Where streaming started
Digital streaming changed how audiences consumed films and television shows when platforms like Netflix began offering viewers a wealth of cinematic content from the comfort of their homes. The platforms offered classic films and shows and original content that captured audiences’ hearts. Netflix online streaming began in January 2007 but before that, the platform was an on-demand DVD service. Although the now-streaming service began as a mail-order DVD business, its original content like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black catapulted audiences’ screens and locked in a loyal subscriber base from then on.
Where is streaming currently?
Netflix may have started the digital trend but plenty of other brands have taken on the pioneer brand to compete with their catalogue. Brands such as Hulu, Max, Disney+, Peacock, Paramount Plus and other sites have created strong platforms to compete with Netflix and have successfully built a subscriber base by producing content catered to their brands. Hulu works with cable television channel ABC and Paramount is cable channel, CBS, streaming service plan.
These sites are strong contenders at primetime awards shows like Oscars and Emmy’s. Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White of Hulu’s “The Bear” leading actors have swept awards season in 2024, much like the cast of Succession during its four-season run from 2019 to 2023.
Users of these streaming services have complained about the rising costs of these platforms despite the content that keeps them subscribed. To keep up with competitors, streaming platforms produce content they think audiences will like. But it comes with a hefty price tag. Participating in this streaming battle has increasingly become more expensive and so have subscription costs. Netflix, Disney+, ESPN Plus and more have all raised the costs of their subscription plans many times since launching. Many started using entertainment subscriptions to replace cable TV costs. Now? If you have two or three services with the ad-free model, your bill can get to the same price as cable TV.
Where is streaming headed?
Digital streaming has been rapidly evolving, with advancements in technology and content delivery systems leading to improvements in streaming quality, user interfaces and personalized recommendations. Is this enough to keep current subscribers and bring in new ones? According to Antenna, 2023 streaming cancellations increased by 36.2 million over 2022 and the number of new subscribers is just behind that. Platforms are becoming stricter on password sharing, buying and selling content from one another, combining platforms, canceling shows and changing how users consume content similar to the weekly release like cable. They are beginning to stream live events and support gaming storytelling. We watched Netflix rise and now we see the benefits of streaming accessibility and the variety of choices.
The evolution of streaming has made it so that a strong Wi-Fi connection is vital. With the rising number of streaming services and the bandwidth needed to support them on smart devices, the strength of your Wi-Fi connection and the speed level is more important than ever. To find out what Internet options from Great Plains Communications you need and are available to service your home, click here.