Look, We Need to Talk About This Mess

Okay, full disclosure: I’m Jenny Martinez, senior editor at New York City FM, and I’ve been in this industry for 22 years. That’s right, I remember when Blockbuster was still a thing. And honestly? I’m tired. Tired of the streaming service circus. Tired of the algorithms that think I want to watch a rom-com after bingeing Breaking Bad. Tired of paying for 12 different services just to watch one show.

Last Tuesday, I was at this little coffee shop on 5th, right? And I’m talking to my friend, let’s call him Marcus, about this exact thing. He’s like, “Jenny, just get rid of half of them. Who needs all that?” And I’m like, “Marcus, it’s not that simple. What if I cancel one and then my favorite show moves exclusively to that platform?”

It’s a nightmare. A completley avoidable nightmare.

Here’s the Thing About Algorithms

Algorithms are supposed to make our lives easier, right? But no. They’re like that friend who only recommends the same three restaurants because they got a free appetizer there once. I mean, come on. I watched one documentary about bees and now every suggestion is about honey production. I don’t care about honey! I wanted to learn about colony collapse, not start a hive in my backyard.

And don’t even get me started on the thumbnails. They’re all the same! A dark silhouette with one accent color. It’s like a bad art project from 2005. “Look at me! I’m mysterious and edgy!” No, you’re lazy. You’re all lazy.

I asked my colleague, Dave, about this. He’s the tech guy, always knows what’s going on. He said, “It’s all about engagement, Jenny. The more you watch, the more they make. It’s that simple.” Which… yeah. Fair enough. But that doesn’t make it any less annoying.

Why Can’t We Just Have One Good Platform?

Remember when Netflix was the only game in town? Good times. Now, it’s a jungle out there. Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock, Apple TV+, and don’t forget Amazon Prime, which honestly feels like a necessary evil at this point. I’m paying $87 a month for all of these, and that’s not even including the ones I forgot about and still get billed for.

And the real kicker? Half the time, the show I want is only on one platform for a limited time. So I have to subscribe, watch the show, and then cancel before they charge me again. It’s like a never-ending game of whack-a-mole, and I’m not here for it.

I tried to find some interesting facts knowledge guide on this, but honestly, it’s all just a big mess. Nobody knows what’s going on, and everyone’s just trying to figure it out as they go along.

A Brief Digression: The Time I Tried to Cancel One

About three months ago, I decided to cancel one of these services. Just one. To see what would happen. Big mistake. First, they made me jump through hoops to find the cancel button. Then, they offered me a “special deal” if I stayed. Then, they sent me an email saying they missed me and here’s another deal. It was like dating a toxic ex. I’m not kidding. I had to unsubscribe from their emails, block their number, and still they found a way to creep back into my life.

It was physicaly exhausting.

What’s the Solution?

I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t. Maybe we all just need to accept that this is the new normal. Pay the money, deal with the algorithms, and hope that one day, someone will create a platform that actually understands what we want.

But until then, I’m over here, drinking my coffee, complaining to Marcus, and wishing for the good old days of Blockbuster. At least then, I knew exactly where to find the movies I wanted.

Anyway, that’s my rant. You’re welcome.

Author Bio: Jenny Martinez is a senior editor at New York City FM. She’s been in the entertainment industry for over two decades and has strong opinions about everything. When she’s not writing, she’s probably complaining about something or drinking coffee. You can find her on Twitter @JennyMarts, where she continues to rant about the state of streaming services.

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