Which Streaming Sevice Has the Fewest Ads?

[@FrugalRules]

Besides ads, what bothers you most on paid streaming services?

[@billjones4986]

Same movies in different categories.

[@derekvallem]

Great comparison! Thank you! When we first cut the cord, we went for all ad-free plans but as prices have gone up, we've started moving toward ad-supported plans.

[@FrugalRules]

Of course! Same here and, outside of Netflix we do the same thing. Despite the understandable dislike of ads, reports are indicating more and more streamers are opting for ad-supported plans. In the long run we expect that to be reduced some as more go for FAST platforms to save more.

[@billybaroo]

Here's a thought - make a list of what shows you like to watch. For my wife and I, we watch a lot of network TV shows. You subscribe to something like KZbin TV (because i like sports), DVR all your favorites and watch them ad-free by FF through all the commercials. There's nothing on Paramount Plus or Peacock that we like that isn't also on regular CBS or NBC. Hulu has a few good originals but nothing that requires subscribing year-round. We do have the Netflix with ads plan and truly dont mind it that much. Maybe 30 seconds of ads in a half hour show and less than 2 minutes in a one hour show and 4 minutes in a 2 hour movie. Less than i expected!

[@FrugalRules]

It all depends on what you watch, in our opinion. For you that approach works, which is great. However, if you're someone that only watches something on one or two networks and you need to save money (and don't necessarily mind ads), you may find going with one or two on-demand platforms a better overall approach.

[@ericarmbrustmacher2023]

As mentioned, this minute streaming ads are better than the satellite TV service I had. But I also think you're right, and some of the services will put in more ads to help with the bottom line

[@FrugalRules]

Yep, exactly. We expect a couple of services to continue to offer the more desirable user experience of a lighter ad load, but we fully expect most to hit the level seen on linear TV.

[@lrlevy]

I chose no ads MAX. $20/year difference. Well worth it.

[@shackdaddy7106]

My experience is that it depends on what you are watching on a streaming app. For instance I streamed the movie Iron Claw on Max ad supported. No commercials. Also on Hulu last fall I streamed all 12 seasons of Bones. No one single commercial. And that is ad supported.

[@FrugalRules]

Very true, and interesting you had that experience. We've had some services where newer shows/movies will have an ad at the beginning, then maybe, if at all, an ad or two for the entirety of the content. But, the older shows/movies you get bombarded with ads.

[@donvedio]

Thanks for doing this comparison. I have only ad free plans and will never watch a commercial again. Linear TV may have more commercials, but at least you have a cloud DVR to record and playback later skipping all the commercials.

[@FrugalRules]

Yep, that is a good point. Time will tell how services try to impede us from doing that.

[@spaceghost4474]

I always get the add free version, but I only take 2 or 3 months of a one of these services per year. The only service I have all year long is KZbin tv.

[@FrugalRules]

It depends on the service for us. But, when you're cycling through only a couple annually it doesn't make THAT much of a difference to go ad free. 🙂

[@bikeny]

Back in the day when you only had the 3 big networks (ok, there were itty-bitty ones) the federal govt regulated how much ad time was allowed in the 30-min and 60-min blocks during what was then considered prime time: 8pm-11pm. It was 5 min and 10 min. After 1978, deregulation came in. Slowly but surely more and more ads were stuck into the blocks and pretty soon the whole process looked like the NYC Subway system: Hey, there's always room for one more (person or ad). And by the time Friends was on the air, we were getting those 10 minutes per 30- min block. And you wonder why we don't have theme songs anymore. Take away the credits for some shows, and you'd probably have 18 mins of actual content. I am curious with regards to the streaming services you examined. One of the main PITAs on cable has always been their logos being plastered to the screen, not to mention on-screen text (hashtags and actual text telling us that Hey, New Episode on Friday) that gets in the way. So, did these services also put their logos on the screen during content? I know that my ad-free netflix and paramount+ don't. I have not yet watched my amazon prime stuff, so I am really curious what they do or don't do w/r/t that situation. For me, if and when I decide to cut out a service, I would then only come back on a short-term basis to binge whatever I really want to watch. I can't miss something I have never had, so if a show or movie is only showing on one service I don't have, oh well, too bad for them. Maybe I'll watch it in a year or two. Thank you.

[@FrugalRules]

Thanks for that insight! We were going to add some of that background in the video, but opted to keep it out due to length. And, great question. From our experience, we really haven't seen much of that in our testing. Specifically, re: Prime Video, we've not seen it in the few series we've watched. We've also not seen much of it on other services. You might see the logo before the ad that runs right before the content, but nothing beyond that.

[@lorettalusk4620]

Peacock has been the best very little ads

[@FrugalRules]

That has been our general observation as well. Their ads tend to not be as long as found on other platforms, and it's not uncommon for them to only run an ad before a movie and nothing during the movie.

[@dfizzbom]

Consider that the cheaper Netflix ad plan actually pulls some content along with it. Thrilled to see that series you missed originally has shown up on Netflix? Odds are you won't have access to it on the cheaper ad plan. You'll have to pony up for the ad free plan. If that model is adopted by them all that is simply unacceptable.

[@FrugalRules]

Thanks for pointing that out! Yep, there are some shows/movies not available on its ad-supported plan. Reports are that it's due to licensing agreements, but who is to say that Netflix will even work to remedy that. Like you said, it could be a situation of where you need to pay up.

[@MrTenye]

I like your videos but can you upgrade quality from 720p to 1080 ?

[@saraibucciarelli1821]

Ads equals bathroom and snack breaks.

[@chanscott8968]

Hate ads free is a must

[@fitfighter24]

Hi John ads on linear tv can get even worse then 16 minutes per hour take CBS's Price is Right and Let's make a Deal shows when they get placed on Paramount Plus is on 37 minutes for a 60 minute show that's that's a a whooping 23 minutes of ads that's damn near half the program i don't care how great a show is if I'm getting close to 50% commercials it's not worth watching

[@FrugalRules]

Definitely a fair point. One could probably argue that in the instance of game shows that they're giving advertisers more time for a reason. But, like you said, having half a show in ads is brutal.

[@pmjeterjr]

Adds are only going to get worse as time goes on. I am paying for add free on all my plans. As prices go up I will drop services. I will eventually go to only pay for a service for a show I watch wait for the season to be don pay for a month binge the shows then drop the service.

[@FrugalRules]

Completely agreed. We believe, at some point, ads on paid streaming services are going to be largely equal to what we see on linear. The binge and dump approach is the way to do it.

[@Mandy2u]

I don't mind adds, but there sure will be too many soon enough.

[@royworks7986]

Most content on the streaming services are not worth the bother of watching a commercial.

[@fitfighter24]

Hi John another new bundle proposal that's allegedly going to be a reality announced by Comcast it will include Apple TV+, Peacock and Netflix don't know if it will be just the ad versions or ad free as well are you and Nicole covering that and an updating the latest on the Disney+ Hulu and Max upcoming bundle on Friday's Livestream

[@FrugalRules]

Yep, we saw that as well. And, it's only available to Comcast internet customers, from the reporting we've seen. Definitely a lot we'll be discussing this Friday. 🙂

[@jonathanrobinson2188]

Ads are not bad

[@jasonschilcher5686]

Tubi. No cost. Period.

[@Richdollarz021]

I never had ads on my tv streaming apps ands its still than cable is going on $400 now and i still dont pay over $100

[@MikeBirdman]

Peacock is horrible about ads