Balkaners, what subscriptions do you pay for?

We live in the days when the subscription model is the norm. Now everything is subscription. In the past, for instance, you could buy an Adobe Photoshop license, and it's done; the software is yours. Now, you have to commit to yearly subscriptions, and if you cancel it, you're going to get fleeced and lose access to the program. Most companies prioritize one- or two-year subscriptions so they can tie you. If they have per-month subscriptions that you can cancel anytime without a fee, they make it way more expensive.

One thing that's annoying, IMHO. Lest say you want to watch one particular thing and you don't care for the other content in the platform; you still have to pay the full package. There are some exceptions, of course. For example, one of our sports channels/streaming platforms here, Diema Xtra, allows you to pay to watch a specific event, like a game in the Premier League.

Of course, I guess piracy is very widespread in the Balkans. We Bulgarians love our Zamunda. Authorities tried to shut it down many times, but without success. There is a joke running that if they close Zamunda, there would be riots on the streets.

But in the recent years here, subscriptions like HBO Max got more popular because they are now included in mobile operators' plans.

One of the things that I pay for is Storytel. Platform for listening to audiobooks. It has a decent catalogue with books in Bulgarian. And they are read by professional voice actors with clear articulation, so it's very nice to listen to them. They also have books in English. But then again, you can't buy individual books, and you lose access if you stop your subscription.