Key Takeaways
- Show Chasers switch platforms to access favorite titles, saving money & streamlining subscriptions.
- Regularly changing services helps when traveling & curating content, but canceling can be tedious.
- It’s cost-effective & keeps you connected to your favorite shows; just be mindful of billing dates.
Have you considered changing your streaming subscription to another platform solely to follow your favorite shows? If not, you may be missing out.
What Is a Show Chaser? Are You One?
Streaming your favorite shows is always a better option than channel surfing with traditional cable. But how do you choose which streaming service to buy? That decision often comes down to the platform’s content.
Due to content licensing agreements, the titles offered on a platform often vary from month to month. For instance, fan-favorite Friends may be available on Netflix one month and Max the next.
As this changes frequently, avid streamers find themselves switching from one service to another as content rotates, which market analysis firm Antenna has catchily dubbed “Show Chasers.” It found that among show chasers (also referred to as “serial churners”), some “38% have made three or more of their cancellations within the first three months of subscribing” to a streaming service. It’s a large proportion of users!
So, if you are wondering if Netflix or Max is worth it, the answer could be to choose one for now and be ready to switch next month when your favorite titles move.
Why It’s Worth Frequently Changing Streaming Platforms
Changing from one platform to another can have multiple benefits.
By chasing your favorite shows and switching streaming services, subscribers can retain access to the titles that they consistently watch and enjoy.
Changing subscriptions often also helps to eliminate paying for a streaming service you are not currently using. By switching to the service that hosts titles you are most interested in watching, subscribers can eliminate paying for a service on which they are not actively watching content.
As licensing agreements and rights to stream different titles vary not only by time frame but also by country, the show chaser method is more frugal for those who travel abroad often. This is especially true if that travel is for an extended period of time.
Some providers allow subscribers to pause their membership. Thereby preserving their curated content that was generated by the platform based on your watch history. Additionally, it can help preserve your watch lists, so you can pick back up right where you left off when you decide to return to the platform. For show chasers, this is an excellent tool to take advantage of.
Drawbacks to Switching Streaming Services
While becoming a show chaser can help the wallet, it also comes with some drawbacks.
Month-to-month subscriptions are often slightly more expensive than paying for a yearly subscription upfront. Additionally, canceling a subscription is often a headache and time-consuming. It is also easy to forget to do so, resulting in unwanted charges.
For this reason, if you decide to be a show chaser, be sure to take note of the billing dates for each subscription you sign up for.
As popular streaming services increase fees, users may choose to cancel superfluous streaming services and chase their favorite shows instead. Becoming a show chaser ultimately has more benefits than drawbacks and keeps you streaming your favorite shows all year long.
