October 1, 2019 – Things are going nuts in the world of streaming entertainment. Before getting into the crazy, here’s a summary of how things began…
2000 – In the era of DVDs, even before Blu-rays, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings envisioned people would someday get their movies and shows over the Internet. With Netflix somewhat floundering, he flew to Dallas and pitched an idea to Blockbuster executives. Blockbuster could purchase Netflix, who in turn would become the online, streaming part of Blockbuster. Blockbuster declined.
2006 – Amazon launched an online streaming service called Amazon Unbox in the U.S. After several name changes, it became known as Amazon Prime Video or just Prime Video.
2007 – Netflix managed to survive financial difficulties and Blockbuster’s rejection, and introduced its own streaming services.
2008 – A group of Hollywood executives from different companies, foreseeing the popularity of streaming, pooled together to start Hulu.
2013 – By 2013, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Netflix had debuted their own original programming. Over the ensuing years, their streamed shows such as The Crown, The Handmaid’s Tale, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel have won many awards, including Emmys.
Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Netflix didn’t really start a revolution. Rather, they took advantage of one. With the popularity of the Internet, its faster and faster download speeds, and people’s natural inclination toward convenience, it was inevitable that streamed entertainment would overtake other forms of delivery.
Just how popular is streaming right now, also called “OTT”? According to a rather technical 2017 report by Unisphere Research and Streaming Media magazine (download it here), streaming could exceed traditional viewing by 2020.
The Good Wife (CBS), The Good Fight (CBS All Access)
What does this mean for major networks like ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS? Unless they change, they could go the way of Blockbuster Video. Which is probably why CBS launched its own streaming service, CBS All Access, in 2014.
The financial and awards successes of Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Netflix have put major pressure on everyone else. There are two main things happening:
While the major networks are lagging behind, many cable networks now have a streaming service. There’s HBO Go, HBO Now, Showtime Anytime, CW Seed, FX+, Max Go, AMC Premiere, ESPN+, Sundance Now, and others.
The pressure for these networks is also to provide streaming for two different groups. The first group is people who have access to their shows by traditional means. For example, if someone has a subscription to HBO through their cable TV provider, they can stream shows via HBO Go. The second group is people who want to “cut the cord” and not have a television provider at all. For such folks, HBO has a stand-alone, Internet-only service called HBO Now.
traditional viewing vs. streaming (OTT)
“Cutting the cord” brings up another huge trend: streaming “live” TV. These days, people want to watch “live” TV over the Internet rather than through a cable, fiber-optic, or satellite TV provider. So, companies are now offering streaming packages that include live TV. The top services for live TV streaming are: Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, AT&T TV Now (formerly DirecTV Now), Watch TV, Philo, and Fubo TV.
Netflix’s first solo original series was House of Cards in 2013. It was nominated for eight Emmys in its first season. Combined with Hulu’s and Amazon Prime’s original programming successes, the writing has been on the wall. It’s not enough to offer streaming. Companies must also attract viewers and subscribers with their own original, high-quality content. Under this pressure, CBS All Access debuted The Good Fight and Star Trek: Discovery in 2017. You couldn’t watch the shows on CBS, just on CBS All Access only.
When it comes to original programming, unlikely players are emerging left and right. YouTube, originally just a platform for storing the public’s videos, now has its own YouTube Originals, with shows like Cobra Kai and Step Up: High Water. Facebook, originally just a social-networking platform, now has its own video-on-demand service, called Facebook Watch, with at least one critically acclaimed original program: Sorry for Your Loss.
The Morning Show (Apple TV+) & L.A.’s Finest (Spectrum Originals)
Apple is now in the game, too. According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple will be investing a billion dollars over the next year in acquiring and producing original TV shows. Soon, on their Apple TV+, you’ll be able to watch their original series Morning Show, starring Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, and Steve Carell.
Disney and DC Comics come to mind as other companies producing original, streamed content. But it’s not just the streaming services doing it. Spectrum, a cable TV provider, now has their own Spectrum Originals such as L.A.’s Finest. Indeed, the pressure and the race are on.
**For a guide on streaming services, go here.
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Bibliography:
The Complete List of Streaming Services – 100+ Services
Why everyone’s getting into streaming…
AT&T TV Now vs. YouTube TV vs. Sling TV vs. Hulu and more