This column was penned by OPL's Executive Director Laura Marlane and appeared in the Jan. 18, 2026, edition of the Omaha World-Herald (NE). It is also available at Omaha.com (opens in a new tab).
Having trouble seeing a certain movie or TV show? The Omaha Public Library can help
Streaming services can make watching your favorite shows complicated and costly. Libraries offer a simple, reliable alternative.
Once upon a time, streaming services promised simple, affordable access to endless entertainment. Today, figuring out how to watch a single movie or television show can require multiple subscriptions, a flexible budget, patience and research skills most viewers never expected to need. What was marketed as convenience has quietly become complexity, as audiences struggle not only with what to watch, but also where to find it and whether it requires an extra fee despite an existing subscription.
One show that has served as a comfort watch for an entire generation is “The Office.” After years on Netflix, the series was removed — not because demand had waned, but because it became exclusive to NBC’s Peacock streaming service. Its popularity did not change; only its availability did. This kind of artificial scarcity has become a defining feature of the modern streaming economy. “The Office” is hardly an outlier — other hits like “Friends” and “Yellowstone” have followed similarly circuitous paths across streaming platforms. Even some of the most popular film franchises aren’t immune. Fans of “Harry Potter” have had to hop between platforms over the years, chasing the series from one streaming service to another, proving that popularity alone doesn’t guarantee access.
In 2020, Apple TV+ became the exclusive streaming home for the entire classic Peanuts library. If you’re nostalgic for “The Great Pumpkin" or "A Charlie Brown Christmas,” you can only find them there until the contract expires in 2030. Those who purchased the DVDs, however, are unaffected. Even timeless films like “The Wizard of Oz,” once shown on broadcast television every year around Easter, are now subject to the whims of licensing agreements and streaming exclusivity.
Even subscribing to several major streaming platforms doesn’t guarantee the movie you want will be available. Take the 1990 film “White Palace," starring James Spader and Susan Sarandon — you can rent or buy a digital copy, but it isn’t included with any subscription. Recent theatrical releases, like “Wicked: For Good,” are also only available for an additional fee and won’t appear on subscription services until their popularity wanes. For many households, subscribing to multiple streaming platforms can quickly cost $50 to $70 or more per month — an expense that only increases if the desired film or show is hidden behind yet another paywall.
I once spent nearly an hour searching for a copy of “White Palace” across multiple streaming services, only to realize my old DVD copy was sitting on my shelf all along. It was a reminder that sometimes, owning a physical copy — or borrowing it from a library — is simply easier. Libraries don’t just provide stability — they help viewers discover hidden gems and classics they might otherwise miss, offering access to films that streaming algorithms often overlook.
This unpredictability highlights the enduring value of physical media and the role of libraries.
DVDs and Blu-rays don’t disappear due to licensing shuffles, and libraries provide stable, free access to films both old and new. Whether it’s a beloved classic like “The Wizard of Oz" or a title like “White Palace,” patrons can enjoy these works without worrying about subscription changes, paywalls, or disappearing streaming windows. In a world where shows bounce from one streaming service to another, holiday classics are locked behind exclusive subscriptions, and even recent films can vanish from the platforms we pay for, the convenience of “everything at your fingertips” often feels more like a mirage. Libraries remain a simple, dependable gateway to stories — whether revisiting a childhood favorite or discovering something new — proving that sometimes, the best way to watch is the way that doesn’t disappear when a contract expires.
Note: All the titles I mentioned are available at the Omaha Public Library. "Wicked: For Good” is currently on order as it’s a very recent release.
About Omaha Public Library
Omaha Public Library (OPL) strengthens our communities by connecting people with ideas, information, and innovative services, acting as an essential catalyst, collaborator, and connector. Learn about OPL's collections, facilities, services, programs and more at omahalibrary.org.
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