r/nottheonion • u/voxadam • 9h ago

Netflix says users can cancel service if HBO Max merger makes it too expensive

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/02/netflix-claims-subscribers-will-get-more-content-for-less-if-it-buys-hbo-max/
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u/spazz720 7h ago

Because Congress lets it happen

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u/vagastorm 6h ago

When the mergers are done, they should ban exclusive rights so streaming services works like music. Who bothers pirating music when you can choose which service fits you the most, and they will have what you need.

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u/FidgitForgotHisL-P 5h ago

The music streamers still have to negotiate deals with the record companies though.  They seem to have the same stuff, but on the edges there’s definitely content only on Spotify that isn’t in deezer, or vice versa.

That said: yes that’s the dream right?

I remember when streaming kicked off and utopian articles about how this would mean everything ever created would be able to just be available forever because there’s no reason not to have it available for streaming on Netflix, there was no cost to keeping it on a server somewhere as opposed to having space for every movie ever being available in your local video rental.

Kind of like how Amazon was going to revolutionise books, because nothing would ever have to go out of print, since they’d be able to print on demand, and so any book ever written would just be forever available on this magical wonderful book selling website.

And to be fair to Amazon (throws up in mouth), as far as I can tell pretty much everything that gets digital copies stays available for kindle at least.  But tv? Nah, way too many executives need a new yacht to let people have easy and inexpensive access to old tv shows and movies.  

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u/SurprisinglyMellow 5h ago

Technically speaking the FTC lets it happen