How I Watch My Favorite Shows and Films Once They’re Removed From Streaming
Due to complex licensing rights, streaming services regularly remove certain TV shows and movies from their services. However, whenever one of my favorite shows or movies is removed, I find ways to watch it using one of these four methods.
Find and stream on alternative streaming services
The first thing I do is check if the show or movie is still available on another platform. Currently, it is common for streaming services to pull their original titles from competing platforms and make them exclusive to their own streaming services. For example, Disney pulled all of its licensed content to third-party platforms like Netflix, but you can still watch it on Disney+ and Hulu.
So, whenever a title is removed from your existing streaming service, please check if it is available on another service. Various streaming services still offer free trials, so you can use that opportunity to find and watch your favorite titles without a full commitment.
Buy physical media from a physical or online store
The other alternative method I use to watch my favorite shows is to buy a DVD or Blu-ray. Although this technology may seem outdated to some, physical media is still a solid way to watch content. One of the reasons physical media is better than streaming is that you own your content.
Also, whenever a content is not available on a streaming service or older content is not available on a streaming platform, this may be the only sure way to watch it. You can buy physical media of your favorite shows and movies online, on mainstream platforms like Amazon and eBay, or physically at Walmart, Target, and similar places. There also exist some specialty stores and platforms that exclusively sell physical media, like Blu-ray.com, Criterion, and Arrow Video.
Buy or rent digitally
Let’s say I can’t find a title on a streaming platform or physical media. In that case, I look for options to rent or buy. Sometimes, when movies and TV shows are removed from streaming, they may still be available for individual purchase or rental. Plus, if you don’t have the appropriate devices to watch physical media (like a DVD or Blu-ray player), buying or renting digitally can be a convenient option.
Platforms like Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play let you buy movies and shows that you can watch on all your devices. If you prefer to rent, check out our list of the best places to rent movies online. Most of the listed platforms offer both options, so you can choose which option is best for you.
The only limitation is that buying or renting can be a little more expensive than streaming. But there are ways to find cheap movie rentals and discounts. Check reruns on cable TV As a last resort, I check reruns on cable TV when the previous methods aren’t viable. It may not be the best option, but it works for some older movies and TV shows. Many networks, especially those specializing in older shows or classic films, regularly air reruns of popular content. While it may not be as flexible as streaming, cable reruns are still a great option for finding content that has disappeared from digital platforms. There are many reasons why streaming services remove movies and TV shows from their platforms. Although I prefer streaming, as it gives me access to a lot of content for a small monthly fee, I am always willing to go the extra mile to watch my favorite content, even if it is taken from my current streaming service. So, if this happens to you, these four methods will ensure that you can still watch your favorite movies and TV shows.