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I can't stand ads. Disney+ is so expensive now that I bet a lot of families will fall into the ad version though. Apparently the ads are worth a lot, maybe that's why Disney charge so much to get rid of them to push people into the ad tier.
 
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I don't like pirating anything, because I'd rather show the studios that what they are offering isn't worth the cost. I don't have to consume your content, and can easily do without.

We just have Disney/Hulu, no ads. It's $10/month after a monthly AMEX rebate. We like the free offerings, too.
You do know that pirating something means you DON'T pay the studio, right? I don't get your logic -- you don't buy it and don't watch it "to show them!" but you won't not buy it, pirate it and watch it, and you're still showing them?!
 
I’ve been an annual Disney+ subscriber (no ads) since that’s always the better deal. Last year I got Hulu for $0.99/mo but now it’s $4.99/mo with ads. The Disney/hulu bundle is $19.99 (no ads). Doing the math, $189.99/yr into 12 months is 15.83. It was cheaper to do the Disney bundle of $19.99/mo (no ads) than to buy the $4.99/mo BF special to my subscription.
Disney is semi-canibalizing their offering to try to get more bundles.
 
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You do know that pirating something means you DON'T pay the studio, right? I don't get your logic -- you don't buy it and don't watch it "to show them!" but you won't not buy it, pirate it and watch it, and you're still showing them?!

I don't pirate for ethical reasons, but my point is to show them that their content isn't important. I can do without altogether, so price it accordingly, or get nothing, including my interest and mindshare.
 
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An even better deal is the ad-free version of both for $14.99/mo. Especially if you also have an American Express card that has a Disney streaming credit.
I did this and enrolled for the credit with Amex. My understanding is that you get a $10 credit every month for a year. Is that how you see it?
 
I did this and enrolled for the credit with Amex. My understanding is that you get a $10 credit every month for a year. Is that how you see it?

That's what I get on my Blue Cash Preferred. We have the $19.99 Disney+/Hulu no-ads plan. Not a promo.

Screenshot 2025-11-30 at 11.10.03 AM.png
 
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I have the same card, thanks for the screenshot. Do you think the benefit goes beyond a year? Difficult to tell if it's $120 maximum or if it's $120/year and an ongoing benefit.

Yes! I've had the card for three years now, I think? It's been on there the entire time.
 
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I did this and enrolled for the credit with Amex. My understanding is that you get a $10 credit every month for a year. Is that how you see it?
Yep! My BCE (no annual fee) gets $7/mo and it triggered the credit almost instantly.
 
Yo ho yo ho. These streamers all have terrible apps.

Jellyfin + Swiftfin is free

The jellyfin server hardware isn't.

If you already have a permanently attached computer, sure, but we all have laptops in my home and usually take them with us when leaving. We do have a NAS in the home, but that's for my wife's Law practice and nothing else touches it..
 
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Sure but it doesn't have to be, jellyfin can run on a lemon if need be. An M1 Mac could be had affordably and is way overkill for it.

I don't pirate or torrent movies and tv, though, so it's of little use for me. I hear that’s it’s not difficult or pricy, and I agree, but why? My total movie consumption might be 3-4 movies per year, and maybe one tv series. The kids like Disney+ stuff, so we have that.

Additionally, the price of an M1 Mini doesn't include the necessary external hard drive to handle a video library. You're already looking at several hundred dollars, and time, both of which I just can't be bothered with....I just don't watch enough tv or movies, or general steaming to justify it, nor do the rest of the family.
 
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I don't pirate for ethical reasons, but my point is to show them that their content isn't important. I can do without altogether, so price it accordingly, or get nothing, including my interest and mindshare.
I'm not following. They really don't care if you watch it. As long as you're paying for it. You're really the ideal customer because you're paying for it but you don't use any of their bandwidth. If they could get us all to do that, they'd be overjoyed because they wouldn't even have to make content anymore
 
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I don't pirate or torrent movies and tv, though, so it's of little use for me. I hear that’s it’s not difficult or pricy, and I agree, but why? My total movie consumption might be 3-4 movies per year, and maybe one tv series. The kids like Disney+ stuff, so we have that.

Additionally, the price of an M1 Mini doesn't include the necessary external hard drive to handle a video library. You're already looking at several hundred dollars, and time, both of which I just can't be bothered with....I just don't watch enough tv or movies, or general steaming to justify it, nor do the rest of the family.
To play devil's advocate: After a few years the M1 Mini with extra storage would pay for itself and you'll still be paying subscriptions for decades
 
I'm not following. They really don't care if you watch it. As long as you're paying for it. You're really the ideal customer because you're paying for it but you don't use any of their bandwidth. If they could get us all to do that, they'd be overjoyed because they wouldn't even have to make content anymore

How am I the ideal customer? I don’t pay for it, and I don’t watch it.

If you’re talking about Disney+, then that is mostly for the kids, and they watch the heck out of it.
 
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How am I the ideal customer? I don’t pay for it, and I don’t watch it.

If you’re talking about Disney+, then that is mostly for the kids, and they watch the heck out of it.
Yeah, I mean paying for Disney isn’t exactly showing them you don’t care about their content but it’s ok
 
Bundles will be next. If they can’t sell it standalone, they attach the service to something else that is going to take a price increase.

Verizon has been justifying their ridiculous prices for unlimited tier plans with these streaming services and other subscription based services.

It really has become just like cable television service has always been. Can’t pick and pay for only what you want. You have to pay more for service you’re never going to use or consume. The only real option is to cancel or never sign up.
 
It really has become just like cable television service has always been. Can’t pick and pay for only what you want. You have to pay more for service you’re never going to use or consume. The only real option is to cancel or never sign up.
I wouldn’t put it that way. We have more control over what we subscribe to and drop. A thrifty person who still wants to watch everything could just do one sub every month or two. Crush all content on HBO, drop it, pick up Netflix, crush it, drop it, rinse and repeat. That’s cheap by any measure.
 
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