As someone who used to be a massive fan of streaming services, mainly because of the convenience, I’ve slowly noticed how they actually work and it feels like we are getting ripped off.
At first, streaming services felt like the future. We had so many of our favourite titles in one place, our homes didn’t need to be cluttered with discs. I use these platforms, but I’ve realised something.
We don’t actually own anything anymore.
The moment is really clicked
Here’s a prime example of what I hate about streaming services.
Today (27th March 2026), I woke up to find that The Big Bang Theory has disappeared from DisneyPlus.
It’s one of my favourite TV shows and streaming it is a really convenient way of watching. I was half way through season five when I found out that it’s been removed from DisneyPlus. I’m guessing it’s gone to HBO Max but as I don’t have a subscription to that streaming platform, I don’t know for sure.
This is the reality of streaming. You’re completely at the mercy of licensing deals and platform decisions that we have no control over.
It doesn’t matter that you’re in the middle of a TV show or that you pay your monthly/annual subscription.
Streaming is renting, not owning
A while back I published a blog post about why I’ve fallen back in love with physical media, and this is one of the biggest reasons I’ve started buying physical media again and I only buy them second hand.
We’ve shifted from owning our media to renting it, and so many of us didn’t even notice it happening.
With DVDs (or physical media in general), once you’ve bought it, it’s yours. You can watch it whenever you want, however many times you want, without worrying about it being removed.
With streaming services:
- Content gets rotated constantly
- TV shows and movies move between platforms
- You need multiple subscriptions just to keep up
- And, the icing on the cake, you need to pay EXTRA to avoid adverts!
Why I’ve gone back to physical media
This is one of the biggest reasons I’ve started buying DVDs again, but I only buy them second hand.
It’s cheaper, more sustainable, and most importantly, it puts me back in control.
One the of the shows I’ve been trying to get was The Big Bang Theory and I’ve managed to get seasons one to six secondhand so far. I know it will take me a while but it’s better than being disappointed by streaming services.
This is how much it has cost me so far to buy The Big Bang Theory seasons one to six second hand totalling £5.20
The Big Bang Theory Season 1 – £1
The Big Bang Theory Season 2 – £1
The Big Bang Theory Season 3 – £1
The Big Bang Theory Season 4 – 50p
The Big Bang Theory Season 5 – £1.50
The Big Bang Theory Season 6 – 20p
I’ll keep looking for the rest but in the meantime, these are my physical copy and no one can take them away from me.
I’m so glad I never got rid of my Friends Boxsets or The West Wing.
The Environmental Side (Why This Matters Even More)
As someone who is eco-conscious, buying secondhand physical media makes a lot of sense. You’re buying something that already exists. No new production, not extra packaging.
It’s a small shift but a meaningful one.
Also, it’s way cheaper than buying brand new.
Final Thoughts
Streaming services sold us convenience, but at the cost of ownership, control, and increasingly, value.
Losing access to The Big Bang Theory halfway through a season might seem like a small thing, but it highlights a much bigger issue:
We’re paying for access, not ownership and that access can disappear at any time.
For me, that’s reason enough to go back to physical media and if anything, it’s made me more determined to keep buying physical media secondhand.
I post a bit about secondhand media on my TikTok account, it would be great if you could follow me.
