Streaming Mergers Put Consumers at Risk of Higher Prices
The Disney protests of last fall highlighted the risks of streaming mergers and acquisitions. The company's decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air sparked a boycott, but it turned out to be difficult for consumers to avoid Disney entirely.
Disney owns not only its own streaming service, Disney+, but also Hulu, ABC, FX, A&E, History, Lifetime, ESPN, and several video game franchises. This ubiquity makes it challenging to boycott the company without severely limiting one's entertainment options.
The experience of trying to avoid Disney led to a broader discussion about the impact of mergers and acquisitions in the streaming industry. With more companies merging or acquiring each other, the number of independent streaming services is decreasing, leading to concerns about consolidation and its effects on consumers.