In July 2022, we looked at the emerging consumer frustrations of the streaming industry, the rising DTC (direct to consumer) costs, and the unrelated but relevant onset of 1990s nostalgia. A close examination of the media landscape brought to light significant parallels between the entertainment and retail sectors. Today, as we revisit that analysis in the light of new developments in August 2023, we find a noticeable shift toward consolidation. This shift is a response to evolving consumer behaviors and industry pressures. Variety magazine’s Intelligence Platform, a paid industry data service, proclaimed: “Hard Bundles Are The Future of Subscription Video Packaging.”
