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Netflix Is The Least-Cancelled of All Major Streaming Services, Says Study (exstreamist.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the top-of-the-food-chain dept.

An anonymous reader writes from a report via Exstreamist: A recent survey from IBM suggests that nearly 70% of streaming service subscribers never canceled their subscriptions. One of the more likely reasons subscribers cancel is because their credit cards expire and they never get around to updating the information in each service. The other most likely reasons subscribers cancel is because of advertisements (27%), which was above price (25%). Netflix is the least likely to get cancelled of the major services, according to the survey. Hulu and Amazon had a larger number of total cancellations. In terms of numbers, 40% of consumers have stated they have cancelled either Hulu or Amazon, with only 30% having cancelled Netflix. Shortly behind advertisements and price, 20% of users said a lack in quality or quantity of content would likely make them cancel their service. More towards the bottom, 17% said technical issues that hinder a smooth viewing experience would cause them to cancel. Roughly 73% of subscribers would download Netflix content, according to one survey. Another survey suggests that a majority of Netflix subscribers would rather cancel their subscription than see advertisements.

46 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. Streaming is decent by The+Grim+Reefer · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've been using Netflix for a long time now. I recently got a notice that my streaming pricing was going to change. I'd been paying $7.99/ month for the streaming portion for 4 screens in HD. Apparently they've had a couple of price increases over the years, but they never passed those on to me until recently. Most companies would have changed my pricing each time. Being a company that treats its customers even half way decent gets them a lot of goodwill from me.

    I do wish Netflix still had BBC programing, and some other stuff. But I also understand that some things are out of their control. Probably my biggest complaint is that they have become pretty slow in replacing older movies that they had on DVD.

    1. Re: Streaming is decent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Mostly that's because the BBC (and some other content producers) seek higher fees for exclusive licensing agreements or they decide to launch their own streaming services. Both are bad for consumers as they force them to subscribe to more services and pay higher prices for content. Your issue is with BBC, not Netflix.

    2. Re:Streaming is decent by thevirtualcat · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I remember that. Two years ago, they sent out emails saying "New subscribers will pay $9.99/month, but you'll be able to keep your $7.99/month price for two years."

      Two years later, here we are.

    3. Re: Streaming is decent by The+Grim+Reefer · · Score: 3, Informative

      I know. That's why I said it was out of their control.

    4. Re:Streaming is decent by MightyMartian · · Score: 2

      I don't know about the States, but here in Canada long-time customers were given a grandfathered period without increases, but mine was recently increased. Mind you, there is a lot of new programs available now; all the Star Trek series in particular, so as I busily rewatch TOS and DS9, not to mention other series like Hell On Wheels and X Files, I figure the price is worth it. Besides, compared to the absolute shit that is other streaming services in Canada (Shomi's Android app is just a gawdawful unstable piece of shit), Netflix still gives the best overall user experience.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    5. Re:Streaming is decent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Man, if only all companies gave 2 years notice of a price increase.

      Netflix might be particularly sensitive to price changes though, due to their history. When they split up streaming and DVD rental (re-naming the later Qwikster), and increased the prices, it caused a near riot that cost them 800,000 subscribers.

    6. Re:Streaming is decent by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      I wish companies would also notify you when prices go down. I've been bit by that a few times. Ie, get a new smart phone and realize I'd been overpaying quite a lot by having a cheap voice plan to which was added the cheapest dataplan versus having the cheapest dataplan and adding unlimited voice.

    7. Re:Streaming is decent by Bite+The+Pillow · · Score: 1

      My cc expired, in the middle of binge watching, with no explanation. I didn't mean to cancel, but I got amazon prime two says later.

      Recommendations aren't nearly as spot on, but Wtf ?

      Now I paid for prime, Netflix lost me for a year. It's not like they will expire their owned content. Fuck me, they will do that just to boost profits, but not anytime soon.

    8. Re:Streaming is decent by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I do wish Netflix still had BBC programing, and some other stuff.

      Don't worry, kickass still has it. That's much more convenient anyway.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    9. Re:Streaming is decent by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      So your bitch is that Netflix suspended your account when you failed to pay, and didn't notify you (likely they did, you just spammed the messages)? You poor dear...I feel bad for Netflix that they lost such a valuable customer.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
    10. Re:Streaming is decent by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      I am not sure about other BBC programs, but Amazon Prime video has Doctor Who, so they are likely the ones who paid the requested rate this time around.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  2. Nearly 15 years of service by OrangeTide · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And if I see any ads, I'm canceling. Why would I pay for service with ads? Makes no damn sense.

    --
    “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    1. Re: Nearly 15 years of service by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      Advertisers can pay for billboards like everyone else. Stay out of my paid content. It's horrible enough that some DVDs had forced ads for other movies at the beginning of them.

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    2. Re: Nearly 15 years of service by gweilo8888 · · Score: 1

      Both of you have likely paid for those ads many times over already without realizing. You were just paying for ads in the form of product placement, instead of standalone ads...

    3. Re: Nearly 15 years of service by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Both of you have likely paid for those ads many times over already without realizing. You were just paying for ads in the form of product placement, instead of standalone ads...

      I've never minded product placement as long as it was subtle. What annoys me is the occasional in your face placement that feels like they're deliberately trolling, like in one episode of a show where not only did the character say exactly what brand of credit card he was charging to (rather than just saying "put it on my card" or some such) but the camera briefly zoomed in on the card itself as it changed hands. That was blatant to the point of surrealism.

    4. Re:Nearly 15 years of service by dfghjk · · Score: 2

      "Because ads subsidize the content."

      Not always and not likely in this case. Ads increase revenue, nothing ensures that ad-supported pricing will be lower due to the ads.

    5. Re: Nearly 15 years of service by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      No, I paid for a product. And a company chose to spend some portion of their own profits on further advertisement.

      Now what is not fair is if I pay for a service, and some aspect of that service is used to broadcast advertisements to me. You may argue that it's like magazines, you pay for a magazine but it still has ads, but I don't feel that one is fair either. News papers are heavily subsidized by ads, but I also don't have a news paper subscription.

      Luckily I get to decide what is fair and what is not fair when I'm the buyer. I had a choice to cancel Hulu and to continue using Netflix. When the model of subscription + ads goes industry wide, I really won't have many options left. (except maybe go live in a metaphorical cave)

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    6. Re:Nearly 15 years of service by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      No, you pay more if there are ads. When 33% of the programming is full of advertisements, they don't start charging you 66% of the price, not even 75%. It's more like they charge you 90% at an introductory subscription rate then bump you back to full price. Comcast has made dumptrucks full of money this way.

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    7. Re:Nearly 15 years of service by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 1

      And to the extent that ads raise revenues, all the content producers raise their prices (and salaries) to get part of the increased revenue as well. This happened big time to netflix with Stars.

      --
      She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
    8. Re:Nearly 15 years of service by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      No, you pay more if there are ads.

      Citation required. Your "example" is so full of misdefined terms that it is meaningless. What is "66% of the price"? The price is what you are charged for the service. How do you get charged 66% of what you are charged? Now, if you meant "cost", then you need to provide a cite for that. But even you admit that you only get back to "full price" after some "promo" period, and "full price" is not more than full price.

      A simple counter-example is, of course, a newspaper. If you think you're paying the full cost of producing a newspaper when you put 75 cents into the box (or whatever the price is), you're sadly mistaken.

    9. Re: Nearly 15 years of service by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

      Luckily I get to decide what is fair and what is not fair when I'm the buyer.

      Yes, you do. But your claim wasn't that it wasn't fair, you said it doesn't make sense. Both terms are subjective. Many people disagree with your opinion. Enough so that advertising supported content is a viable business system. And apparently enough so that some companies change from ad-free to ad-supported despite the loss of some customers. It's like the old joke. A business man was asked how he could afford to stay in business when he sold widgets that cost him $1 to make for only 50 cents. "Volume". Your ad-free service isn't covering the costs, so losing you means the company actually makes more profit. You aren't getting a $1 widget for fifty cents anymore.

      And frankly, I'm amazed at the brand loyalty that is created by a company that raises rates like Netflix is doing. They delayed for two years, but they're still doing it. My evil cell provider didn't change the rates on my cell service for ... about ten years at least, and would have gone on for much longer. My rate went up only because I changed plans.

      When the model of subscription + ads goes industry wide, I really won't have many options left.

      No, you will have just as many options, you'll just have to choose to accept "unfair", or modify your definition based on a different view of reality. It will remain your choice, however.

    10. Re: Nearly 15 years of service by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      If you RTFA you'd know that most Netflix subscribers are not disagreeing with me, at least implicitly.

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    11. Re: Nearly 15 years of service by Obfuscant · · Score: 1
      You mean where it says "a survey suggests"? That's not proof they agree with you, and it isn't proof for anything other than Netflix. People will tell survey takers all kinds of things that they don't actually do in the long run. "Yeah, we'll drop that service if they start having ads." "Oh, well, we like the movies and there aren't many ads, and my kids would kill me if they lost access... so no, we didn't drop it after all." And Dewey beat Truman.

      There are so many people who currently pay for services that have ads that you cannot really believe that a majority of people agree with you. If so many people felt it was unfair then nobody would be doing it. But they are. The proof is in the money. If there was an outrageous demand for ad-free pay services and nobody was providing them, someone would. And those who currently provide them wouldn't change.

      Or did you truly intend your comment about paying for a service that has ads being unfair to apply to Netflix only? I don't see that from the context. It appeared to be saying that any pay service with ads was unfair.

      But in the long run, how many people agree with you doesn't make it anything more than your opinion, and as I said up front, other people can have a different opinion, and the fact that you don't agree doesn't mean it doesn't make sense for them.

    12. Re: Nearly 15 years of service by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      Perhaps you feel free to ignore words in my statements. Of course doing so doesn't make your arguments hold any water.

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    13. Re:Nearly 15 years of service by luis_a_espinal · · Score: 1

      And if I see any ads, I'm canceling. Why would I pay for service with ads? Makes no damn sense.

      And if you cancel, where do you go? Other than Hulu and Amazon Video, there is not much else that can compete in terms of content for a dirt-cheap price.

      Even with adds, it would still be cheaper than cable. A combination of netflix with some other streaming services and an internet connection is the closest thing we have to a-la-carte cable.

      So until cable companies decide to provide a-la-carte plans that people can cancel at any times without penalties, I'd be willing to see adds on Netflix. I hate adds, but I cannot be so dogmatic when it comes to what I'm getting for every buck I pay.

  3. They don't mind if you cancel either by coolsnowmen · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Notice that a good service doesn't give a shit if you cancel. Unlike every other service I've have: Verizon, comcast, AT&T

    1. Re:They don't mind if you cancel either by dog77 · · Score: 1

      And they make it very quick and easy to cancel online.

    2. Re:They don't mind if you cancel either by Albert71292 · · Score: 1

      I dropped Netflix a few months ago, for a couple of reasons. One was that they weren't keeping a lot of the classic TV I like (don't care for most of the newer shows or their "Netflix Originals"). The other was I don't like how they started shrinking the closing credits into a small box on the Roku without an option to turn that "feature" off by default. Annoying to have to grab the remote at the end of a show or movie to enlarge the credits. I'm mainly watching Hulu now, along with CBS All Access and Acorn TV.

      --
      "A Bird In The Hand Will Poop On Your Wrist"-Benny Hill,1982
  4. I can understand... by aicrules · · Score: 2

    While Netflix left me wanting when they originally split streaming off as a separate service, I canceled the DVD portion in favor of keeping the on-demand streaming. They don't have EVERYTHING in their catalog, but compared to Hulu and Amazon Prime I am more likely to find what I want to watch in Netflix. That is true both for original content and regular content. Hulu I got solely to get 11.22.63 since I liked the book. After that I didn't have a reason to keep it based on the few shows I had a vague interest in. Amazon Prime I kept primarily because of its connection to Prime Shipping, but I have watched Prime few enough times that I'm ready to cancel it next month. Maybe it's just because I'm so accustomed to Netflix, but I feel I can find something to watch on Netflix that I will enjoy nearly 100% of the time. And with Prime and others I just don't have that hit rate. Could even be that Netflix UI is just better for me that the others.

    1. Re:I can understand... by jeffmflanagan · · Score: 3, Insightful

      My problem with Prime was that the subscription only got you access to a portion of the content and that they still wanted you to pay extra by the episode or season for many TV shows.

      That's why I very rarely use the video streaming that comes with Prime. NetFlix and Hulu don't try to hook me on a series, then start charging for episodes.

    2. Re:I can understand... by Gr8Apes · · Score: 1

      When Netflix split streaming off, I stuck with disks. Haven't regretted it yet.

      --
      The cesspool just got a check and balance.
    3. Re:I can understand... by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 1

      I signed up for Prime mostly for the streaming, thinking that the free two day delivery would be a bonus. Unfortunately, the streaming service has a mediocre offering at best, and most of what I order these days comes from third-party retailers, so Prime's free shipping doesn't apply.

      Hulu... I like their service enough, but the bug they paste in the corner of the stream drives me nuts. Why inflict that on viewers?

      Anyone from Netflix listening? Know why I didn't sign up for your service instead of these two also-rans? Because you didn't give me an easy way to look at your site and see what product you're offering so I could tell if I was at all interested.

      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    4. Re:I can understand... by luis_a_espinal · · Score: 1

      While Netflix left me wanting when they originally split streaming off as a separate service, I canceled the DVD portion in favor of keeping the on-demand streaming. They don't have EVERYTHING in their catalog, but compared to Hulu and Amazon Prime I am more likely to find what I want to watch in Netflix. That is true both for original content and regular content. Hulu I got solely to get 11.22.63 since I liked the book. After that I didn't have a reason to keep it based on the few shows I had a vague interest in. Amazon Prime I kept primarily because of its connection to Prime Shipping, but I have watched Prime few enough times that I'm ready to cancel it next month. Maybe it's just because I'm so accustomed to Netflix, but I feel I can find something to watch on Netflix that I will enjoy nearly 100% of the time. And with Prime and others I just don't have that hit rate. Could even be that Netflix UI is just better for me that the others.

      Interesting. I'm about to cancel Amazon Prime because 1) I don't use shipping that much, and 2) most of the shows I watch are already on Netflix and Hulu. As for these two, sometimes I want to cancel one or the other, depending what's on the show.

      I'm keeping Hulu because it carries the latest Naruto Shippuden episodes (yeah, I'm a fan) and The Daily Show, my kids watch Sailor Moon and Dragon-Ball and my wife watches Dance Moms and Modern Family. Plus Hulu has a ton of really good old movies from the Criterion Edition (we are old-movie buffs.)

      Netflix on the other hand, I've been close to cancelling it because it doesn't really update their movie catalogs or TV shows that often. What is keeping me with Netflix are its originals (Peaky Blinders, Marco Polo, Narcos) plus "Jane the Virgin".

      I think for binge-TV-watchers like us, two streaming services are always needed. For us, Hulu and Netflix fit the bill.

  5. 10 months for 3 years by Mishotaki · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm a recurring canceler on Netflix... as a Canadian with half of the content, I run out of content after a while and simply cancel my subscription to renew it a few months later and have new stuff pup up that interests me.

    1. Re:10 months for 3 years by luis_a_espinal · · Score: 1

      I'm a recurring canceler on Netflix... as a Canadian with half of the content, I run out of content after a while and simply cancel my subscription to renew it a few months later and have new stuff pup up that interests me.

      That's the cool thing with Netflix (and Hulu). We can cancel and re-join at any time without paying penalties. Try that with cable :/

    2. Re:10 months for 3 years by cthulhu11 · · Score: 1

      Netflix streaming reminds me of grocery store VHS rentals in the 1980's. Lots of B-grade and lower stuff. The only reason I keep my subscription is that my wife watches some of their original content. Their percentage conversion of DVD to streaming is pathetic.

  6. Amazon is very misleading by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 1

    I've often browsed thru multiple menu trees to a single episode before it tells me I have to pay.
    The mixture of paid and free content is very offputting.

    Paid vs Free needs to be at the top of the choice list and a checkbox on the search function (even a user setting).

    However, amazed they get cancelled a lot since it's tied to Prime which is free shipping on Amazon.

    --
    She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
    1. Re:Amazon is very misleading by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      As the cheapest option with a working remote I bought an Amazon TV stick and it makes it easy to avoid that stuff, because it has a prime video category. Why Amazon hasn't figure out that this is a good idea everywhere is beyond me.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  7. Maybe in the US... by Torp · · Score: 2

    When they launched in my country with 1/10 of the content at best (including missing their own House of Cards), i ran out of things to see way before my free trial month ended and promptly canceled.

    --
    I apologize for the lack of a signature.
  8. I'm one of those who cancelled Netflix by future+assassin · · Score: 1

    They started to block DNS/VPN (Canada to US) services and blocked mine so I blocked their access to my wallet. I had Netflix for about 4 years and Hulu for a couple. I cancelled about 2-3 months ago and you know what its like it never existed. The kid cried foul but that's a personal millennial problem, once I told him he can pay for it himself he too totally forgot it existed.

    --
    by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
  9. Re:Just cancelled by nucrash · · Score: 1

    Same here, not because of the price increase so much as my credit card expired unexpectedly. For that reason, I decided just to cancel the membership. I don't need it. I have school to focus on. When I graduate in 2021 or 2025 though, I might join back up.

    --
    Place something witty here
  10. Less and less by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 1

    Honestly after wrapping up Mad Men (finally) and Breaking Bad, I really don't watch much Netflix anymore (and zero regular cable TV which is only still there for the POSSLQ). Just in a holding pattern waiting for new seasons of Jessica Jones, Bojack Horseman (which I have re-watched at least five times), Longmire, and River. Better Call Saul too, I guess, but I really do hate prequels of any sort.

    So my activity would be an occasional binge bulge with lots of flat lines in between, but there are fewer bumps as time goes on.

  11. Amazon is inferior to Netflix by pecosdave · · Score: 1

    I know this as a user of both.

    Netflix deals with my bandwidth fluctuations much better and has more/better content. I don't dismiss Amazon outright, there's some really good stuff there as well, it's just harder to browse for and it's much more difficult to play back on a living room device that isn't Android based.

    Which has more staying power?

    Amazon - for reasons completely unrelated to their video streaming.

    My Amazon Prime account paid for itself inside of a few months on shipping bicycle parts alone. I've gotten some great Prime only deals from time to time, I have music streaming in addition to my video streaming and I've got the Kindle lending library.

    I couldn't see canceling my Prime regardless of how good or bad their streaming service is, and I find it interesting that enough people got it just for mixed free/rental/buy streaming service that compares closest to Google Play.

    --
    The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
  12. Will it follow cable/satellite by DidgetMaster · · Score: 1

    When I first subscribed to cable (and later satellite) it was to get commercial free programming. Slowly, they introduced ads until they dominated the programs. I recently cut the cord on my DirecTV service. I was paying over $100 a month and it felt like 50% of the programs was ads. Not worth it. Note to ALL content providers...you can charge me for content...or you can give me free content with ads (i.e. someone else is paying you to give me free programming)...you can't do BOTH.

  13. Ad load by The+Conductor · · Score: 1
    I recently did a quick analysis on ad-load on satellite TV (AMC, SyFy, IFC, etc.). A typical 110-minute movie will have 10 commercial breaks averaging 5 minutes, so that's 50 minutes of ads for 110 minutes of content, while some movies are padded out with ads to a 3-hour time slot. That computes to 30 to 40% ads and 60-70% content. I have to think that it really has gotten worse over the years.

    I take the .avi files off my DVR and edit all those ads out, a process I have semi-automated with a spreadsheet and some scripts, and then copy them to my NAS box so they are available anytime. Often as not there is some programming promotion crawling on the bottom of the screen, but I also crop the letterboxing out so most of that is gone too.

  14. Can't find anything good to watch on Netflix by BrinkeGuthrie · · Score: 1

    OK, I did like House of Cards until it got too weird and that was that. But there really isn't a lot of great content unless you like Charlie Sheen's Major League or Will Farrell or Adam Sandler or old Croc Dundees. Thiiiiiiiiis close to cancelling. Amazon Prime isn't any better, and I have that one too.