Netflix again

From time to time, I'll review my streaming subscriptions. I don't want to keep any subscriptions for services I don't use, and will rotate them out. Recently though, I've simply cut back.

I say I've cut back, but I actually subscribed to a service recently. I've seen multiple conflicting reports about Netflix and its password crackdown. So, I subscribed to Netflix a few days ago -- I dropped it some time back because I didn't use it -- and have logged in on a family member's account. She'll use the service for a couple of weeks, then I'll try to log in at home.

Since I'm in a different ZIP Code, and have a different ISP, Netflix should detect I'm not at the same location. That way, I'll get to see exactly how Netflix handles password sharing.

Mind you, I'm not looking to violate Netflix Terms of Service. Rather, I want to see how it handles password sharing. What notices does it give? Will it actually block me from logging in? Will it simply scold me? What will it do?

I won't keep Netflix long. I'm only subscribing to test the service. I don't plan to watch anything, just see what happens when I log in after the account was used in a different city for a period of time.

My Steaming Life doesn't normally include Netflix. However, I am curious as to how it could impact others.

Video apps and privacy

Your information is being shared with many companies. This happens not only with Web browsers, but also with video apps.

[YouTube]

My Streaming Life never involves watching on my phone. I limit the number of apps on my phone, and I watch TV on ... wait for it ... my TV, not on my phone.

Cheap cell phone service

Not really streaming related, but not not streaming related either.

I'm always on the lookout for saving money on different things. Some things, I don't, but some things I do. And I'm always on the lookout for a cheaper cell phone service.

When I first got cell phone service it was quite expensive. Still is, but it was really expensive then, relatively speaking.

Right now, I'm paying $40/month for AT&T service. It says it's unlimited, but it's not. 20 GB high speed, then throttled. 15 GB hot spot. Not really unlimited, but I'm not singling AT&T out. All the cell phone companies lie about unlimited, hiding the facts in the small print. I'm wondering if I can service cheaper.

Let me clarify. I know that I can. But coverage from other carriers isn't that great. Verizon and AT&T offer good coverage (Verizon marginally better) here, with T-Mobile having spotty coverage. Some places, it's fantastic. Other places, it's impossible. I haven't tried others. Sprint, whose network was broken up when T-Mobile bought it, never had good service here. I'm limited to AT&T and Verizon, with T-Mobile as a possible if they continue upgrading and expanding their network.

Visible, which is Verizon's cheaper service (AT&T's is Cricket) is $10/month cheaper. I'm ready to change to that service, but I'm not sure if that's the way to go, or if I should check out Boost Mobile. That would be $25/month.

Boost Mobile runs on Dish cellular network, which is a lot of the old Sprint network. That's not good. However, it is supplemented by AT&T and T-Mobile networks. I'm not sure if it would be comparable to Verizon or not. It should compare to AT&T, since that is one of the networks it rides.

I don't know of anyone who actually uses Boost Mobile. It's never been a big network here, and most of the people I know are older and don't change a lot. They get AT&T, they stay with AT&T. They get Verizon, they stick with Verizon. So younger people may be the best way to find out. I just need to find one that will talk to me.

If I was looking for a service that had a bunch of bonus features, such as Disney Bundle, Apple One, Walmart+, and the like, then I'd spend a bit more per month. However, since those services are services I would only use occasionally, it would actually cost more to get a plan with those additions. So, while some would utilize the bonus services of a cell phone plan with their streaming, I wouldn't.

My Streaming Life doesn't involve a lot of subscription services, and I don't really want to pay a lot for cell phone service to get streaming services. I want cheap cell phone service. And cheap streaming. Because I'm cheap.

YouTube Premium price increases

YouTube Premium is going up in price.

I'm not talking about YouTube TV. That went up from too much to way too much a few months ago. I'm referring to YouTube Premium, the paid tier of YouTube. It includes ad-free YouTube, which is nice, YouTube Music, which is okay, and the ability to download and watch YouTube videos offline (which I don't care about).

The email was sent out this week:

Thank you for being a YouTube Premium member. We hope you are enjoying your YouTube Premium benefits, including ad-free and downloadable videos, background play, and uninterrupted access to over 100 million songs with the YouTube Music app.

To continue delivering great service and features, we’re increasing your price to $13.99/month. We don’t make these decisions lightly, but this update will allow us to continue to improve Premium and support the creators and artists you watch on YouTube.

You will see the change reflected in your next billing date on September 1, 2023.

While we hope that you continue to be a member, you can cancel your subscription at any time here. To check the status of your account and billing information, go to your Settings > Purchases and Memberships page.

You can find more information on the latest updates in the YouTube Help Center.

Thanks for being a YouTube Premium member.

Sincerely,
The YouTube Premium team

I subscribed to test it out, and actually liked it. The lack of ads in YouTube videos is great. YouTube music is okay. It pales compared to Apple Music, but it is okay. It would be great if they had something that resembled radio stations (as found on other services), but they don't, so it's not great, just okay. For $12/month, it seemed worth it. The $2/month increase? I'm not so sure. There comes a point where it's not worth it.

A monthly cost of $10 would have been my thought since YouTube Music was my actual goal to test, but I put up with $12 (20% more) to get rid of ads. But $14 (40% more)? I'm not so sure.

My Streaming Life has enjoyed the lack of YouTube ads while I tested YouTube Premium for YouTube Music. If YouTube Music was better, then I'd keep YouTube Premium. Now? I'm not so sure.

Netflix subscribers increase

Everybody fussed and complained, then went along with it. That's how people are.

Netflix cracked down on password sharing recently, and began actively stopping users at different locations from using the same Netflix account. Reports varied on how aggressive Netflix was, with some getting a simple warning, and others actually denied access. That's according to reports. I've not encountered what people have talked about, so I can't say, but this is what has been reported.

Whatever Netflix was doing, it worked. Subscriptions are up. And up by a large number.

According to a report, 5.9 million new subscribers were added in the second quarter, and that coincides with the password crackdown.

Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown is now in full swing in the 2nd quarter of 2023. This is excellent news for a company that needs to show stockholders some good news.

In the 2nd quarter of 2023, Netflix added 5.9 million subscribers. This is compared to the 1.1 million Netflix added in the 2nd quarter of 2022. Netflix, so its revenue hit $8.2 billion in the 2nd quarter of 2023. In total, Netflix says year over year growth of 8% when looking at subscribers.

I'm going to test this out. I have subscribed to Netflix, and will be providing it to a family member. I won't use it for a bit -- I haven't had a Netflix subscription in a while anyway -- so it should consider her as the primary. In a few weeks, I'll try to log in and see what happens.

My Streaming Life doesn't normally include Netflix -- I have enough to watch for free or provided services -- so this will be a different experience. Heck, I may find that I like Netflix overall. We shall see.

Peacock TV price increase

If you've been using Peacock TV, you probably found out about the price increase.

In the past two years, everything has gone up in price ... except Peacock TV. Now Peacock TV is going up in price.

I've had the service since it launched, mostly. Being an Xfinity Internet customer, I was able to get Peacock TV Premium for free.

When that went away in June, they still allowed Xfinity Rewards members of a certain level to get the Peacock Premium service for free. I'm at a qualifying level, so I got it. Yeah, there were a few glitches, but I have Peacock TV Premium for free.

Now, word is there is a price increase. And the word is from Peacock TV itself. An email came this week telling of the increase:

Thank you for being a Peacock subscriber. We wanted to let you know about upcoming changes to your subscription.

As of today, we are changing the price of Peacock subscription plans as follows:

As a current subscriber, you'll receive one additional month at the current price. The new pricing will be effective on your next billing date on or after August 17, 2023. If you are currently on an offer, your promotional pricing will continue through the end of the promotional period. Note that if you are on an offer and upgraded to Premium Plus for $5/mo., your price for the Premium Plus Add-On will increase to $6/mo. effective on your next billing date on or after August 17.

If you cancelled your subscription within the last 30 days, please disregard this notice; you will not be charged after the end of your current billing cycle.

To manage or cancel your subscription, visit your Account. For more information on how to cancel, visit www.peacocktv.com/help/article/cancellation.

Is it worth the price increase? That depends. I'm thinking it probably is. At lease, if you were willing to pay $5/month for Peacock Premium, you'll probably feel that $6/month is worth it.

My Streaming Life includes Peacock Premium as part of a rewards package. I'm not sure about paying the new prices. I think the Xfinity Rewards bonus is good for a year. If that's the case, I won't have to make a decision until a year from now.

Roku or Fire TV?

I'm firmly on Team Roku. However, I can certainly appreciate what Fire TV offers.

Luke Bouma at Cord Cutters News recently compared the two streaming platforms.

[YouTube]

I wonder sometimes if I prefer Roku because that's my first interface, and I used it for over three years before Fire TV even existed.

My Streaming Life doesn't involve Fire TV that much, but it certainly is a part of friends and family members experience. I should give it a chance.