We were promised the freedom to watch anything we wanted whenever we pleased, but it seems like many shows and movies are disappearing. Remember the good old days of the 2010s, when everything was available in USB or hard drive storage? Well, those days are fading away. The streaming world is now overcrowded. We find ourselves complaining about having to subscribe to numerous services just to watch our favorite content.
While streaming services once gave us incredible access to vast libraries, things have changed. The competition among streaming platforms has grown immensely. Many services are now facing losses in both subscribers and profits. Sadly, to cope with these challenges, some services are removing TV shows and movies from their libraries, and once they’re gone, they might be gone forever, leaving fans without access.
Due to the increasing content removals from streaming services, there’s a growing nostalgia for the old ways of storing physical media, like movies on CDs and other tangible storage formats.
In this article, we will take a look at recent news from famous streaming services and why going back to physical data storage might be a good option.
Table of contents
Disney+
With numerous streaming options available, the reality is that many good shows and movies are disappearing from platforms. Disney+, in particular, is making strategic changes and removing its original content along with Hulu’s due to cost-cutting measures. If you’ve been eyeing a show on Disney Plus or Hulu, it might vanish soon. This shift in content availability is happening as Disney Plus faced a loss of 4 million subscribers in the first quarter of 2023. Interestingly, physical media, like Vinyl, is experiencing a resurgence, giving viewers a tangible and aesthetically pleasing way to save their favorite content—a sentiment challenging to replicate in the transient world of streaming.
HBO Max
HBO Max has removed a bunch of Looney Tunes and The Flintstones episodes – 256 Looney Tunes episodes from seasons 16–31 and seasons 4–6 of The Flintstones. These classics were part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s collection got taken down because they didn’t renew the agreements to keep them on HBO Max after 2022. Initially, people thought it was just for maintenance, but now we know those episodes won’t come back. HBO Max is trimming content to save money, and this isn’t the first time. They’ve also removed shows like Westworld and Sesame Street. The fate of these beloved cartoons in storage on other streaming platforms remains uncertain.
Showtime
Showtime has removed several shows, including ‘Kidding,’ ‘Super Pumped,’ ‘American Rust,’ ‘On Becoming a God in Central Florida,’ ‘Let the Right One In,’ and ‘American Gigolo,’ from its streaming platform. The platform took down these short-lived and underperforming shows as part of cost-cutting measures. The removal allows Showtime and its competitors to take a tax write-down on content and sell the titles to third-party buyers. It’s also a strategy to monetize content that didn’t perform well. This trend of removing titles from streaming platforms has been common across the industry in recent months. The affected creators will sell the titles to rights holders. However, Paramount+ will likely remove them in the coming days. Only people who downloaded them and put them in physical storage, such as hard drives, will be able to access them.
Christopher Nolan on Streaming Services
Christopher Nolan emphasized that films exclusively on streaming platforms face the risk of being taken down, impacting accessibility for viewers. While acknowledging the evolving nature of the industry, he stressed the significance of the home video version, which has been a constant since the 1980s. Nolan discussed the danger of a filmmaker’s work disappearing from streaming without intentional malice but due to evolving licensing agreements. Despite the challenge, he expressed confidence that the issue would be addressed and emphasized the importance of ensuring continuous access to films.
Disc Storage
Streaming is popular for its affordability and convenience, but physical media like Blu-ray has its advantages for movie enthusiasts.
- Blu-ray, especially Ultra HD Blu-ray, provides superior audio and video quality. It surpasses many streaming services, which may struggle with inconsistent 4K and HDR support.
- Unlike streaming, Blu-ray doesn’t require an internet connection. This makes it reliable during network outages or in areas with poor connectivity. It’s not affected by bandwidth caps, which is a concern for streaming 4K content.
- Some movies and shows aren’t available on popular streaming platforms, but you can find them on Blu-ray. Streaming services often prioritize original content, leading to gaps in classic or niche titles.
- Blu-rays come with extras like trailers, commentaries, documentaries, and deleted scenes. It offers a richer experience for cinephiles. Streaming services may have limited bonus content in comparison.
- Specialized Blu-ray editions, like Criterion Collection releases, often include original box art, enhanced packaging, posters, and art books. It enhances the overall viewing experience.
- While streaming is convenient, Blu-ray discs offer tangible benefits and demonstrate a commitment to film appreciation. They become a physical collection showcasing your taste, especially when streaming isn’t an option.
In the changing world of watching shows and movies, it looks like keeping physical copies might make a comeback. Even though streaming is easy and popular, the uncertainties about content disappearing or changing on streaming services are making some people think about having their own collection. Physical copies, like CDs or DVDs, provide a tangible and permanent way to own your favorite movies or shows without worrying about them disappearing. The choice between streaming and having physical copies will depend on how much people want convenience versus having something they can keep for a long time.
