Hey Subscription Services..Enough Is A Enough

 

Hulu, Espn + and Disney + have been notifying subscribers for months that a price hike was coming in October. This hike 25% across various plans offered is the latest in a series of streaming/subscription services raising prices which seems like just cause. The Disney owned services weren't the only ones hitting wallets this year. Peacock, Max, and Paramount + have all increased their subscription prices at some point this year.

Which has made it even more annoying is all of these services run ads as well, and a lot of their original content has been lackluster lately. And many of the apps have the same library of films.  Not to mention the original appeal of these streaming apps was a cheaper alternative to cable which became overran with quantity of channels and content many didn't ask for.

These providers justify the increases by saying they are investing in "content", but we all know they have to show profit for investors and make back all the infrastructure costs it took to make these services. I have a tip for these services I get you have to make money, but slow down on the price hikes.

We as consumers learned relatively quickly and with ease, hey we don't need cable. Pretty soon we will come to realize the same for many of these apps and cut them loose. Especially once they start trying to charge $25-$30 for subscription and it takes 2 years for the show you really wanted to see to return for a new season.

Hope they figure it out before they price themselves out of subscribers and eventually business.

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5 Reasons Streaming Has Cooled

During the early 2010s streaming services began to crop up as an alternative to cable led by the former dvd mail order company Netflix. By the late 2010's new streaming services were popping up seemed like every week and the streaming wars had begun. Completely turning network and cable TV on its head as more people tuned to streaming for media consumption.

Now in 2024 while streaming is still the primary method of consuming media today. It has cooled a bit for various reasons, a lot of in my opinion is the doing of media companies. So let's take a look at 5 reasons streaming had fizzled out. 

5. Too Many Too Fast

First it was Hulu and Netflix that started the streaming paragon. Then slowly more streaming services began cropping up. Many utilizing "plus" in the name. Crackle, HBO Max, ESPN plus, Disney plus, BET plus, discovery plus. The list went on and on with everyone wanting a piece of the precious subscription dollars. Until there's just too many options and too costly for people.

4. Price Increase

Just like everything else in the world. Every damn time you turn around, another service is raising the price. Some services were raising the prices and a full calendar year had not passed since the last increase. You have 3 or 4 services the price add up and the product isn't matching the price..some services get expendable.

3.  Hidden Gems Are Frequently Removed

Warner Bros. started this trend of removing films and series that were very good, just didn't have the audience typically original films. Which contradicted most fans idea of what a streaming service by a major studio would do. I'm still tight Charm City Kings was removed, and WB caused an uproar when they cancelled an upcoming HBO Max original that was already completed. You know Batgirl, which also included a Michael Keaton cameo as Batman/Bruce Wayne.

Then there are hidden gems that you just cannot find on streaming services. Such as the 1998 Disney Channel original film Under Wraps. If  I pay a monthly subscription, I want to watch my favorite programs and if studios just have to pay the royalty fees so be it. That's the cost of doing business and spinning up a streaming service.

2. Tubi 

While Tubi likely will never reach Netflix levels in the streaming world. It's a damn good alternative, licensing content from all the major studios. Tubi is the right price of free, supported by ads (which now all paid services have, albeit along with a higher non-ad tier). Tubi has classics, modern favorites, and hidden gems. So much that Amazon delivered Freevee, and other companies are trying to establish their own ad supported streaming service.

1.  Content is Very hit or miss

As the amount of streaming services offered increased, so did the amount of content available. Many studios and Netflix went all in on original content to build out their libraries. That quickly proved to be not the brightest business decision, it soon became apparent there was a quantity over quality mindset.

Disney CEO Bob Iger even admitted to that mindset during Disney Plus launch. In addition, the pandemic and then the Hollywood writers and actors strikes put alot of content creation on hold. Which once the dust settled resulted in either rushed products of poor quality, just plain bad content, or a significant delay in some content (Stranger Things looking at you).

We live in a very in the moment society. And at that moment when your looking to trim the fat, if prices are going on and the type of content you want isn't there. Well makes it easier for some stuff to get cut. Most services original content just has not been there lately and that's played a part in the dissatisfaction around streaming.

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It's Time To Remake American Ninja

 During the early 90's amidst the wave of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 3 Ninjas, Surf Ninjas, and Power Rangers. I came across a series of B-movie action films centered on ninjas titled American Ninja. The series contained five films, but only four are really canon. With Michael Dudikoff and Sean Bradley being the respective star ninjas in films. The films contained cheesy dialogue, wooden acting, some spotty fight scenes, and ninjas dressed in attire other than black. Which as a kid really enticed me for some reason. The movies have been available on Tubi and Prime a lot within the past couple of years, flip flopping availability between the two services. 

I often turn them on before I go to bed when I just need something on the TV until I fall asleep. Watching them for what they are, I appreciate the films even more, and know a new generation is appreciating them as well.

All those factors combined with Amazon now owning MGM which has the rights to those films, and Amazon deciding to a remake of Road House releasing next month. I figured more than enough time has passed to grace fans with a remake of American Ninja. The films are martial art's action-oriented that do not require a lot of plot and I would assume not a lot of budget if they keep it simple. A young actor with martial arts training to help build it into a potential franchise. The movies are popular in the B-movie world, but there wouldn't be much blowback from fans disappointed a "classic" is being touched. It's perfect material for the straight to streaming world we live in now. 

The third film Blood Hunt just hit it's 35th anniversary, which should be a tall tale sign it's time to expand the way of the ninja for a new generation. I'm also ready for ninjas to gain popularity in film and TV again. I'm not asking for much here as a paying prime subscriber, just give us an updated version of a old favorite. Hopefully Amazon digs through the crates and find's the B-movie goldmine it's sitting on.

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Streaming Wishlist: Paramount Plus MTV Edition

 In my previous article I touched on what programs I would like to see on the Peacock app. Well I'm back to touch on the Paramount Plus app. I initially got Paramount Plus upon launch when they had a promotion running 31 days free or something like that. At first I was instantly disappointed in the app, because it didn't have a queue. It's a first world problem but in today's streaming world, you need a damn queue. 

Once they woke up and realized the error of they're ways it got a little better. You can find classics on there, and they have had some good mini-series like The Offer. However, for Paramount to be a film studio that is over a 100 years old, and be apart of a conglomerate with so many channels. The app still leaves a lot to be desired. 

Just like the Peacock app, Paramount plus has a variety of programs and movies to add in their selection. Not just from the studio, but from other Viacom companies like CBS Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, and VH1. But I will admit they probably have the weakest offering of programming amongst streaming providers. Coming in a notch below Peacock, which is a shame due to the vast amount of programming in their archives.

To keep this blog as condensed as possible, I'm only going to cover MTV and VH1 in this blog. BET has been covered in a previous blog via BET Plus, and Nickelodeon will get its own blog.

Making The Band 

This one may get a little iffy and I can understand why MTV may shy away from this. The first season aired on ABC and featured notorious scammer Lou Pearlman looking for his next boy band. Which he found with O-Town. Subsequent seasons featured Diddy first making his rap group Da' Band and later Danity Kane and Day26. 

Diddy's version bought us funny moments like having Da' Band walk to Brooklyn for cheesecake. Or the famous Freddy P and Ness fight. To the Day26 curating season producing a soulful acapella faceoff.

Point being we need this show available. 

TRL

Debuting in the fall of 1998, Total Request Live (TRL) was a daily countdown show of the top ten music videos for the day. In a studio overlooking Times Square it didn't take long for the show to be a pop culture juggernaut. Having interviews with the biggest stars at the time most of them in the pop music genre, anybody who was anybody in music visited TRL.

The show is a perfect time capsule of music in the late 90's-early 2000's . Running for eight seasons there is plenty of material to pull from, and make a playlist if they don't want to upload each episode.

True Life

I'll give it to MTV, they really were pioneers of the whole reality TV genre. Starting with The Real World and continuing with True Life. Which was a documentary series that debuted in March of 1998 and featured one subject or various subjects with a particular topic navigating life.

The show ran for 21 seasons and covered topics for just about everyone. Drug use, plastic surgery, aspiring to be a pro wrestler, aspiring to be a MMA fighter. Being homeless, fighting an illness, estranged from their family, sex addicts, coming out to their family, You name it True Life covered it, which is again another good time capsule that should be uploaded and revered. 

2gether

In early 2000 in the middle of the pop music craze, MTV released a original film that was a parody of the craze called 2gether. Which focused on a boy band being assembled with each member fitting a particular stereotype. The movie was actually funny and the original songs were catchy, the film was enough of a success. A TV series was developed and premiered in the fall of 2000.

It only lasted for about 2 seasons, due to the ailing health and eventual passing of one of the cast members. Along with not being able to catch on audiences. Which is a shame because the show was funny and hit the satire aspects right on the nose. Being 20 plus years later the film and TV series may be appreciated more. 

Say What? Karaoke

Everyone loves a good time signing Karaoke in front of a bunch of people you don't know. While your friends and family encourage you or laugh at you. In 1998 MTV took this premise and made a show Say What? Karaoke. Contestants competed against one another singing songs, while the lyrics played on a ticker on the screen for the at home audience.

It really was the parent for Lip Sync Battle when you think about it. Which also needs to be on Paramount Plus. Anyway it was all in good fun, people dressed weird as shit for some reason, and when we are looking for mindless entertainment. It should be a option on the app.

Singled Out

Before MTV lost touch with it's musical heritage and played reruns of Ridiclousness all day. They would branch out from time to time on programming. Which introduced Singled Out a dating game show that debuted in 1995 on the network. It featured 50 contestants vying for a date with either a man or woman on the show.

The show's legacy is probably more associated with it's hosts like Carmen Electra, Jenny Mccarthy, and Chris Hardwick then anything that really happened on the show. Honestly for situations like Valentines day coming up, it wouldn't hurt to have a few episodes available for viewing for old times sake.

VH1

When I researched VH1's programming history to refresh my memory. They have been on the cheap, reality TV based on former stars format for a lot longer than I remember. Paramount Plus has waken up and put episodes of Behind The Music on there, so they really only leaves us with three classic VH1 programs they need to bring back.

Pop up video 

I am a sucker for useless facts honestly, which is probably why Pop Up Video drew me in as a kid. It was either that or the catchy theme song. In this information heavy digital age, there is so much at our fingertips, but would we really know to look up who was late to the set for a music video? Probably not, which is why pop up video was so great.

Uploading all episodes of Pop Up Video may be worth the subscription price of the app itself. OK, I'm lying but I would be a very happy customer if I opened the app and was able to watch a bevy of useless facts while bopping my head.

I Love The....

I'm a sucker for nostalgia I'm sure you can tell. So Vh1 sucked me in around the mid-2000's when they produced a series of programs featuring celebrities and pop culture reporters commenting on pop culture moments of yesteryear. They covered the 70's, 80's and 90's and the 2000's. It's fun to look back and go I forgot all about that, oh I remember that craze, or damn I wasn't born yet or just too young to appreciate xyz.

Honors Series

I'm not sure if it's a music rights and getting clearance thing, but there is no reason the Honors specials shouldn't be available. Divas Live, Hip Hop Honors, Rock Honors. Much like MTV, VH1 has shied away from it's musical heritage and all the great programming it produced before moving to a primarily reality TV station. 

Bring music back to the forefront and have these programs available to rock out to again, giving the legends their flowers. 

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Streaming Wishlist: BET Plus Load These Shows

BET Plus debuted in 2019, like it's cable network counterpart. It carved its niche catering to Black audience. Partnering with Tyler Perry, the app Primarily features original dramas producing by Perry. Along with movies and sitcoms that can be found on the network as well.

At one time we had BET Plus (honestly may still have it), I did check out The Ms. Pat show but other than that and  revisiting a sitcom here and there I really don't use it. Not much on there really captured my attention.

In my opinion the app is just another one lacking in honoring the classics that built the brand that is BET. Here's some programming I would love to see on the service. 

106 and Park 

You can't start this list without making 106 and Park the first choice. Every weekday evening from the fall of 2000 'til 2014 when it became apparent music videos weren't as popular and BET was headed in another direction. 106 and Park was the place to be for the culture. Free and AJ initially held down the fort taking us on the journey.

Every weekday at 6 we could not wait to see what videos where going be in the top ten countdown. Who was coming to sit on the couch, freestyle Friday, live performances and impromptu moments. 23 years later 106 and Parks legacy is cherished by many who grew up during its heyday.

Video Soul

The show that put BET on the map. Donnie Simpson's star grew as the host of video soul and many artist success grew after they appeared on the show.

The show was revived for BET Plus earlier this summer, but I didn't hear much chatter about it. Which means it didn't work for some reason. BET Plus needs to look back to go forward in this case.

For those of us who were to young or weren't born during the show's heyday. This is a perfect opportunity to remind folks what this show did for the culture, why it meant so much to us and why it was BET's first major hit.

Teen Summit

This show just may have been ahead of its time. Airing  from 1989 to 2002 and featured real life everyday teens, seeking guidance and talking through issues teenagers face. 

Bringing this show back would show today's teenagers the problems they face. Are the same problems teens from previous years faced. Maybe just maybe they'd start believing their parents were no different from them.

All Previous BET Awards

The BET Awards has been running for 22 years now, but it's just not the same.  I honestly thought BET Plus would have showcased the original from 2001-on but  to no luck. I've only seen the 2017 and 2019 ones available, which is a crime. All 22 editions each providing moments for the culture over the years should be available.

Moments like Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar performing Freedom at the 2016 BET Awards. 50 Cent shooting his shot and later booking Vivica A. Fox, Michael Jackson surprising James Brown as he accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Fugees reuniting, even the cast of the Five Heartbeats performed with After 7. All moments that should be accessible to be replayed over and over again.

Check out this promo from the 2005 awards show where of all people, Will and Jada were the hosts and eh some of the jokes sure didn't age well. And a foreshadowing of Will "defending" Jada years later.

Comic view 

Like HBO's Def Comedy Jam, Comic View introduced us to many of today's comic legends. Of course much cleaner versions of them, but even without cursing they had us laughing our asses off. I use to love those compilation episodes featuring the best of the best because you could not stop laughing for the whole 45 minutes.

A Who's who of comedies appeared on the show such as D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer, Sommore, Leslie Jones, Bruce Bruce, Lil' Duval, Mo' Nique,  Rickey Smiley, Sheryl Underwood, Don D.C. Curry, J. Anthony Brown, Arnez J., Michael Blackson, everyone's favorite white comic Gary Owens. And of course Kevin Hart back in the 2000's right before he really took off.

Let's Stay Together 

Back in 2011 when BET kept The Game alive, they also aired an original series called Let's Stay Together. Starring Kyla Pratt and RonReaco Lee (Tyreke in Sister Sister), the series followed a group of friends in different stages of relationships who depend on one another for support.

The show ran for four seasons and was actually funnier than its given credit for. While writing this now that I think about it, it was similar to another criminally underrated sitcom. For Your Love that use to air on the WB in the 90's.

Rap City

Rap City was the show to tune into to catch the hottest mainstream and underground rappers and music videos out. 

The show initially featured the host traveling to different cities covering their hip hop scene. It then moved to an taped studio format in the basement. That's when it became famous for the freestyle booth that former host Tigger use to join in with show guests. That segment is where rappers were able to prove who was a real rapper and could think of anything off the top of their dome.

Even with Big Tigger hinting that an revival is on the way. Rap City was a video time capsule of hip hop history from the late 80s to the early 2000s. Its time to uncover the historical artifacts for a new generation.

Baldwin Hills

Baldwin Hills was BET's answer to MTV shows like Laguna Beach. It follows a group of teenagers who live in the predominantly Black, wealthy area of LA Baldwin Hills.

The show is currently available on Hulu. I'm not 100% sure how the licensing deal is worked out, and I'm sure Hulu is paying a nice piece of change to air it. However, it's time to air it on BET plus. Highlight Black teenagers even if it's from 15 plus year's ago, living in the upper echelon of society and what life was like for them at that time.

College Hill

Like Baldwin Hills, College Hill is also available on Hulu and Paramount Plus. The show ran for four reasons with each season covering students from a different HBCU. Like most reality shows featuring young adults you have relationship issues, blossoming romances, fights and all the excitement that keeps you tuning in week after week.

College Hill ran for six seasons and  is probably an unsung hero of students attending various HBCU's that the students on the show were from.

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Streaming Wishlist: Peacock Load These Shows

With the writers strike over, but the actors strike still ongoing. Hollywood will soon run out of new material that was already completed to release. So sooner or later they are going to have to dig in the crates, especially for hidden gems.

When many of the streaming services launched, most relied on their libraries and the nostalgia factor to bring consumers in, slowly introducing original programming. With alot of these services though, they are missing out on alot of nostalgic content they could use. 

When Peacock launched I got it for free as a Comcast customer. Now I really only use it for the WWE section and Kevin Hart's interview series, which Peacock honestly needed. Not sure if it's by design or rights are just tied up elsewhere, but Peacock's library offering seems limited and not on par with other services.

Now that may not be a bad idea when you can easily get overwhelmed in the land of Netflix with what to watch.  However, with the vast library of Universal and NBC here are a few programs I'd like to see on the service.

California Dreams 

Saved By The Bell was a smashing success and pop culture phenomenon for NBC. So naturally they decided to take the formula and apply it to a new mix.

What they came up with was Calfornia Dreams. Following a group of high school friends who also happen to be in a band.

Its pretty much a carbon copy of Saved By The Bell. The theme song was very infectious and it would be cool to watch years later.

Hang time 

Another SBTB influenced show that aired on NBC's TNBC Saturday morning block. Hang Time covered the members of a kind of successful High School basketball team in Indiana. It went through some changes throughout it's 5 year run and wasn't as successful as SBTB. 

It was a decent enough Saturday Morning TV show and deserves a second life on Peacock.

City guys 

C-I-T-Y You can see why. City Guys was probably my favorite show out of them all. It was also a bit more real than the SBTB inspired shows. It featured  Wesley Jonathan and Scott Whyte as two polar opposite individuals who become friends, and get into trouble while trying to stay out of more trouble at their high school.

The characters were cool, topics such as racism and drugs were covered and they just seemed like cool guys to hang out with. The show has been off syndication for some years now is the perfect time to make it available on Peacock.

Saved By The Bell: The New Class

The original Saved By The Bell is tied up in an Netflix deal. Last I checked The College Years was on Hulu.  Peacock tapped into their IP by producing an revival series. Missing from all of this is the follow up series The New Class.

For some reason The New Class which ran for 7 seasons is never really acknowledged or given it's due. Mr. Belding and Screech returned to connect it to the original series. The show often featured a consistent plot point that I've realized as I've gotten older. There maybe slight differences in behavior, clothing, what's considered cool etc. But all teenagers act the same throughout the years.

It's time to give The New Class their respect in the legacy of the Saved By The Bell franchise and air it on Peacock.

American Dreams 

American Dreams was an intriguing show in my opinion. It followed a family in 1960's Philadelphia and set against the backdrop of American Bandstand. Main character Meg (Brittany Snow) is a dancer on the show. The show not only referenced historical events such as JFK assissination, racial tension in the 60's, and the Vietnam war.

It also incorporated archived footage of American Bandstand into the series, and music stars of the early 2000's would appear on the show recreating past performances of former stars on the show. I was a big fan of the show and rarely missed an episode. Besides being a period drama, the amount of music involved in the series surely took up a good portion of the budget. Which I believe is one of the biggest reasons the show has not appeared in reruns or on a streaming service.

Licensing music especially hits from the past is costly, but recently Cold Case has appeared on HBO Max. That show is inudated with music of previous years, so hopefully something could be worked out and American Dreams could be available to revisit on Peacock.

Graceland

Graceland is a USA original drama that debuted in 2013. Although it ran for 3 seasons it never quite gained a following like it should have.

The series followed a group of law enforcement personnel from various  government agencies (FBI, CIA, DEA,etc.) The team lives in and runs their operation out of a beach front mansion named Graceland.

The heart of the series was a young agent Mike Warren who has just joined the team. Along with chasing criminals, he is keeping an eye on the team leader Paul Briggs who has some unorthodox methods.

I'm sure Graceland could gain a second life on Peacock. Maybe not as popular as Suits, but people would know what a gem this series was.

Shades of Blue

Shades of Blue debuted on NBC in 2016. Starring Jennifer Lopez and Ray Liotta the show was a crime drama revolving around corrupt cops. J. Lo single mom cop is a member of Ray Liottas corrupt cop unit within the NYPD. All in the name of making a better life for her daughter.

After getting jammed up, she reluctantly agrees to work with the FBI and become an informant against her own unit. All the while dealing with single mom issues, an abusive ex-husband that's lurking out of prison, and a creepy stalker FBI agent.

The series ran for three seasons and completed its story. However, during it's original run it was not talked about like it should have been. Just like Graceland a new life on Peacock, could show people what they missed out on.

These are the shows I would like to see on Peacock...on to the next streaming service wishlist. 

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A Small Nuance Streaming Services Are Missing

 

If you have read any of my blogs (I humbly and gratefully Thank You), then you probably know I am a very nostalgic person. Not just in big things that molded my childhood such as cartoons, trends, toys of the 90's. Also in little things that you never realized where cool and wish were still done.

One thing is how Cable TV networks would have movie blocks actually hosted by people like TBS Dinner and A Movie (which I wrote about here). Another thing is the little bumpers that would appear before a film started.

I recently watched A Christmas Story Christmas on HBO Max and before it started, I randomly hummed the old HBO theme song and thought it would have been cool to see the old HBO bumper playing before the movie came on.

It led me down a YouTube rabbit hole of old bumpers, including old General Cinema bumpers. In today's instant gratification consumption heavy society, many may not care for bumpers.

I think it would be an excellent way to help bring in new customers and keep current customers of a certain generation smiling, when they see something so small like bumpers remind them of simpler times. Especially as streaming services increase the price to justify the content they provide, it maybe a good "add-on" for people to keep the service.

Before the WWE network was merged into the Peacock app, I suggested they play old commercials of wrestling toys, video games, etc in between programs. Just as a way to remind people the little things that helped them love pro wrestling. The same principle applies here

I for one, know I would enjoy it. I'm sure initially people maybe skeptical but they eventually would enjoy it too. Bring back the bumpers before the feature presentation 

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