While online video subscription services have been a mainstream product for more than a decade, some people might still be apprehensive about signing up due to not understanding how they work. This is a problem that faces every innovation, especially if it relies on technology that is not understood by ‘laymen’. This guide will provide a brief introduction into the workings of a subscription service.
You Pay for Access, Not Usage
This is a characteristic that online video streaming subscription services share with ‘traditional’ pay-TV services. You pay to get access to the entire catalogue of programming on offer by the service, not for how much you actually use it. This means that whether your account is active on a 24-hour basis the whole month, or if you used it for just one minute, you still pay the stated subscription fee for the month.
You Own All Your Equipment
This is one of the aspects where online streaming subscription services differ from pay-TV. An online streaming service will have no other involvement with you beyond granting you access to their online platform. You are responsible for procuring your own internet and acquiring a compatible device. With pay-TV, you will require specialist equipment from the provider – which will usually attract some form of rental fee. There are no additional ‘hidden’ charges with online streaming subscriptions.
You Sign No Contract
This is another area where pay-TV differs greatly with online video streaming subscription services. With pay-TV, you have to sign a contract with the provider that determines, amongst other things, how you would opt out of the service. This is not the case with online streaming services. When signing up for a video streaming subscription, apart from committing to a boilerplate set of terms, your membership will be determined by your payments. Want to opt-out? Simply stop making payments. It is as easy as that.