The world of streaming has exploded in recent years, with a dizzying array of services vying for our eyeballs and wallets. As a digital technology expert who has closely studied this industry, I‘ve seen platforms rise and fall – and I‘m here to help you navigate this crowded landscape. In this in-depth guide, I‘ll share my picks for the top 12 streaming services to avoid in 2024, with a particular focus on Crackle and its parent company Samsung.
The State of Streaming: By the Numbers
Before we dive into the services to skip, let‘s set the stage with some key statistics:
- Global streaming subscriptions exceeded 1.3 billion in 2021 (Statista)
- The average U.S. household subscribes to 4.7 paid streaming services (Deloitte)
- Streaming accounted for 82% of U.S. TV viewing in 2022 (Nielsen)
- Netflix spent $17 billion on content in 2022, while Disney+ spent $11 billion (Variety)
Clearly, streaming has become the dominant mode of entertainment consumption – but not all services are sharing equally in this boom. In fact, many platforms are struggling to attract and retain subscribers in the face of fierce competition and rising costs.
Why Crackle Tops the "Do Not Stream" List
Exhibit A in the case against subpar streaming services is Crackle. Acquired by Samsung in 2018 from Sony, this platform has consistently underwhelmed on nearly every front.
Let‘s start with the content. Crackle‘s library is a hodgepodge of mostly older movies and TV shows, with little in the way of must-see exclusives. According to Reelgood, Crackle‘s library included just 1,564 titles as of Q1 2023 – compared to 7,000+ for Amazon Prime Video and nearly 6,000 for Netflix. And while competitors are spending billions on buzzy originals, Crackle‘s attempts at original programming have largely fizzled out.
Then there‘s the user experience. Crackle‘s apps are notoriously buggy and prone to buffering, with a clunky interface that makes finding something to watch a chore. A 2022 study by StreamingObs found that Crackle had the highest rate of buffering issues among major streaming services, with 0.76 buffering events per hour (compared to just 0.11 for Netflix).
Adding insult to injury, Crackle serves up frequent, repetitive ads even to paid subscribers of its "Plus" tier. While ad loads vary, studies have found that Crackle averages 7-10 minutes of commercials per hour – far more than most viewers are accustomed to in the age of ad-free Netflix and HBO.
All of this might be more forgivable if Crackle were a free service. But with a $5.99/month price tag for its "Plus" tier, it‘s hard to justify choosing Crackle over any number of superior options.
Samsung‘s Streaming Stumbles
Crackle‘s woes are emblematic of Samsung‘s larger struggles in the streaming space. Despite its pedigree as a tech giant, the company has had a series of misfires and disappointments:
- Samsung shut down its Milk Music streaming service in 2016 after less than two years
- Its Samsung TV Plus platform, which comes pre-installed on Samsung smart TVs, has gained little traction with users
- Samsung‘s Bixby voice assistant lags far behind competitors like Alexa and Google Assistant in the smart home space
While Samsung has the deep pockets to keep investing in streaming, it has yet to prove that it can build a compelling, user-friendly platform that resonates with consumers. With the company facing stiff competition in its core businesses of smartphones, TVs, and appliances, it may need to reevaluate whether streaming is really worth the effort.
Other Services That Fail to Impress
Crackle may be the worst of the bunch, but it‘s far from the only streaming service that fails to justify a subscription. Here are a few other platforms that I advise avoiding:
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Paramount+: Despite rebranding from CBS All Access and touting "a mountain of entertainment," Paramount+ has struggled to make a splash. Its library of 2,500+ movies and 30,000+ TV episodes sounds impressive, but much of it consists of older catalog titles rather than new, must-watch originals. And while Star Trek fans may enjoy exclusive access to new shows like Picard and Discovery, the service has had a harder time generating buzz and subscribers with its non-Trek offerings.
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Apple TV+: While Apple‘s streaming service has earned critical acclaim and awards for originals like Ted Lasso and CODA, it remains a niche player in the streaming wars. As of early 2023, it had just 25-40 million subscribers (estimates vary) – a fraction of Netflix‘s 230+ million. And with a library of just 120+ originals and no licensed back catalog, Apple TV+ simply can‘t match the robust lineups of its competitors. Unless you‘re a die-hard fan of its exclusive shows, it‘s hard to justify a standalone subscription.
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Discovery+: With the launch of Warner Bros. Discovery‘s combined streaming service (Max), the future of Discovery+ looks increasingly uncertain. Much of its programming – which skews heavily toward unscripted fare like reality shows and documentaries – is now available on Max, making a separate subscription redundant for most viewers. And while Discovery+ has its niche fans, it has struggled to generate the kind of breakout hits and subscriber growth that its parent company was hoping for.
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YouTube Premium: Google‘s paid streaming service offers a few perks over the free version of YouTube, including ad-free viewing, background playback, and access to the YouTube Music service. But at $11.99/month, it‘s a tough sell for anyone who isn‘t a diehard YouTube power user. Most of YouTube‘s vast library of user-generated content remains freely accessible, and many of its "originals" are little more than extended versions of videos from popular creators. Unless you absolutely can‘t stand ads, I‘d skip it.
The Pitfalls of Proliferation
The struggles of services like Crackle and Paramount+ point to a larger issue in the streaming industry: there are simply too many options, and not all of them can thrive. As of 2023, there are over 200 streaming services available in the U.S. alone – a number that has grown exponentially in recent years as media companies have rushed to launch their own platforms.
For consumers, this fragmentation has led to subscription fatigue and decision paralysis. A 2022 Nielsen study found that nearly half of U.S. consumers felt overwhelmed by the number of services and 64% wished there was a bundled video streaming service that would allow them to choose as few or as many videos as they wanted.
From a tech perspective, the proliferation of streaming apps also means more accounts to manage, more passwords to remember, and more devices to juggle. It‘s not uncommon for a single household to have half a dozen or more streaming subscriptions spread across multiple TVs, phones, tablets, and streaming devices. This complexity can lead to confusion, forgotten subscriptions, and wasted money.
The Future of Streaming
As the streaming wars continue to evolve, I believe we will see more consolidation and shake-out in the years ahead. With the high costs of content and the challenges of customer acquisition, many smaller and niche services will likely struggle to survive on their own. We may see more mergers and acquisitions, as well as the shuttering of underperforming platforms.
For services like Crackle, the path forward looks particularly challenging. Without a major overhaul of its content offerings and user experience, it‘s hard to see how it can compete with the likes of Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max. Samsung may need to cut its losses and re-allocate its streaming investments elsewhere.
At the same time, I believe there are still opportunities for innovation and disruption in the streaming space. Platforms that offer unique features, niche content, or compelling bundles may be able to carve out a sustainable position. We may also see the rise of more ad-supported and hybrid models as consumers seek out lower-cost options.
Ultimately, success in streaming will come down to providing real value and differentiation to users. Platforms that offer the best content, the most intuitive interfaces, and the most seamless viewing experiences will be the ones that thrive in the long run. Those that fail to adapt and innovate will risk joining the likes of Crackle in the streaming graveyard.