Major streaming services including Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV and Peacock have implemented repeated price increases over recent months, often without adding value or whilst reducing content quality. An estimated 39% of Americans have cancelled a streaming service in the past six months due to these increases, a phenomenon dubbed "streamflation". This widespread consumer resistance reflects growing dissatisfaction with rising costs for entertainment that was once positioned as an affordable alternative to traditional television.

Streaming households now spend approximately $70 per month on average for multiple services, with access to all six major platforms (Netflix, Disney+/Hulu, HBO Max, Paramount+, Apple TV, Peacock) reaching around $120 monthly—comparable to traditional cable bills. Disney+ has increased from $70 annually at launch to $190 (a 170% rise), whilst Apple has raised prices four times in four years despite a smaller content library. Many services now insert advertisements into premium subscription tiers, and some, such as Amazon Prime, have downgraded picture quality unless customers pay additional fees. Streaming companies justify these measures through Wall Street pressure for endless growth, even as many services approach market saturation.