A growing number of streaming subscriptions is making television more expensive and fragmenting the audience, with access to shows increasingly shaped by what viewers can afford. The problem is illustrated by “American Hostage,” a series about a real 1977 armed standoff at an Indiana mortgage office. The show, praised for performances by Jon Hamm and Giovanni Ribisi, is available on MGM+, which costs $7.99 a month.

That price comes on top of the many subscriptions viewers may already pay for. Streaming services offer different plans, bundles and ad-supported options, making the total cost harder to track. For consumers weighing entertainment against everyday expenses, even another modest monthly fee can be a difficult choice.

Television was once available to anyone with a set and an antenna, though viewers had to watch advertisements. Cable changed that model, putting many popular programs behind a subscription and bundling channels together. Streaming then promised viewers the freedom to choose services individually, but the number of platforms has continued to grow, from Netflix and Hulu to niche services for comedy, horror and anime.

The result, the article argues, is a widening gap between viewers who can choose from a large catalogue and those who can afford only a service or two. Shows are spread across separate platforms, so a series can struggle to find an audience if it lands on a less familiar service. Shared cultural references become less universal as viewers’ choices depend more on their subscription budgets.

Streaming prices have also risen, with increases described as outpacing inflation. The article gives examples of current offerings: “East of Eden” on Netflix, “Hal & Harper” on Mubi, “The Secret of Widow’s Bay” on Apple TV and a new season of FX’s “Hidden Truth” on Hulu. It also points to “Cupertino,” which airs on CBS and can be received with an antenna.

Viewers can share passwords, set reminders to cancel services or stick to one or two platforms and hope to find something worthwhile. Live-TV streaming is another option, but it can also be expensive. With shows scattered across an expanding set of paid services, the freedom to choose has come with a growing cost.

Sources: Folha Ilustrada.