Flixed Newsletter 1 - June.10/2019

Flixed Newsletter - Do Any Streaming Services Offer Refunds? Find out, and MORE!

June 10, 2019

Issue 29: June 10, 2019

Many cord-cutters have asked: Do streaming services offer refunds? We've laid out the somewhat depressing answer, with the fairly logical reason why.We also have a few key news highlights, including some early predictions on what services will survive the cord-cutting wars.Read on to find out more in this week's Stream Report.

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Cord-Cutting Tip of the Week:

Can I Get a Refund After I Cancel My Subscription?

Most streaming services now offer a free trial, which can range from 5 days (PlayStation Vue) to an entire month (Netflix). That free trial gives you a good opportunity to see whether a service is right for you, and you might even sign up after the free trial ends.

But what happens when you find the service is no longer to your liking, and you've already paid? Many cord-cutters often ask whether they can get a refund. Unfortunately, that's not how most streaming services work.

Do any services offer a refund?

Unfortunately, no streaming services offer a refund in most cases. That includes live TV streaming services like Hulu with Live TV, and on-demand video streaming services like Netflix. Even DAZN, which offers a yearlong subscription option for $99, won't provide a refund if you paid for a full year.

Why don't streaming services offer refunds?

This one is tough, but it comes down to maximizing profits. Many streaming services are currently operating on thin margins, or even at a loss.

, for example, had a Free Cash Flow of

negative

$2 billion in 2017, with a gross debt of around $4.8 billion. That's not to say the company isn't making bundles of cash. It earns nearly a billion dollars in revenue each month through subscription fees. But most of that money goes right out the door to pay for content, production, staffing, and debt.

For live TV streaming services, a similar situation is true, although much of the revenue goes toward paying content providers. Just last year, for example, popular service YouTube TV was

. Simply put, these services will reduce their financial losses wherever possible, and that includes having strict no-refund policies.

The good news: Most services offer free trials

The good news here is that every streaming service offers a free trial. Some users have even taken to signing up to the same services with different email accounts to get multiple free trials (we won't talk about the ethics on that one).

If you're unhappy with a service, you'll still be able to watch its content for the remainder of the paid-for period. Beyond that, you can sign up to another service using the free trial. From what we've seen, every streaming service offers a free trial, with the exception of DAZN US.

Popular service free trial periods:Sling TV:

7-day free trial

:

5-day free trial

7-day free trial

:

7-day free trial

7-day free trial (1 month free trial for regular Hulu)

7-day free trial

7-day free trial

No free trial

: 1-month free trial

: 7-day free trial

7-day free trial

This Week's Streaming Guide

1. The NBA Finals Continue This Week on ABC

The Toronto Raptors have surprised everyone this year by routing the Golden State Warriors heavily in the NBA Finals. Game 5 starts this MONDAY at 9. Will the Raptors pull out a victory and take the title?

is your lowest-cost entry point for ABC via streaming service apps, but you can also watch live through ESPN.com for free. -

2. Time to Catch Up on 'Chernobyl' on HBO

Everyone's talking about it. HBO's new hit mini-series

Chernobyl

came out of nowhere in the shadow of the

Game of Thrones

final season. You can watch this ground-breaking TV show through several streaming services that carry HBO, including

,

,

, or

. -

Streaming Deals

1. Get 40% Off Your Sling TV Subscription

Sling TV is still offering a heavy discount for new subscribers.

-

2. Sign Up For Sling, Get a Free Roku

is currently giving away a free Roku Express to all new subscribers who prepay for one month of service. -

3. Sign Up For Sling, Get a Free Indoor Antenna and Air TV Bundle

is currently giving away a free indoor antenna and an Air TV Bundle to all new subscribers who prepay for three months of service. -

4. Get $5 Off Your First Month of Philo

Use coupon code "R9RFWJVG" at checkout to get $5 off your

. -

News and Industry Developments

1. Early Predictions: YouTube TV and Hulu Live TV Will Win Streaming War

The number of streaming services on the market is currently more than what's likely sustainable in the long term, meaning some services are going to start folding within a few years. Now, Business Insider has placed its bets on YouTube TV and Hulu Live TV for a simple reason: bundling.-

2. The Golden Age of Cord-Cutting Is Over: Prices Are Going Up

Say goodbye to cheap cord-cutting. With but a few exceptions, prices are on the rise for cord-cutters, thanks to a few, key reasons.

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