Podcast #1224: Streaming Price Hikes: A Historical Look
Release Date: 10/24/2025
Podcast #1238: Free Streaming Perks
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On today’s show we go through the top streamers and how you can get their services for free or reduced price. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Free Streaming Perks With the cost of streaming constantly going up the HT Guys are here to try and save you money. Almost all streamers offer some sort of discount via perks through Credit Cards, Cable and TV Providers, or Mobile Phone plans. On today’s show we go through the top streamers and how you can get their services for free or reduced price. Neflix T-Mobile: Netflix on Us is included with...
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Podcast #1237: Ranking Smart TV OSes and There Will Never Be a New ‘Seinfeld'
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we look at Smart TV OS rankings according to and we ask the question if there will ever be a show like Seinfeld again. We also read your email and take a look at the week’s news. News: Smart TV OS Rankings The article ranks eight major smart TV operating systems based on user reviews and comments from sources like Best Buy, Reddit, and cross-referenced with expert sites like RTINGS. The focus is on real user experiences regarding performance, app availability, bugs, ads, usability, and overall satisfaction — emphasizing that the OS heavily impacts whether a TV...
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Podcast #1236: 2026 CES Award Winners
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we have compiled a list of home theater and home automation/smart home products that received notable awards or honors at CES 2026. News: 2026 CES Award Winners (OLED TV with enhanced brightness, anti-burn-in art display, wireless features) Awarded Best TV or Home Theater (CNET) and Winner in Home Theater category (ZDNET/CNET Group awards). (Compact smart speaker with artistic design, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity for whole-home audio) Winner in Best Audio category (CNET) and Winner in Audio category (ZDNET/CNET Group awards). - The Samsung 140” Micro LED...
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Podcast #1235: CES 2026
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we look at the annual Consumer Electronics Show inLas Vegas Nevada. In years past there was more for us home theater fans but we still find some cool products that will eventually find their way into our homes. News: LG Key Highlights Return of the Wallpaper OLED TV (LG OLED evo W6) — LG revived its iconic ultra-thin "" design after a multi-year hiatus. The W6 is just 9mm thick, fully wireless (with a separate connection box up to 10 meters away), uses Hyper Radiant Color Technology for improved brightness and colors, and supports features like art display via...
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Podcast #1234: Happy New Year!
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
Happy New Year from the HT Guys!
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Podcast #1233: The Streamable Awards
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we look at the streamable awards and we read your emails and look at the week’s news. News: Other: The Streamable Awards Let’s be honest, being a cord-cutter in 2025 wasn’t for the faint of heart. If you felt like you needed a spreadsheet to track which app housed your favorite shows or a law degree to understand why the sports you wanted to watch were blacked out, you weren’t alone. This was the year that the industry seemingly threw everything at the wall — dizzying rebrands, the demise of standalone apps, and the aggressive return of the “bundle”...
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Podcast #1232: Large Format TV vs Projector
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show DJ Briggs from fills in for Braden who is away on business. We ask DJ to give us his opinion on using a large format TV as a replacement for a projector. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Other: Swapping a projector for a 100” TV Jon Taylor recently purchased a TCL 98QM7K (2025 model, QD-Mini LED QLED with Google TV) during Black Friday for $1,999.99 (50% off the $3,999.99 retail price). After using it for a couple of weeks in his basement home theater (replacing an older 82" Samsung and supplementing a projector...
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Podcast #1231: Mail Bag
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we come back after taking a week off and read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Other: Listener Emails On this week’s show we read your emails. The following are links that are discussed on the show. Brady’s 98” TV Dilemma - $1800 vs $5000 Eric’s recommendation for . Scott’s email about connecting your set top box correctly - and and $20,000 Mark’s solution for Chamberlain dropping support for Google Home, Apple Home, and Amazon A-Lady. And we finish the main part of this episode with Joe’s app recommendation link...
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Podcast #1230: Matter Update
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
This week Ara is on vacation and rather than skip a show we go back to May of 2022 where we looked at a panel discussion about teh then new automation framework Matter. We play for you that discussion and then Braden and I discuss that current state. Emails and news will return next week.
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Podcast #1229: Second Screen Viewing
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we look at the phenomenon of watching a little screen while simultaneously watching a big screen. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Second Screen Viewing The phrase “Second Screen Viewing” is when a person watches TV and simultaneously uses a secondary device like a smartphone, tablet, or laptop to engage with content related (or unrelated) to what’s on the TV. On this week’s show we will focus on the “unrelated” aspect Second Screen Viewing and how it is affecting what you watch on your TVs...
info_outlineOn this week’s show we look at the streamers and their pricing history. Are they keeping up with inflation or are they seeing how far they can keep raising prices. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news.
News:
- Apple TV Revs Up to Compete, For Real, In Streaming
- 86 Years Ago NBC Made History with First Televised Pro Football Game in 1939
- HBO Max raises prices on all plans while WBD reevaluates future
Other:
Streaming Price Hikes: A Historical Look
Netflix
Netflix has raised prices multiple times since launching its streaming service in 2007, with increases tied to content investments and competition. The service now offers four tiers: ad-supported Standard with Ads, Basic (ad-free, one screen), Standard (ad-free, two screens), and Premium (ad-free, four screens, 4K). Below is a summary of U.S. monthly prices for the most popular tiers (Standard and Premium) over time.
| Year | Date | Standard Plan | Premium Plan | Notes |
| 2010 | Launch (streaming-only) | $7.99 | N/A | Basic streaming plan introduced. |
| 2011 | Feb | $7.99 | N/A | No change. |
| 2014 | May | $8.99 | N/A | First major streaming hike. |
| 2015 | N/A | $9.99 | $11.99 | Introduction of HD tier. |
| 2017 | Oct | $10.99 | $13.99 | Subtle rollout. |
| 2019 | Jan | $12.99 | $15.99 | Basic introduced at $8.99 (discontinued 2023). |
| 2020 | Oct | $13.99 | $17.99 | Response to content costs. |
| 2022 | Jan | $15.49 | $19.99 | Largest hike at the time. |
| 2023 | Oct | N/A | N/A | Ads tier launched at $6.99. |
| 2024 | Jan | $15.49 | $22.99 | Basic discontinued. |
| 2025 | Jan | $18.00 | $25.00 | All plans increased; ads tier to $8.00. |
Prices are monthly in USD; annual options offer ~17% savings. Current as of October 2025. Note - $8 in 2010 is worth approximately $11.57 in October 2025
Disney+
Launched in 2019 at a competitive $6.99/month, Disney+ has seen nearly annual increases, often bundled with Hulu/ESPN+. It now has two main tiers: ad-supported Basic and ad-free Premium. Prices reflect U.S. monthly rates for standalone Premium (most common).
| Year | Date | Basic (Ads) | Premium (Ad-Free) | Notes |
| 2019 | Nov (Launch) | N/A | $6.99 | Single ad-free tier. |
| 2020 | N/A | N/A | $6.99 | No change. |
| 2021 | Jan | N/A | $7.99 | First hike. |
| 2022 | Dec | $7.99 | $10.99 | Ads tier introduced. |
| 2023 | Oct | $7.99 | $13.99 | Bundle prices also rose. |
| 2024 | Oct | $9.99 | $15.99 | Ads tier up $2. |
| 2025 | Oct | $12.99 | $17.99 | All plans up $2–$3; annual Premium $169.99. |
Annual billing saves ~16% (e.g., Premium $139.99/year in 2024). Bundles start at $9.99/month with Hulu/ESPN+. Note - $7 in 2019 is worth approximately $9 in October 2025 dollars
Hulu
Hulu, launched in 2007, has fluctuated prices but stabilized post-Disney acquisition (2019). It offers ad-supported, ad-free, and Live TV tiers. Focus here on on-demand plans (most subscribed).
| Year | Date | Ad-Supported | Ad-Free | Notes |
| 2007 | Launch | $9.99 | N/A | Early ad-free only. |
| 2010 | N/A | $7.99 | $7.99 | Ads tier introduced. |
| 2014 | N/A | $7.99 | $11.99 | Ad-free split. Sept 2015 |
| 2018 | N/A | $7.99 | $15.99 | Live TV at $39.99. |
| 2019 | Jan | $5.99 | $11.99 | Promo drop to $5.99 ads. |
| 2021 | Oct | $6.99 | $12.99 | $1 increase both. |
| 2022 | Oct | $7.99 | $14.99 | $1 hike. |
| 2023 | Oct | $7.99 | $17.99 | Ad-free up $3. |
| 2024 | N/A | $9.99 | $18.99 | Further increases. |
| 2025 | Oct | $11.99 | $18.99 | Ads up $2; bundles up $2–$7. |
Annual ad-supported: $79.99 (2023) to $119.99 (2025). Live TV starts at $82.99/month. Note - $10 in 2007 is worth approximately $15.19 in October 2025 dollars.
Amazon Prime Video
Prime Video is bundled with Amazon Prime (shipping/music perks), launched 2006. Standalone option added in 2016. Prices reflect full Prime membership (includes Video); standalone is $8.99/month ad-supported.
| Year | Date | Monthly Prime | Annual Prime | Notes |
| 2005 | Launch | N/A | $79 | Video added later. |
| 2007 | N/A | N/A | $79 | No change. |
| 2011 | N/A | N/A | $79 | Video streaming begins. |
| 2014 | N/A | N/A | $99 | First major hike. |
| 2018 | N/A | $12.99 | $119 | Monthly option emphasized. |
| 2022 | Feb | $14.99 | $139 | Post-pandemic increase. |
| 2024 | Jan | $14.99 | $139 | Ads introduced; ad-free +$2.99. |
| 2025 | N/A | $14.99 | $139 | No change; standalone $8.99. |
Prime Video alone: $8.99/month (ads) or $10.99 (ad-free). 200M+ Prime members globally.
HBO Max (formerly Max (formerly HBO Max))
Launched 2020 as HBO Max ($14.99 ad-free), rebranded Max in 2023. Frequent hikes focus on premium content. Tiers: Basic (ads), Standard (ad-free, 1080p), Premium (4K).
| Year | Date | Basic (Ads) | Standard (Ad-Free) | Premium (4K Ad-Free) | Notes |
| 2020 | May (Launch) | N/A | N/A | $14.99 | Single ad-free tier. |
| 2021 | Jun | $9.99 | N/A | $14.99 | Ads tier added. |
| 2023 | Jan | $9.99 | $15.99 | $19.99 | First hike post-rebrand. |
| 2024 | Jun | $9.99 | $16.99 | $20.99 | $1 increases. |
| 2025 | Oct | $10.99 | $18.49 | $22.99 | $1–$2 hikes; annual Premium $229.99. |
Annual saves ~17% (e.g., Premium $199.99 in 2024). Bundles with Disney+/Hulu at $16.99/month. Note - $15 in 2020 is worth $18.72 in 2025 dollars
Paramount+
Evolved from CBS All Access (2014). Rebranded 2021 with tiers: Essential (ads) and Premium (ad-free + Showtime). Sports/live TV drive hikes.
| Year | Date | Essential (Ads) | Premium (Ad-Free + Showtime) | Notes |
| 2014 | Oct (CBS All Access) | $5.99 | $9.99 | Launch. |
| 2017 | N/A | $5.99 | $9.99 | No major change. |
| 2018 | N/A | $5.99 | $9.99 | Stable. |
| 2021 | Mar (Rebrand) | $4.99 | $9.99 | Promo Essential. |
| 2023 | Aug | $5.99 | $11.99 | $2 Premium hike. |
| 2024 | Jun | $7.99 | $12.99 | Essential up $2 for new subs. |
| 2025 | N/A | $7.99 | $12.99 | Annual Essential $59.99. |
Annual saves ~17–20%. Sports bundles (e.g., NFL) add value. Note - $10 in October 2014 is equivalent to approximately $12.65 in October 2025 dollars.
Peacock
NBCUniversal's Peacock launched in 2020 with a free tier (phased out 2023). Tiers: Premium (ads), Premium Plus (ad-free). Olympics/sports fuel rapid increases.
| Year | Date | Premium (Ads) | Premium Plus (Ad-Free) | Notes |
| 2020 | Apr (Launch) | $4.99 | $9.99 | Free tier available. |
| 2021 | N/A | $4.99 | $9.99 | No change. |
| 2023 | Jul | $5.99 | $11.99 | First hike; free tier ends. |
| 2024 | Jul | $7.99 | $13.99 | $2 increases. |
| 2025 | Jul | $10.99 | $16.99 | $3 hikes; "Select" tier test at $7.99 (limited content). |
Annual Premium $109.99 (2025). Discounts for students/military (~$2–$5.99/month). Live sports (NFL/Olympics) key draw. Note - $10 in 2020 is worth $12.48 in today's dollars (October 2025)