How streaming ruined my TV watching

Streaming has introduced a world of viewing options, and there’s never been a time when you couldn’t find exactly what you want to watch on TV, wherever you are in the world.

At the same time, it’s pretty much ruined for me watching traditional television and the many other traditions that came with it – and it’s sad to see those nostalgic days fade away.

Nostalgia for traditional TV viewing

There’s just something nostalgic about the whole process when it comes to watching TV. You get together with family or friends and wait for the time when your favorite program is broadcast. Was it a little annoying to know that you might miss said show and have to wait for a repeat, or that you had to wait in the first place? Of course it was, but at the same time, those moments of watching together fostered a connection that I think many of us are coming to these days.

The planned programming cadence played a large part in this. You spent the whole week anticipating the next Thursday at 7pm when you knew the show was on and you knew your friends were doing the same or were on the couch with you. I remember the number of times my family got into the show to the point where we made sure we were all available at that particular time to get together and see it. Or getting up early and watching my favorite Saturday morning cartoons, which isn’t even a thing anymore!

Now, with on-demand programming, you don’t have to wait. Sure, it’s convenient and you can bang on an entire series in a day or two and watch it in its entirety if you want without having to wait. In a way, it takes the fun out of watching TV and is one of the bigger downsides of streaming.

Discovering content by accident

The latter may be controversial, but limited options have forced viewers to stumble upon shows and movies outside of their interests, often purely by accident. This meant more people engaged with stories they might not have otherwise considered, but found they liked.

Now a lot of content can be easily found at your fingertips. Why look for something new when you have exactly what you want twenty four seven in front of you? Sure, it takes the boredom out of looking at something you might not want to, but it also takes the guesswork out of it in a not-so-great way.

Quantity over quality

Streaming has also changed the way content is created and consumed, impacting storytelling itself. The success model of most streaming services relies on algorithms and viewership data, meaning that content often prioritizes creditworthiness over quality.

Now, while there are undoubtedly great shows with complex storylines and high production values, there’s also a tendency to lean into formulas designed to keep viewers watching for as long as possible. This focus on quality over quality can lead to storytelling that feels either rushed or drawn out, making the pacing “uneven” compared to old shows.

A plethora of streaming options

“”>

There are hundreds of dedicated streaming services like Disney+, Max, Paramount, Netflix, Hulu and more. With countless shows, documentaries and movies at your fingertips, the sheer volume of this content can sometimes be overwhelming. I can’t be the only person with all the options who gets “decision fatigue”, worried about picking the “right” show instead of just sitting back and watching what’s going on.

In this simplicity, traditional television was good for better or for worse. There was just so much going on and you either watched it or you didn’t. You haven’t spent hours going from service to service trying to find the one thing you wanted to watch, only to find that hours have passed and you still haven’t selected anything.

In closing, I would like to say that I don’t think streaming services are inherently bad. Streaming has made it easier to access old classics and more diverse content, and has allowed us to discover stories and voices that have not traditionally reached consumers. It also allowed creators to find a platform for their content.

However, this change comes with undeniable trade-offs, and for those like me who often wax poetic about “the days gone by,” it’s just another thing to add to the “remember when” pile.