Progress Report on Duplicate Streaming Overlap
Two streaming services retained primarily for one program each have survived another billing cycle pending a review that requires more certainty than either service has yet provided.
Progress Report: Duplicate Streaming Overlap Reporting Period: January 15 through February 27, 2023 Status: No Change
Executive Summary
Duplicate streaming overlap persists. Both services under review remain active. Both services are billed monthly. The combined cost of retaining both exceeds the cost of the one program on each service that constitutes the primary use case for that service. This arithmetic has been performed twice and confirmed. It has not produced a cancellation.
Background
Service A is retained primarily for one serialized drama. The drama has three seasons, two of which have been watched. The third season is currently airing. The service carries additional content, some of which the household has discussed watching. None of that content has been watched.
Service B is retained primarily for one documentary series, which the household considers important to finish. Progress on the documentary series: five of twelve episodes. The last episode watched was in October.
Current Progress Against Prior Period Targets
The target set in the December review was: cancel whichever service is less essential by February. Both services remain subscribed. The target was not met.
The service feels optional each day while billing treats it as permanent.
Factors Contributing to Non-Progress
The cancellation of Service B requires navigating a screen that offers a discounted rate. The discounted rate requires evaluation against the full rate. This evaluation has not been performed. Additionally, Service B contains the documentary series, which the household still intends to finish, making cancellation feel premature.
The cancellation of Service A would strand the third season of the drama mid-airing. This is the primary blocker for Service A.
Duplicate streaming overlap survives one more billing cycle. The household begins planning around its continued existence. A temporary service gains permanent budget status not through any formal decision but through the sustained absence of the decision to cancel it.
Recommended Next Steps
The December recommendation remains in effect: cancel whichever service is less essential. Progress on this recommendation: no change.
Next progress report due: March.