This is the problem. The streaming video media service industry is becoming saturated. All of them have subscription fees. There's only so many that people can sign up for (without the cost becoming ridiculous -- especially to watch one or two shows per service). I think most people are cutting back on watching TV overall anyway. And those who do watch have so many options -- not to mention the 150 channels on cable and satellite. I just can't get excited about another "Hulu". I really don't understand Apple's move into this and I really wish they would look to continue innovation (or maybe go back to innovation) in their core business.
I think episodic media creation is still a burgeoning arena... & will continue to be for some time to come.
In our very recent history, the only “good” stories were told at the cinema. TV was primarily schlock. However, now- w/ shows like Stranger Things, the Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, etc. it is clear that equally (if not better) tales are being told via television. Ubiquitous 4K was/is a game changer. Short of an imax experience, the theater has little to offer me over home watching.
Now, I have absolutely NEVER had cable in my life (thank heavens!), however I am familiar enough to know that even a “cheap” package w/ primarily garbage channels is going to be in the neighborhood of $50/mo. with better than 3/4 of those channels never watched at all.
In my example- and I am probably a fairly heavy subscriber, w/ Amazon, Netflix, HBO, DC, and Disney+. That gives me much, much, much, much more quality options of shows & movies than any basic cable package that has ever been offered, zero commercials, and all for about $30/mo.
If I were to literally double my subscriptions, I’d probably be bumping up against the lower median of what the average cable user is paying.
The idea that this field is saturated already is incongruous with reality.
I’d say cable was saturated with unwanted channels & advertising. The replacement of that paradigm still has plenty of headroom.
And... I apologize for disagreeing with nearly every single thing you said, but I don’t think “most people are cutting back on watching TV overall anyway” is anywhere approaching reality- quite to the contrary, w/ the incredible and palpable uptick in television quality, I think TV is being watched more than ever, right now.