Hollywood is pretty lacklustre, unoriginal and at least as far as I'm concerned putting profits over entertaining audiences.

I've jumped ship at least for now. Whilst these services were actively losing value another service of mine was gaining value. Spotify now has free audiobooks for premium users. I don't know about anyone else but for me this is so fucking cool! As someone who prefers audiobooks to reading this is amazing! I could rarely stomach the prices offered by audible I rarely listened to any audiobooks, maybe one a year. 

This value add move has completely changed that for me. Now at least for a large portion of the audiobook library- some books still require purchasing- there is no hurdle to giving it a listen. Audiobook streaming has completely changed how I approach books just as music streaming radically redefined how people listen to music. I'm now jumping into new books all the time and actually finishing them. The convenience of having all my audiobooks next to my music is amazing and has meant I can be actively working on multiple books.

I've finished books on history, politics, philosophy and psychology and as lame as it might sound I'm learning so much and loving it!

I’m not sure how much my recent love for books has to do with the fact that I don't have a TV, but I'm happy regardless. I ordered a projector off tiktok for my room so I guess I'll see how much a lack of a big screen has to do with my burgeoning book worm status. Regardless I don't feel like I'm lacking anything when it comes to entertainment now days.

Thanks for reading !!