The article argues that streaming has made "lost media" a modern problem rather than a relic of film history, since titles can vanish from platforms whenever a service decides they are no longer commercially worthwhile. It cites Warner Bros. Discovery's removal of numerous animated shows and original programmes from HBO Max as a stark example, noting that while some have resurfaced elsewhere, others remain effectively unwatchable through legal means. The piece argues this instability is precisely why physical media retains its value, since a disc on a shelf cannot be pulled by a company changing its licensing or content strategy.

The article contrasts this with the pre-streaming era, when most major films and television series received at least a DVD release. It notes that big theatrical films still commonly arrive on Blu-ray and 4K, but many of the most popular shows and films made specifically for Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and Apple TV+ have never been issued on physical formats at all, leaving them vulnerable to disappearing entirely if pulled from streaming.