Last updated on July 6th, 2026
Streaming services have come under attention lately not just for price hikes or content purges, but also for who owns them. Since Trump’s second term started last year, various media companies have clearly bent the knee to appease his administration.
Disney briefly removed Jimmy Kimmel from late night; Paramount has turned CBS News into a right-wing shell of its former self (with plans to do the same to CNN once the Warner Bros. merger is complete); the list of White House ballroom donors includes basically every major tech giant, plus a few media outlets like Comcast; even PBS shuttered its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) office to comply with Trump’s anti-DEI executive orders and avoid funding cuts (which didn’t work). Many recent media mergers and buyouts are also placing these companies under more conservative owners, such as the Ellisons and Paramount/Warner Bros., or the recent sale of Roku to the Murdoch family-owned Fox. And of course, the AI craze has led to widespread questionable choices, such as Netflix showing some interest in AI.
As such, many people are wondering what media/streaming options are left that aren’t directly giving money to Trump bootlickers, generative AI slop, or horrible greedy billionaires. While pretty much all major media conglomerates engage in some questionable practices, there are still some options that are excellent. With that in mind, below I’ve listed what I consider the best (or least terrible) streaming services and home video options for those boycotting or minimizing terrible media conglomerates.
Criteria
My criteria for the companies/services in question:
- Not directly supporting or complying with Trump.
- Not actively pursuing AI.
- Not engaged in greedy practices (mass content purges, constant price hikes, etc.).
- The owners aren’t openly hostile right-wingers or awful human beings. If there’s a popular TV dramedy that mocks parodies of your family, you’re definitely under here.
I skipped YouTube, as despite Google’s flaws, it’s also the de facto video upload platform, like it or not. I also skipped piracy, though it’d comply with the criteria above.
If there was a runner-up option, it’d include Netflix, as it’s the least terrible of the major mainstream streaming services: no news division to undermine; to my knowledge, it hasn’t donated to Trump’s ballroom, given him gold statues, canceled shows mocking Trump, or done other open bootlicking behavior; and its reliance on international/diverse programming like “Squid Game” and “KPop Demon Hunters” precludes its lineup going full MAGA. That said, Netflix’s flaws (AI, price hikes, etc.) left it off the list of options below.
The public library (Hoopla, Kanopy, borrow DVDs)
The public library’s one of the best options for media available. It’s free, and available for everyone to use. (Unless you’ve got a pile of overdue fees, though some libraries are starting to get rid of those.) Libraries also have DVDs and Blu-rays available, so you won’t miss out on the latest Disney, “Jurassic World,” or superhero films.
Hoopla and Kanopy are two free third-party streaming services that some public libraries offer. While the content isn’t as vast as what you’d find on Netflix, there’s still plenty of material available, and it’s ad-free.
I make regular use of my local library for DVDs, as well as Hoopla and Kanopy, though I almost entirely use Hoopla for digital comics/manga. Hoopla, as well as the library’s physical books, are one way to read superhero books without sending money to Warner Bros. (the owner of DC Comics) or Disney (the owner of Marvel). While it means “trade waiting” (or its digital equivalent for Hoopla), you’ll still get access to the usual metric ton of Batman and Batman-related products. There’s also knowing you aren’t paying the Ellisons (and supporting their destruction of CBS News/soon to also include CNN) just to get all things Gotham City related.
Again, one of the downsides of these media mergers is it makes these companies harder to boycott, thanks to the sheer volume of unrelated content they own. (“Don’t like CBS News or the ‘new and improved’ CNN? Fine, never see another HBO show, “Star Trek” episode, Scooby-Doo cartoon, or Superman movie ever again!”) Still, the library can be a big help.
Buy DVDs and Blu-rays
Buying used DVDs and Blu-rays is another option that doesn’t send money to billionaires, even if you’re a “Simpsons” or “Star Trek” fan. While this can be hit and miss, places such as yard sales, Goodwill stores, eBay are ways to buy used physical media. You’ll also get full ownership of the movies and TV shows in question; no need to worry about a studio somehow purging your copies of “Teen Titans” or Looney Tunes as a tax write-off. The discs also contain extras (interviews, directors’ commentaries, etc.).
Buying new DVDs and Blu-rays offers the same advantages as buying used copies. However, since this directly sends money to the DVD makers’ owners, buying, say, “Star Trek” or “SpongeBob” DVDs sends money to problematic companies like Paramount. That said, one could just buy Paramount (and also Warner Bros. post-merger) DVDs/Blu-rays used or get them from the library, and buy other studios’ DVDs/Blu-rays new.
I’ve bought some DVDs at the above sources, most recently “Shrek” and “Will & Grace” season one at a garage sale for a total of $5.
Niche streaming services
Smaller and niche streaming services are a good way to get media and without supporting a questionable media conglomerate. One such popular service is Dropout, a comedy-focused streaming service.
Independent creators
Of course, supporting independent creators in any format (video, music, books, online content, etc.) is an excellent idea. The current rise of independent animation outlets like Glitch isn’t going unnoticed.
Run a Jellyfin media server
Running a Jellyfin media server is a way to get all the advantages of Netflix, Disney+, and other streaming services, but without paying a monthly subscription. Warner Bros./HBO Max antics is what led me to set up a media server and start buying DVDs/Blu-rays again.
I specifically note Jellyfin, as it’s free and open source. Plex is a decent and easy to use media server, but it’s also aggressively paywalling features, plus its recent hefty lifetime pass price hike. I’d consider Plex if you need to share media with family and friends outside your home, as it’s easier than Jellyfin to set up for that (though third-party sources such as Tailscale can help Jellyfin here).
Of course, given that the AI gold rush has driven up the price of PCs and computer parts (especially hard drives), this self-hosting option might not be feasible, even if one has tech skills.
PBS (including PBS Kids and PBS Passport)
PBS is still an excellent source of noncommercial media. “PBS News Hour” also is the polar opposite of CBS News. That said, again I note PBS closed its DEI office in an attempt to appease Trump and save its federal funding. Which, as noted before, didn’t work, as anyone who’s ever dealt with bullies would know.
PBS Kids offers excellent free and noncommercial kids’ programming, and places a focus on diversity and educational content. You’ll find no “Cocomelon”-like slop here, shows just meant to sell toys, or shows with lead characters who hate reading/school. On the adult programming side, my local affiliate’s one of the few who still air classic “Doctor Who” episodes, even promoting such in its pledge drives!
PBS Passport is PBS’ own streaming service. For a $5 a month or $60 a year minimum donation to your local PBS affiliate, you’ll get access to a large back catalog of programming. The money also supports said affiliate, who (especially after federal funding cuts) needs the money much more than Disney+, HBO Max, or Peacock does.
Conclusion
While the above options aren’t all perfect (and some aren’t completely ideologically pure), they do help minimize one’s money directly going toward problematic media conglomerates.
Photo by Michael Hicks. (Flickr / CC BY / cropped from original)
