--- title: Are we going back to the cable days? - The Hustle description: With services raising prices and introducing ads, is streaming starting to look like cable? image: https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1168065846-HS-News-Brief_2022-08-22T022202.784Z.webp --- # Are we going back to the cable days? ![Rob Litterst](https://thehustle.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Rob-Litterst-pic.png?width=48&height=48&name=Rob-Litterst-pic.png) [Rob Litterst](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/rob-litterst) [Rob Litterst Twitter profile ](https://twitter.com/robbylit) Published: August 22, 2022 Updated: October 11, 2023 Streaming was supposed to free consumers from cable’s woes — high monthly prices, tons of ads, and unnecessary programming. ![Are we going back to the cable days?](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1168065846-HS-News-Brief_2022-08-22T022202.784Z.webp?width=595&height=400&name=1168065846-HS-News-Brief_2022-08-22T022202.784Z.webp) But recent developments at the biggest streaming services are starting to [reveal](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-08-14/streaming-is-starting-to-look-a-lot-like-cable-tv?sref=3Ac2yX40) a different reality, per *Bloomberg*. **Streaming services…** … are making price increases a regular occurrence: - **Netflix** raised the monthly price on its standard plan to $15.49/mo. in January, its third increase since 2019. - **Disney** recently announced upcoming increases for Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, and its bundle after already raising prices multiple times since launching in 2019 Both platforms also announced ad-supported plans at a lower cost. **But not so fast** In July, streaming [surpassed](https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/streaming-tops-cable-tv-viewing-nielsen-1235344466/) cable consumption for the first time. Even so, the median price American consumers pay for streaming is $20-$30 per month, a far cry from the $79/mo. the average cable plan costs. So, while costs are adding up, you’d have to subscribe to pretty much every platform to pay more than you would for cable. 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Disney fans are nonplussed](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/797151777-HS-News-Brief_2023-03-19T235355.687Z.webp) ### Price increase? Disney fans are nonplussed - ![Can Netflix be a lifestyle brand?](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/181502968-HS-News-Brief_2023-02-07T042108.421Z.webp) ### Can Netflix be a lifestyle brand? - ![Showing no signs of chill, Netflix enters its next phase](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1211446346-HS-News-Brief_2023-01-23T005703.803Z.webp) ### Showing no signs of chill, Netflix enters its next phase - ![Bob’s back. Can he bring the magic?](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/915616723-HS-News-Brief_2022-11-22T031922.146Z.webp) ### Bob’s back. Can he bring the magic? - ![Is Apple blocking Spotify’s growth plan?](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/611425115-HS-News-Brief_2022-10-26T230532.403Z.webp) ### Is Apple blocking Spotify’s growth plan? Pop up for Subscribe to The Hustle Daily Newsletter Subscribe to The Hustle Daily Newsletter Get the 5-minute news brief keeping 2.5M+ innovators in the loop. Always free. 100% fresh. No bullsh*t. JOIN FREE ### 100% Free CRM Nurture and grow your business with customer relationship management software. 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