Investopedia·2025-11-18 17:01Core Insights - Major streaming services have increased subscription prices this year, a trend referred to as "streamflation" [2][8] - Paramount+ is the latest service to announce a price hike, effective in the first quarter of 2026 [3][8] - Consumers are increasingly opting for ad-supported tiers as a cost-saving measure, with significant growth in viewership for these plans [5][6] Price Increases - Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, and Apple TV have all raised their prices recently [2][8] - Paramount's price increase follows similar moves by other major streaming companies [8] Consumer Behavior - Many consumers are unaware of the rising costs of their streaming subscriptions, potentially leading to higher monthly expenses [4] - Ad-supported versions of streaming services are gaining popularity, with a 16 percentage point increase in viewing for Disney+ and an 11 percentage point increase for Netflix year-over-year [5] - Approximately 45% of Netflix's viewing time now comes from its ad-supported tier, up from 34% the previous year [5] Free and Bundled Options - Free ad-supported streaming services have seen a rise in viewing hours, increasing from 1.3 billion to 1.8 billion hours year-over-year [6] - Bundling services can provide savings, such as combining Peacock Premium with Apple TV for $15 monthly, which is $9 less than the total cost of both services [9]