While Netflix still cost less than €8 per month in 2014, the standard subscription today amounts to almost €22. And according to a study conducted by Spliiitrelayed by The Digitals And RMCthis inflation is only the beginning. By 2030, a French household could spend up to €230 per month for its digital services, compared to around €50 currently.
This figure includes video on demand (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, etc.), music streaming (Spotify, Deezer), AI services (ChatGPT), online press and productivity software such as Microsoft 365 or Google Drive. “We are looking at an increase of around 10 to 15% per year,” warns Marcelo Martins, spokesperson for Spliiit. “Netflix cost 12 euros a few years ago. Today, it’s 22 euros.”
A mature streaming market
For a decade, platforms have offered attractive prices to attract as many users as possible. This era of conquest is over. According to Maxime Guényguest media journalist on RMC, the platforms are entering into a logic of profitability. “Adding up three or four subscriptions now costs as much, if not more, than a traditional cable TV subscription a few years ago,” he explains. “Streaming is no longer a good plan, it has become a budget.”
A digital social divide in formation
These increases directly affect the poorest households and students. Lyna, a student, confides to RMC: “ChatGPT costs me €25 per month. With the rest, I’m already at €50. And it increases every year.” In addition to restricting access to culture and information, these paid subscriptions risk creating unequal access to tools that have become essential, including in the world of work.
Alternatives to limit the damage
Faced with this observation, several solutions emerge. THE co-subscriptionvia platforms like Spliiit Or Sharesuballows costs to be divided between several users legally. Another option: turn to offers free and legalsuch as France.tv, Arte, M6+ or even YouTube, which offer a substantial catalog at no cost. “These subscriptions have transformed over time into mini consumer credits,” underlines a Numériques columnist. “They profoundly transform household budgets.”
Conclusion
In less than 15 years, what promised to be an entertainment revolution has transformed into budgetary weight. With a digital basket estimated at €2,760 per year by 2030, the question ofequitable access to digital culture becomes urgent. Without regulation, the divide will only widen.