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Streaming services have changed the game in the TV industry. Many have been quick to declare the demise of the TV, but what has really changed is the way content is delivered and consumed. People around the world are flocking to the new digital frontier, cutting the cable and bidding farewell to overpriced bundles. Service providers like Netflix are rubbing their hands, feeling the strong wind in their sails.
Coming into sight
The progress of TV technology has been spectacular thus far. We have come a long way from clunky black-and-white devices to the ultra HD displays. Today, one can watch TV content via smartphone, and the only thing needed to get the show on the road is a wireless connection. This is made possible by screen mirroring apps such as AirbeamTV. One of the most exciting and most prominent novelties is on-demand streaming. It echoes the revolution of Apple’s iTunes and similar services that dismantled the reign of albums.
The traditional viewing is not dead, but it might be one foot in the grave. The sharp decline continues year after year, especially when you take a look at younger viewers. It is estimated that half of all American households are subscribed to at least one streaming provider. These innovations have caused some tectonic shifts and dealt a serious blow to one of the most effective business models in history.
Weakest links
Several important actors have been crippled: Media conglomerates with weak programming, small independent channels and satellite operators. Cable operators still have some fight in them, though. They aspire to attract new customers with “triple-pay” packages that encompass broadband, telephone and television services. This gives them a pricing advantage, but it is not enough to turn the tide. Price is not the only thing which drives people to the streaming.
It is the prime convenience that matters, the whole user experience. Consequently, the number of those who leave cable exceeds the number of those who still join it. Indeed, a fat cable bundle of 200 channels has lost its appeal in the presence of slimmer, inexpensive alternatives. After all, who needs all those channels? An average user watches only a small portion of the total number.
In new light, so bright
Moreover, some tech innovations have set the stage for streaming services to flourish. Modern TV sets come with Wi-Fi connectivity and the solid internet speed can handle 4K streaming. Likewise, Netflix has certainly paved the way for streaming services to gain prominence: It has quickly evolved into a streaming behemoth, offering people a chance to receive content over the internet, for just a fraction of the price of cable TV.
Apart from Hulu and HBO Go, tech giants like Amazon and Google have also entered the scene. Original programming is certainly one of the main selling points, and there are some real promising TV shows coming this year. So, the world of subscription video-on-demand is getting richer and more engrossing with each passing day, and few would dispute that its future is spellbindingly bright.
The winner takes it all
The death of television is a slow bleed, but the wound seems to be fatal indeed. On the other hand, the world of streaming services has exploded. Thus, ditching the cable in favor of internet-based offerings is not a passing trend. Streaming is changing the face of TV, and users across the globe embrace these developments as a way to advance into an exciting, vivid future. They are the true winners, who can cherry-pick desired content, choose from a wide array of services, and enjoy competitive prices.
Good stuff Marcus
Nice article Marcus. As video streaming is on rise. So, people are relying on streaming services as their primary source of content or cord cutting.