Stop the Streaming Business Model — Make Ad-Free Viewing Standard!

For years, many of us have enjoyed movies and shows without interruption—a simple, ad-free experience once included in every streaming package. Today, most platforms have flipped that business model—forcing subscribers to either endure ads or pay inflated fees just to remove them. This isn’t added value, it’s paying twice for the same service and calling it a two or three tier.

In today’s economy, every penny counts — whether you’re living on a fixed income, trying to stretch retirement dollars, or running a multimillion-dollar company watching the bottom line. The truth is, financial discipline has never been more important. Sometimes, it has come down to –  do I purchase my favorite, Iced Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks or pay extra to avoid ads while streaming?

Putting food on the table. Keeping the lights on. Paying the mortgage or rent. These are the battles so many of us fight every single month. Wages haven’t kept up, prices keep climbing, and every dollar feels stretched to the breaking point 

That’s why it stings even more when streaming services — once a cheaper alternative to cable — keep finding new ways to bleed us dry. First, they charged us for subscriptions with ads. Now they charge even more to take the ads away. That “just a few dollars” here and there quickly adds up to hundreds a year. For families already deciding between groceries or gas, that’s not small change — that’s survival money.

We’re told it’s harmless. That $5 or $10 more a month won’t matter. But it does matter. It matters when the fridge is emptier. It matters when the bills pile higher. It matters when parents have to say “no” more often than “yes.”

Here’s the truth: if streaming companies won’t stop fleecing us, we have to stop feeding them. Every cancellation is more than saving a few bucks — it’s sending a message. We will not bankroll corporate greed while families struggle to make ends meet.

Because in this economy, every penny isn’t just money — it’s dignity, security, and hope. And we’re done giving ours away.

Only Apple TV+ includes ad-free viewing in its standard $12.99 subscription. Meanwhile, other major platforms charge significantly more for ad-free access and Apple is not a two tier Business Model. 

Streaming Services: Price with and without Ads

·         HBO Max (Now Max): $9.99 with ads | $16.99–$20.99 ad-free

·         Netflix: $7.99 with ads | $17.99–$24.99 ad-free

·         Hulu: $9.99 with ads | $18.99 ad-free

·         Disney+: $9.99 with ads | $15.99 ad-free

·         Amazon Prime Video: $8.99–$14.99 with ads | $11.98–$17.99 ad-free

This two-tier or three-tier Business Model undermines the core of streaming: uninterrupted entertainment! Subscribers are being squeezed, forced to pay more for what once came standard.

We need a Better Business Model—one that puts customers first. Ad-free should not be a luxury upgrade; it should be the baseline for any paid subscription.

Your voice matters. Join us in demanding, ad-free streaming for all.No Breaks. No Ads. Just Streaming!!!