We have drifted from the original ideal of streaming, which promised immediate access to both well-loved and new content, unencumbered by ads, bundled services, or the high costs historically tied to cable.
Yet, with each passing year, our dependence on streaming for entertainment grows. Despite their drawbacks, many of us are likely to continue subscribing to at least one streaming service in the next year. Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, here is what we might expect.
Subscription Prices are on the Rise, But Changes May Surprise
There seems to be little chance of seeing a stabilization in streaming subscription prices by 2026. As streaming companies grapple with rising content production and licensing costs, they often find it more feasible to marginally increase the cost for existing customers rather than attract new ones. Additionally, many of these companies are still navigating their way towards profitability after years of focusing predominantly on subscriber acquisition.
“We see many services are only now aligning content spend with realistic lifetime value per subscriber,” Christofer Hamilton, industry insights manager at streaming analyst Parrot Analytics, shared with Ars.
On the flip side, streaming companies may adopt more inventive approaches to justify increased costs to subscribers. Users who opt for ad-free streaming are likely to encounter more significant price hikes as companies steer more customers towards ad-supported tiers.
Implementing higher charges for 'premium' features like 4K streaming, multiple concurrent streams, or offline downloads represents another avenue for streaming services to enhance revenue without initiating widespread price increases that could trigger consumer dissatisfaction. As Michael Goodman, director of entertainment research at Parks Associates, indicated, streaming prices could become 'more menu-like' in the coming year.