Goodbye Cinema, Hello Streaming
With streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, AppleTV, Disney+, etc., bulldozing cable and taking over media in a new format; we see more and more companies and television networks creating their own streaming services. The biggest question is: who comes next? There have been several reports of new services from companies like AT&T, T-Mobile, NBC, Warner Bros, and other television/entertainment networks. But here’s the problem: is there such a thing as too much media?
Being a parent can be difficult, especially while on the go. With just an app on your phone or iPad, entertaining your child has been even easier. Certain platforms like Netflix, hulu, and Disney+ either don’t have ads or don’t have ads during child programming. The lack of commercial helps from disrupting a child’s attention. This may not be much, but these small attributes help praise streaming vs. cable.
Cable costs money. In fact, maybe a little too much. In recent surveys the average subscriber currently uses 3.4 streaming services ranging around $20-$30 a month compared to a standard cable package costing over $100 a month. Streaming services like Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Disney+, Spotify, Apple music, Amazon Music, etc., have progressed media to be even more accessible and affordable; but at what cost?
When streaming services were born, there was a belief that we could have quick, easy access to all forms of media to our televisions, phones, computers, and gaming devices just with a click of a button. The idea was flabbergasting. No one would be able to come up with such an articulate, well running algorithmic machine. But we did.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat; these apps were the beginning to a social apocalypse. With the intent of creating a social platform to keep people closer and creating connections. But what we have received is a new form for us to be distracted and constantly on our phones. How are streaming services any different? Yes, new creators means new and better content; but instead of only being available on on 4 different services, that content will be spread across over 10 different platforms.
Cinema has been a booming industry, but it’s a fierce competitor where most of the talent and jobs are controlled by a small amount of large corporations. Recently media, even award shows, have seen the rise and shadow of streaming platforms. Big actors names are now jumping ship to perform in television and movies, leaving a scarce number of known entertainers available for big blockbuster movies and cable television. Even in the past couple of years we have seen award shows like the Oscars containing more streaming content, than theatrical releases.
For the sake of accessibility and competition, everyone wants a streaming service. If everyone has a streaming service, who do you watch? Which is the biggest ironic flaw in streaming: if you have too much, you don’t have enough. Eventually services won’t be able to compete against larger, well-known businesses; like Netflix compared to Sling or Epix. And then they fail, eventually making what made subscriptions so great, be it’s biggest downfall.
