These days, it seems everyone’s ditched cable TV in favor of streaming services. While this affords us the leisure of watching what we want, when we want, the surge in streaming poses a whole new problem. With over 200 streaming service options available in the United States, people have too many options to choose from. Streaming services can add up, so how does one assess which services are worth it?
In 2024, the average American had two streaming subscriptions and watched three hours and 49 minutes of content each day, according to the State of Consumer Media Spending in 2024.
A major issue arises in that it would cost a lot of money to have multiple subscriptions. The average American spends $42.38 a month on streaming services, according to the consumer media report.
Student discounts are available for streaming services starting at just $1.99 a month, according to Rolling Stone. By registering with an “.edu” email address, students can get subscriptions to Amazon Prime, Max, Peacock and others. In addition to discounts on monthly subscription rates, many streaming services offer students extended free trials, as much as six months in some cases.
You may be asking yourself, ‘well, which one should I subscribe to if I like a certain type of entertainment?’ Starting with Netflix, the most popular streaming service, here is a breakdown of what some of the popular services provide.
Netflix has been at the forefront of streaming and producing original programming that cannot be found on any other sites. Their original content has been wildly successful, with shows like “Squid Game,” “Stranger Things,” “Arcane” and “Big Mouth” accruing much popularity and praise.
Netflix’s vast library of TV shows and movies distinguishes it as a must-have for college students. Their library’s diverse range of content has something that will catch anyone’s eye or fit any occasion. If someone is looking for a sappy, dramedy show chronicling the pitfalls of adolescence, they likely have four to choose from. Someone looking for a medical drama has half a dozen to choose from. So to speak, Netflix’s library of both original and acquired content has something for everyone.
As many streaming services tend to do, Netflix’s original content is exclusively available on Netflix. Certain shows have generated immense popularity, such as ‘Wednesday’, which has garnered over 252 million views, and Season 4 of Stranger Things, which has 140 million views.
Needless to say, Netflix’s original shows are typically very high quality, spearheaded by established creators like Tim Burton and Shonda Rhimes. Many of the binge-worthy original shows they produce instantly gain attention on social media, drawing even more people to subscribe to the platform for viewing access.
“I use Netflix for shows like ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’,” said Kai Volsteedt, a student at the University of Miami. “I also use other streaming services, depending on what they offer, like ESPN+ for Formula One.”
If you’re a sports fanatic, ESPN+ is the service for you. This streaming service provides sports lovers with everything they could ever want. Included on the site are live sports, coverage of the major leagues, original programming and news and analysis.
No matter what kind of sports you enjoy, ESPN+ has got you covered. It provides access to the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, along with international soccer leagues, golf majors and Grand Slam tennis events.
ESPN+ features its own original programming, including series and documentaries revolving around sports, such as the acclaimed “30 for 30” series. Along with that come sports news programs, which include “Sportscenter” and analysis shows such as “Sunday NFL Countdown.”
YouTube itself may not be inherently a streaming service, but it offers a package called YouTube TV that functions as one, providing live TV content, on-demand shows and movies and a cloud DVR.
YouTube TV functions as a new form of cable television, allowing you to replace traditional cable services. Providing access to live TV from over 100 channels including broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC), cable channels, and regional sports networks. Users can also access on-demand shows and movies, barring exclusives from other streaming services, to their heart’s content.
Unlike cable television, which is limited to one household, YouTube TV is accessible from anywhere and anytime from multiple devices — whether it be TV, cellphones or tablets. Family Sharing, with up to six accounts, ensures family members aren’t left out of the fun.
“You can’t find YouTube content anywhere else,” said 22-year-old student Samari Sookram, referring to the thousands of other videos and creators that YouTube hosts that are free with ads. YouTube Premium is a separate paid membership to remove ads from YouTube videos and allow downloads.
Amazon Prime, something everyone’s mother probably has, functions not only as a reliable way to access free fast shipping and delivery but also grants access to its exclusive streaming service, Prime Video. It also provides access to Prime Music, Prime Reading, Prime Gaming and Amazon Photos.
If you want the most bang for your buck, then Amazon Prime would be the way to go since it provides multiple uses besides just streaming.
That doesn’t mean its streaming service is lacking in comparison to the others. Like Netflix, Prime Video produces its own exclusive television shows, movies and documentaries only found on its platform. With that comes hundreds of other shows, movies and documentaries, not exclusive, chock full with content that a person can find and enjoy.
As for exclusives, Prime Video has hit shows such as “The Boys,” “Invincible,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” and movies such as “The Tomorrow War” and “The Big Sick.”
Prime Video also has begun to dip its toes into the sports world by paying for exclusive access to live sports such as “Thursday Night Football.”
Prime Video is most similar to Netflix in what it provides and the choice for those picking between the two will be between which exclusives students would prefer to watch.
“I saw that the show “Fallout” was on Amazon Prime and that drew me to it, along with the show “Invincible” that I really enjoyed watching,” said 21-year-old student Donato Palermo.
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According to digitaltrends, the 10 most popular streaming services, ranked by subscriber count are:
- Netflix – 282.7 million
- Amazon Prime Video – 200 million
- Disney+ – 153.6 million
- Max – 110 million
- Paramount+ – 72 million
- Hulu – 51.1 million
- Peacock – 36 million
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AppleTV+ – 25 million
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ESPN+ – 25.6 million
- Starz – 15.08 million
words_skyler schwanewede. photo&design_leah bahamonde.
This article was published in Distraction’s Summer 2025 print issue.
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