Ever found yourself scrolling endlessly through multiple streaming apps, trying to remember which platform has the next episode of your favorite TV show? For most viewers today, keeping track of where to watch is a constant hassle. You end up juggling logins, paying for several subscriptions just to follow one story, and still sometimes missing out because a season or movie is locked behind yet another service.
It's a frustrating reality that's become all too common, and it's making it harder than ever to just sit back and enjoy the shows you love. I'll use Pokémon as the most egregious example of such a problem where episodes and seasons are split across Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and more.
The Pokémon Streaming Puzzle
Let's break it down. In the US, to watch every season of the Pokémon anime legally, you'll need:
- Netflix: For season 1 and seasons 23–25 (and Pokémon Horizons, depending on your region).
- Amazon Prime: For seasons 3–9 and 17–19 (included with Prime membership).
- Amazon Prime Add-on: For seasons 2, 10–16, and 20–22 (requires an extra monthly fee).
- Hulu: For some overlapping seasons (14–16, 20–22).
- Roku: For seasons 20–22.
- Tubi: For seasons 14–16 (free, but ad-supported).
- Hoopla: For seasons 6–13 (free with a library card).
And that's just the mainline anime—movies and spinoffs are often on different platforms entirely. The situation is just as confusing in the UK, with content split between BBC iPlayer, POP, Sky Kids, and Netflix.
The Cost of Convenience (Or Lack Thereof)
How much would it cost to subscribe to all the necessary services just to watch Pokémon? That's nearly $60 per month—just to watch Pokémon. And you're still dealing with ads in some cases, plus the hassle of juggling multiple logins and interfaces.
Why Fragmentation Drives Fans to Piracy
This kind of fragmentation isn't unique to Pokémon, but it's a perfect example of how bad things have gotten. When you need half a dozen subscriptions to watch one show, it's no wonder fans get frustrated. According to recent surveys, nearly half of all viewers find it hard to know which shows are on which services, and 40% say they have too many subscriptions.
When the legal experience is this inconvenient, piracy becomes more attractive. Why pay for multiple services and deal with ads, missing seasons, and confusing interfaces when a single illegal site has everything in one place? This isn't just a theory—studies show that as streaming services multiply, piracy rates go up.
The Music Industry Lesson
There's a better way. Look at the music industry. Fifteen years ago, piracy was rampant (remember Napster, Limewire, KaaZaa?). Then services like Spotify and Apple Music came along, offering almost every song in one place for a single subscription. Suddenly, piracy plummeted—because legal access was easier and more convenient than illegal downloads.
The video streaming industry could learn from this. If all (or even most) of your favourite TV shows (like Pokémon) and movies were available in one place—or at least if all streaming services offered more or less the same content—fans would be much more willing to pay. Instead, we're stuck in a world where exclusivity and licensing deals make it nearly impossible to watch your favourite shows legally.
The Path Forward
The solution is simple: consolidation and bundling. Imagine a single subscription that gives you access to all entertainment content, or at least a way to watch everything without jumping through hoops. Some platforms are starting to experiment with bundling, but we're not there yet.
Key Takeaway
The music industry solved piracy by making legal access easier and more convenient than illegal downloads. The streaming video industry could learn from this approach by prioritizing user convenience over exclusive content wars.
Until then, Pokémon fans (and fans of many other shows) are left with a choice: pay a small fortune and deal with a headache, or turn to piracy. It's not a good choice—but it's the one the industry has forced on us.
Final Thoughts
As nerds and content consumers, we know the value of convenience and accessibility. We're willing to pay for content when it's easy to find and use. Pokémon's streaming mess is a perfect example of how the industry is failing its audience. If the music industry could fix its piracy problem by making legal access easier, why can't streaming do the same?
The answer is out there. It's time for streaming services to stop fighting each other and start working together—before more fans decide that piracy is the only way to watch what they love.
Disclaimer: I do not condone piracy. The opinions expressed in this article are solely mine and do not reflect the official stance of any streaming service or content provider.