What original content did those two services offer? I never used them.
I know you prefer your physical format but it is in the decline. Much like vinyl LPs, it will still be around for enthusiasts such as yourself. Most consumers prefer the convenience of streaming and that will just continue to grow.
As for Netflix being in debt, you don't seem to understand they are investing in the future. If they scaled back on their innovation and original content they could probably make a short term profit to the detriment of the their longevity. Amazon turned their first profit within the last two years.
Why did they lose Disney? Is it because Disney sees no future in streaming and going exclusively to outdated optical disc technology? .... No. They are starting their own streaming service.
(Worth noting is the Netflix/Disney deal has only been in place for about a year. Netflix growth was doing just fine before. They are also in negotiations to keep Star Wars and Marvel. We'll see how that goes.)
Let's also not forget that Netflix started a mail order disc rental service. Streaming was added as secondary option before the proliferation of set boxes (roku, Apple TV, etc), multi-media gaming systems, or smart tvs gave easy access to Netflix streaming via their TV. As time passed the consumers pushed Netflix into the focus on streaming. Now disc rental is their secondary business.
this thing is evolving, and it will evolve faster once a lot of contracts come due...some folks are going to start to have to make decisions.
the only thing that worries me is that services like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Sling etc....could become somewhat obsolete once all of these "channels" start to have the ability to sell their programming as a stand alone app.
CBS has already started as a major broadcast network with it's CBS all access for a fee...and it's free over the air TV...but you want to stream...pay me.
all of these other stand alone apps you can down load and use right now with a sign in thru a recognized cable/statellite provider....internet services like sling are not recognized and you can't use those apps for live TV or "premium" programming.
eventually, i could see it playing out where you have to pay for TNT, AMC, TBS, A&E, ABC etc....as a true a la carte TV package. and at that point would cord cutting really be less expensive...especially if those providers figure they can do better revenue wise by reducing access thru services like sling.
either way, i think the pie is just going to have a whole lot more pieces to it, and not everyone is going to be able to survive...
the big boys will want to have as many revenue streams as possible...but if you're Disney (with all it's affiliates...ABC, ESPN, Marvel etc...) you control the supply, if the demand remains high, do you really care to cut out a middle man or two?
definitely going to be interesting. i've recently cut the cord, and like it a lot. saving a ton of money, and lost virtually zero content.
but i can see where streaming could get real expensive, real fast....eventually.