TV Talk: Everything you need to know about the state of subscription streaming TV, top streaming services

Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers viewing tips for would-be streaming service subscribers.

The business of streaming TV, which impacts the offerings subscribers receive in their home, is in a state of confusion.

Until earlier this year when Netflix saw a 200,000 decline in subscriptions — it’s first slippage in 10 years — major subscription streaming services, with the blessing of Wall Street, operated on the understanding that they would lose money now to build up their subscription base and then turn a profit later, once consumers were hooked. But the churn rate with which consumers subscribe to and then cancel streaming services is much higher than cable because it’s so much easier to accomplish.

After Netflix’s disappointing turn, Wall Street suddenly stopped caring about growing subscriber numbers and decided to instead value profitability. That’s a problem for the industry as a whole, because Netflix is the rare streaming service that makes a profit. Disney+, HBO Max and the others continue to lose money.

That background is important because what’s provided below offers a snapshot of where each of the major streaming services stand today. Odds are the playing field may look different in six months, and it surely will change in the next year or two — not all of these streamers are expected to survive.

HBO Max and discovery+ are slated to be merged into a single streaming service in 2023. AMC Networks recently shed 20% of its workforce, raising questions about its long-term viability. Comcast’s Peacock, in particular, looks weak, its programs largely failing to cut through the pop culture zeitgeist.

What’s below is just the tip of the streaming iceberg, a list of the most popular services that doesn’t include such niche offerings like nonfiction CuriosityStream, sports-centric ESPN+, showstopper-filled BroadwayHD, British offerings via AcornTV and BritBox, anime service Crunchyroll, indie film services Mubi and Fandor, classic film service Criterion Channel, Spanish-language streamer ViX and Asian programming and K-drama-heavy Rakuten Viki.

Note: Many of the services below run specials, so it is possible to get a sign-up deal that is cheaper than a services’ stated price. What is listed below is monthly subscription cost, but some services offer a discount with an annual subscription.

Netflix

Subscribers: 222 million globally

Cost: $7 with ads and one stream on one device at a time with some movies and TV shows unavailable and no downloading of episodes; $10 for no ads and one stream/download on one device at a time; $15 watch/download on two devices at a time; $20 watch/download on four devices at a time

Release style: Mostly binge with all episodes available at once, but Netflix now is breaking up seasons into batches of episodes for some titles (half of season four of “Stranger Things” dropped in May with the other half in July) and reality competitions are sometimes spread out with a few episodes releasing every few weeks.

Biggest 2022 series: “Stranger Things,” “Dahmer,” “Wednesday”

Best for: While Netflix started its originals with an emphasis on prestige dramas (“House of Cards,” “Orange Is the New Black”), in recent years it has pivoted to broader, more broadcast-like fare, including a final season of former NBC series “Manifest.”

Worst for: Sports

Disney+

Subscribers: 164 million globally

Cost: $8 with ads; $11 ad-free

Release style: Usually weekly

Biggest 2022 series: “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” “She-Hulk”

Best for: Children’s and family franchises, “Star Wars,” Marvel, Pixar

Worst for: Reality TV. “Best in Snow” was a turducken of a reality show mess.

Amazon’s Prime Video

Subscribers: 200 million Amazon Prime subscribers globally and about 175 million of them have used Prime Video

Cost: Included in Amazon Prime, which costs $15; $9 for just Prime Video

Release style: Varies but often weekly

Biggest 2022 series: “The Boys,” “The Terminal List,” “Lord of the Rings: The Rings or Power”

Best for: A mix of muscular dramas and more niche offerings (“Ramy,” Pittsburgh-filmed “A League of Their Own”)

Worst for: Its reality shows, when they exist, get little-to-no buzz.

HBO Max

Subscribers: 77 million globally, including HBO and HBO Max in the U.S.

Cost: $10 with ads; $15 ad-free

Release style: Usually weekly

Biggest 2022 series: “Our Flag Means Death,” “The Staircase”

Best for: Quality drama and documentaries from HBO and some HBO Max original (“The Flight Attendant,” “The Sex Lives of College Girls”) and DC series (“Doom Patrol,” “Titans,” “Peacemaker”)

Worst for: Ever seeing the deep-sixed “Batgirl;” early access to Warner Bros. movies now that the company has backtracked on curtailing the theatrical window

Hulu

Subscribers: 46.2 million in the U.S.

Cost: $8 with ads; $15 ad-free

Release style: Varies but often weekly

Biggest 2022 series: “Pam & Tommy,” “Tell Me Lies”

Best for: Reruns of network comedies and dramas, children’s shows, original documentaries, FX-produced series “The Patient,” “Reservation Dogs”

Worst for: Reality TV

Paramount+

Subscribers: 43.3 million globally

Cost: $5 with ads; $10 ad-free

Release style: Usually weekly

Biggest 2022 series: “Halo,” “Tulsa King”

Best for: “Survivor” reruns, “Star Trek” fans, mid-grade dramas, familiar titles (e.g. IP or intellectual property), westerns/Taylor Sheridan-executive produced shows, including “Yellowstone” spin-offs like the upcoming “1923”

Worst for: Emmy-nominated shows

Starz

Subscribers: 24.4 million globally

Cost: $9 ad-free

Release style: Weekly

Biggest 2022 series: “Outlander,” “Power Book IV: Force”

Best for: Fans of “Outlander” and “Power”

Worst for: Nonfans of “Outlander” and “Power”

Apple TV+

Subscribers: 20 million globally

Cost: $7 ad-free (some sporting events have ads)

Release style: Usually weekly

Biggest 2022 series: “Severance,” “Loot”

Best for: Quality series with little audience, “Ted Lasso” season three when it eventually arrives, children’s programming

Worst for: “Ted Lasso” season four, as star Jason Sudeikis has said the show will only run three seasons

discovery+

Subscribers: 17.3 million globally

Cost: $5 with ads; $7 ad-free

Release style: Varies, but often weekly

Biggest 2022 series: “Trixie Motel,” “House of Hammer,” Magnolia shows

Best for: Fans of Discovery and TLC who cut the cable cord

Worst for: Devotees of scripted television

Peacock

Subscribers: 15 million paid U.S. subscribers; 27 million active accounts

Cost: Free basic tier; $5 for premium; $10 for fewer ads

Release style: Varies but usually weekly

Biggest 2022 series: “Bel-Air,” “A Friend of the Family”

Best for: “Yellowstone” reruns, Comcast cable subscribers who get Peacock Premium for free for now, cord-cutters who want access to “Saturday Night Live”

Worst for: Buzzworthy series. Even the much-hyped dramatic “Fresh Prince” reboot “Bel-Air” didn’t retain much buzz after it launched.

Showtime

Subscribers: 12.6 million in the U.S.

Cost: $11 ad-free

Release style: Weekly

Biggest 2022 series: “Yellowjackets,” “Let the Right One In,” “American Gigolo”

Best for: A dead network walking?

Worst for: Survival. Showtime now seems like an afterthought as conglomerate Paramount Global throws much of its weight behind Paramount+. Showtime’s most recent series, aside from “Yellowjackets,” have failed to break through.

AMC+

Subscribers: 11 million

Cost: $9 ad-free

Release style: Weekly

Biggest 2022 series: AMC linear imports “Better Call Saul” and “Interview With the Vampire”

Best for: Fans with a specific taste in quality drama and horror given some of the indie-vibe programming. AMC+ includes programs from AMC, BBC America, IFC and Sundance TV as well as from separate niche streaming services including horror-themed Shudder and indie-dramas from Sundance Now and IFC Films Unlimited.

Worst for: Sports, reality TV, children’s programming.