Despite the near-universal presence of platforms like Netflix, Binge, and Disney+, many Australians have been forced to opt for cheaper alternatives due to rising subscription costs.
Many families across the country have switched from higher-tier subscriptions that include features like multi-device and ad-free streaming to cheaper alternatives that revoke these benefits.
Source: Kantar
This decline in per-household spend is largely attributed to the shift toward basic streaming plans, which are typically ad-supported, offer lower video quality, and restrict simultaneous streaming across devices.
Mother of three, Stephanie Poole believes that Australians are willing to make the sacrifice if it means saving a bit of money as a result.
“I can’t believe they have even introduced Netflix with ads, the whole point is you pay for the service you should get the same luxury,” Ms Poole said.
“While I do not agree with it, the subscription with ads is much cheaper, therefore the better option for us.”
Although the amount of money being spent on these streaming services is declining each year, the Australian households average for amount of streaming subscriptions tr has increased from 3 in the final quarter of 2023 to 3.4 in the same quarter for 2024.
Source:Kantar
Managing Director of Simon-Kucher Oceania, Chris Petzoldt said Australians may be feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of streaming platforms available.
“The number of subscriptions per person increased by 22 per cent in Australia, but budgets declined,” he said.
“While there’s still an appetite for streaming services, a significant share of subscribers feel they spend too much on streaming and have too many subscriptions.”
Streaming platforms were originally positioned as premium alternatives to traditional broadcast television, but the introduction of advertising and reduced features has blurred that distinction.
