When did watching television become more expensive than your grocery bill?
For many Australian seniors, that tipping point has quietly arrived with one of the most popular streaming services right now.
Apple TV+—which first launched back in 2019 at just $7.99 a month—has now announced its latest price jump from $12.99 to $15.99 per month.
The increase officially takes effect on October 11, 2025, with existing subscribers seeing the change 30 days after their next renewal date. That’s earlier than many expected, after reports initially suggested the hike would roll out later in the year.
This isn't just about one streaming service raising prices. According to Canstar research, the average Australian household now pays $41 per month on streaming services, which adds up to nearly $500 annually. What's particularly striking is that those aged 50-59 are actually the biggest spenders, forking out $43 per month on average.
For seniors on fixed incomes, every dollar counts, and the streaming landscape has become a minefield of mounting monthly costs.
The streaming subscription spiral
The numbers are sobering when you add them all up. If you subscribed to every major streaming service in Australia at their basic rates, you'd be paying around $92 every month—or $143 for premium tiers.
That's more than many people spend on electricity. In fact, Australians now have access to more than a dozen global and local streaming platforms, with prices ranging anywhere from $7.99 to $40 a month.
'The biggest spenders are those aged 50-59, forking out $43 per month'
Netflix started the price-hiking trend just last month, pushing their standard ad-free plan from $18.99 to $20.99 per month, while their premium tier now costs $28.99.
Their ad-supported plan also jumped from $7.99 to $9.99. Spotify followed suit, increasing individual plans from $13.99 to $15.99, while student, duo, and family tiers rose to $7.99, $22.99, and $27.99 respectively. Now Apple TV+ has joined the party with its own $3 monthly increase.
With this latest hike, Apple TV+ now sits above the average cost of a streaming subscription at $14.77 per month, a significant shift from its position as a mid-range option.
Why Apple TV+ might still be worth considering
Before you write off Apple TV+ entirely, here's something the other services won't tell you: switching to an annual subscription can save you $31.89 per year. At $129 annually, that works out to just $10.75 per month—actually cheaper than the old monthly rate.
An Apple spokesperson noted: 'The annual subscription price remains unchanged, as does pricing for Apple One, which is the easiest way to enjoy all of Apple's subscription services in one plan at the best value.'
Annual vs Monthly: The Apple TV+ calculation
Monthly subscription: $15.99 x 12 = $191.88 per year
Annual subscription: $129 per year
Your savings: $62.88 annually
Apple serves up high-quality originals, focusing on quality over quantity, with new shows and movies added every Wednesday and Friday. For seniors who prefer fewer, better programs rather than endless scrolling through mediocre content, this approach can actually represent better value.
Popular shows with mature audiences include The Morning Show, Ted Lasso, Slow Horses, and Severance, plus the platform offers ad-free viewing as standard.
Smart streaming strategies for seniors
Living on a fixed income doesn't mean giving up quality entertainment. Here are practical ways to keep your streaming costs under control:
Rotate your subscriptions: Consider cancelling subscriptions for periods when you're not using them, or sharing account logins with friends and family. Subscribe to one service, binge-watch what you want, then switch to another.
Choose annual over monthly: Many services offer significant discounts for annual payments. If you're committed to a service, this can save hundreds of dollars over time.
Bundle smartly: Apple TV+ is included in Apple One subscriptions for $24.95 per month, which also includes Apple Music, iCloud, and Apple Arcade. If you use multiple Apple services, bundling could save money.
Senior-friendly streaming budget tips
- Set a monthly entertainment limit and stick to it
- Use free trials strategically to test services before committing
- Check if your internet provider offers streaming bundles
- Don't forget free options like ABC iView, SBS On Demand, and 7plus
- Consider sharing family plans with adult children or trusted friends
Leverage free alternatives: The five free-to-air broadcasters offer catch-up services and decent back catalogues at no charge. These often include quality Australian content and classic shows perfect for mature viewers.
The bigger picture on entertainment spending
Financial experts recommend regularly reviewing and cancelling streaming services, gym memberships, and other subscription services you no longer use or don't really need.
This advice hits home when you consider that many Australians are now spending more on streaming than they realise. The subscription creep is real. What started as 'just Netflix' for many households has expanded into multiple services, each justified individually but collectively creating a significant monthly expense.
Did you know?
Did you know?
While seniors aged 18-29 spend the least on streaming at $37 per month, those in their 50s spend $43 monthly—the highest of any age group. This suggests that as we get older and have more discretionary time for entertainment, we're willing to pay more for quality content.
Making the most of your entertainment dollar
For those considering Apple TV+, the annual subscription represents genuine value if you plan to stick with it. Apple TV+ takes a quality over quantity approach to streaming, with a smaller number of high-quality, award-winning shows and movies. Unlike other streaming giants, Apple TV+ has a modest library composed almost exclusively of high-budget, star-studded originals, quickly building a reputation for award-winning television.
This could be perfect for seniors who prefer depth over breadth—fewer choices, but better quality content that's worth your time and money.
The key is being intentional about your choices rather than letting subscriptions accumulate by default. Set a monthly entertainment budget, just as you would for groceries or utilities, and make conscious decisions about what represents value for your viewing habits and financial situation.
Remember, there's no shame in cutting back. You don't have to overhaul your life to achieve a financial reset—just a few changes can help you save more, spend smarter, and feel confident about your finances.
What's your approach to managing streaming costs? Have you found clever ways to get quality entertainment without breaking the budget? Share your money-saving strategies in the comments below—your fellow readers would love to learn from your experience.
Original Article
https://www.9news.com.au/national/a...ase-cost/91830df8-3a0b-4754-9776-1299454fb9c3
Apple TV Plus prices in Australia: monthly plans, bundles and more in 2025 | Tom's Guide
Cited text: It used to offer a mid-range cost, but with an August 2025 price hike, it's now AU$15.99p/m and AU$159.99 per year for a standard, ad-free plan.
Excerpt: Apple TV+'s latest price jump from $12.99 to $15.99 per month
https://www.tomsguide.com/reference/apple-tv-plus-price-australia
Streaming service prices in Australia 2025: Netflix, Binge, Stan, Disney Plus and more compared | Tom's Guide
Cited text: The plan increased by AU$3 once again in August 2025, now totalling AU$15.99 p/m.
Excerpt: Apple TV+'s latest price jump from $12.99 to $15.99 per month
https://www.tomsguide.com/news/stre...flix-binge-stan-disney-plus-and-more-compared
Cost of streaming services in Australia 2025 | Canstar
Cited text: According to Canstar research, the average Australian household pays $41 per month on streaming services, which equates to $492 per year.
Excerpt: According to Canstar research, the average Australian household now pays $41 per month on streaming services
https://www.canstar.com.au/streaming/streaming-services-cost/
Cost of streaming services in Australia 2025 | Canstar
Cited text: The biggest spenders are those aged 50-59, forking out $43 per month.
Excerpt: those aged 50-59 are actually the biggest spenders, forking out $43 per month
https://www.canstar.com.au/streaming/streaming-services-cost/
How much is streaming costing you? Ultimate Australian price guide 2025 (including Max) | ScreenHub Australia—Film & Television Jobs, News, Reviews & Screen Industry Data
Cited text: If you subscribed to every service above at a monthly rate, on each streamer’s most basic offering, you’d be paying around $92 every month, and $1104 ...
Excerpt: If you subscribed to every major streaming service in Australia at their basic rates, you'd be paying around $92 every month—or $143 for premium tiers
https://www.screenhub.com.au/news/f...ultimate-australian-price-guide-2025-2663235/
Apple TV Plus prices in Australia: monthly plans, bundles and more in 2025 | Tom's Guide
Cited text: It used to offer a mid-range cost, but with an August 2025 price hike, it's now AU$15.99p/m and AU$159.99 per year for a standard, ad-free plan. When ...
Excerpt: With this latest hike, Apple TV+ now sits above the average cost of a streaming subscription at $14.77 per month
https://www.tomsguide.com/reference/apple-tv-plus-price-australia
Apple TV Plus prices in Australia: monthly plans, bundles and more in 2025 | Tom's Guide
Cited text: Meanwhile, switching to an annual sub can save you AU$31.89 per year — which leaves you a little wiggle room if you decide to rent or buy iTunes conte...
Excerpt: switching to an annual subscription can save you $31.89 per year
https://www.tomsguide.com/reference/apple-tv-plus-price-australia
Apple TV Plus prices in Australia: monthly plans, bundles and more in 2025 | Tom's Guide
Cited text: While its content library is not as extensive as its competitors, Apple serves subscribers a platter of high-quality originals, very much focusing on ...
Excerpt: Apple serves up high-quality originals, focusing on quality over quantity, with new shows and movies added every Wednesday and Friday
https://www.tomsguide.com/reference/apple-tv-plus-price-australia
Enjoy Apple TV+ for free the first weekend of 2025—Apple TV+ Press (AU)
Cited text: Kick off 2025 by streaming Apple’s acclaimed originals, including buzzy new seasons of “Silo,” “Shrinking” and “Bad Sisters,” the twisty, riveting “Pr...
Excerpt: 'The Morning Show,' 'Ted Lasso,' 'Slow Horses,' and 'Severance,'
https://www.apple.com/au/tv-pr/news...s-pass-to-apple-tv-the-first-weekend-of-2025/
Cost of streaming services in Australia 2025 | Canstar
Cited text: However, if you find yourself favouring one, consider cancelling your other subscriptions for a period or sharing account logins with friends and fami...
Excerpt: Consider cancelling subscriptions for periods when you're not using them, or sharing account logins with friends and family
https://www.canstar.com.au/streaming/streaming-services-cost/
Cost of streaming services in Australia 2025 | Canstar
Cited text: However, you can also access Apple TV+ with an Apple One subscription for $24.95 per month, which also comes with other services like iCloud, Apple Mu...
Excerpt: Apple TV+ is included in Apple One subscriptions for $24.95 per month, which also includes Apple Music, iCloud, and Apple Arcade
https://www.canstar.com.au/streaming/streaming-services-cost/
Selecting the best streaming services | Australian Seniors
Cited text: · “Use free trials to look at the libraries and weigh up which services you want to keep, and which you’ll just use sporadically—this helps determin...
Excerpt: The five free-to-air broadcasters offer catch-up services and decent back catalogues at no charge
https://www.seniors.com.au/home-contents-insurance/discover/selecting-best-streaming-services
Simple tips to save money—National Seniors Australia
Cited text: Review subscriptions. Cancel those streaming services, gym memberships, and other subscription services that you no longer use or don't really need.
Excerpt: Financial experts recommend regularly reviewing and cancelling streaming services, gym memberships, and other subscription services you no longer use or don't really need
https://nationalseniors.com.au/news/finance/simple-tips-to-save-money
Cost of streaming services in Australia 2025 | Canstar
Cited text: Apple TV+ takes a quality over quantity approach to streaming, with a smaller number of high-quality, award-winning shows and movies to choose from.
Excerpt: Apple TV+ takes a quality over quantity approach to streaming, with a smaller number of high-quality, award-winning shows and movies
https://www.canstar.com.au/streaming/streaming-services-cost/
Guide To Streaming Services In Australia | Canstar
Cited text: Unlike other streaming giants, Apple TV+ has a modest library composed almost exclusively of high-budget, star-studded originals. From global sensatio...
Excerpt: Unlike other streaming giants, Apple TV+ has a modest library composed almost exclusively of high-budget, star-studded originals, quickly building a reputation for award-winning television
https://www.canstar.com.au/streaming/streaming-services-australia/
News: Strategies to kickstart a financial reset in 2025—Moneysmart.gov.au
Cited text: You don’t have to overhaul your life to achieve a financial reset. Just a few changes can help you save more, spend smarter, and feel confident about ...
Excerpt: You don't have to overhaul your life to achieve a financial reset—just a few changes can help you save more, spend smarter, and feel confident about your finances
https://moneysmart.gov.au/media-centre/news-strategies-to-kickstart-a-financial-reset-in-2025
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