By Quinn Smalley
How much do you spend on streaming services each month? According to Deloitte, the average American spends almost $70 monthly on platforms like Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime Video, Max and Apple Music.
The bare minimum you can pay for a Netflix subscription is $7.99 for an ad-supported plan. Prime Video starts at $9 a month, also ad-supported, with the option to go ad-free for an additional $3—or $2 if you have an Amazon Prime subscription. These prices may not seem like much upfront, but they add up quickly, especially if the content you want to watch is spread across multiple services.
A common scenario consumers face is having to pay for several similar services just to access specific shows. For example, if I wanted to watch “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “The Traitors,” “Bridgerton” and “Severance”, I’d need four separate subscriptions. By the end of it, I would have shelled out about $42 before tax just to access those four shows.
With prices for these services increasing seemingly twice a year—and with the rising cost of living—it’s natural to wonder: How do we stop the insanity? One option is to purchase shows or movies digitally. Owning the program digitally would, in theory, offer the convenience of streaming with a one-time payment. However, the reality is that you don’t actually own anything—you’re purchasing a digital license to access the content for an indefinite period of time, while the rights holder retains near-total control. They can revoke your access at any time, regardless of whether you paid.
This “delisting” of content happens often in video games due to licensing issues—usually when rights to use music or brand imagery expire. Beginning Jan. 1 of this year, digital retailers in California are required to disclose prominently that consumers are purchasing a license and do not own the product. In response, online game retailer Steam added a disclosure advising customers that they are purchasing a license.
Often, when content is delisted, license holders can still access or redownload it from their purchase history—but not always. Content can be removed from your library without notice. Streaming platforms are not immune; sometimes they even remove their own original content. Here’s a short and upsetting list of delisted titles:
- “The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula,” seasons 1–3, removed from Shudder/AMC+, no explanation given and no physical release available
- Max (formerly HBO Max) delisted most classic Cartoon Network content; many series affected never received official physical releases and are now unavailable
- “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” removed from digital purchase and streaming, available only on disc
- “Soul Calibur II HD,” a digital-only title for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, now entirely unavailable through official means
- “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Video Game” on PS3 and Xbox 360, later re-released as “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game – Complete Edition”
- “Condemned: Criminal Origins,’ removed Oct. 31, 2025, with no notice or explanation; now available only on disc
- “Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes HD,” a digital-only game removed from North American storefronts Dec. 12, 2013; re-released in 2024 as part of “Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics”
- “Final Space,” a TV show that aired on Adult Swim and TBS, was delisted after becoming part of Warner Bros.; purchasers found it removed from their libraries. Seasons 1 and 2 received physical releases, but season 3 did not and is not officially available.
Notice how many of these titles are now almost impossible to access? This practice of delisting presents both a scarcity and a media preservation problem. What happens if a licensing dispute over a song in “The Office” arises? The show could be pulled from streaming until the issue is resolved. How would you watch your favorite show then?
The answer has been in front of us all along: physical media. We can take back control of our media by investing in a Blu-ray player—most models can also play DVDs and CDs, and many even support streaming apps. Visit local stores like Bookmans or Zia Records, or thrift shops such as Goodwill. Check their used media sections—you can build a small library for a fraction of the cost of maintaining multiple streaming subscriptions. Many DVDs are in great condition and cost less than $10.
What to look for when shopping for media
- Don’t skip the bargain bin at Walmart filled with $5 movies. These bins often hide gems—the multi-movie collections. I once found the first four “Hellraiser” movies in one package for $7.
- Don’t be afraid of DVDs. You don’t always need the high fidelity that a Blu-ray offers. If the movie isn’t visually driven—say, a romantic comedy—DVDs are cheaper and easier to find.
- Don’t overthink the player. A budget-friendly Blu-ray or DVD player will meet most casual users’ needs. You can even find tested used models at Zia Records or Bookmans.
- Always check the data side of the disc before leaving the store when buying used media. If it’s scratched, playback issues may occur. Zia Records has a disc buffer available for a small fee, which can restore readability.
Yes, getting up to insert a disc is less convenient and physical media takes up space—but ownership means you get to keep the content that matters most. You don’t have to buy every show you like. Instead, curate a small collection of your favorites while keeping one or two streaming services. The goal is to reclaim ownership—something that, not too long ago, wasn’t up for debate when buying a movie.
