Over the last few years, people have changed their way of enjoying entertainment. This shift happens especially due to the streaming services that are so accessible nowadays. Not long ago, people relied on actual media, scheduled TV shows, and video rental stores. Today, things look a bit different as people expect to watch content instantly, whenever and wherever they want.
With platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, it gets much easier to access certain content, changing the way we watch and enjoy it. These platforms made old habits like renting videos or paying for cable TV less common nowadays.
This article will show you how streaming has diminished some of the old ways of consuming media and what its influence can mean in the future. So, let’s get started!
The End of Video Rentals
It all started with video rentals. These stores were a massive part of the entertainment in the 80s and 90s. There were dedicated places like Blockbuster that made it easy for people to rent VHS tapes and DVDs to see their favorite movies. Browsing the shelves and finding new titles was part of the experience and made people happy.
However, the popularity of streaming services such as Netflix has begun to put an end to video rentals. When you think of Netflix, you see this fancy platform that allows you to browse movies for hours.
Yet, it was not that in the beginning. It started as a DVD-by-mail service, and it switched to online streaming in the mid-2000s. This, in turn, gave people more convenient options than actually going to rental stores.
Blockbuster, once with 9,000 stores worldwide, struggled to adjust to the digital world. So, by 2013, the company had gone out of business, as it had failed to adopt streaming.
As people started to use Netflix and Hulu for instant access to their favorite films and TV shows, renting actual copies became less needed.
In the 2017 report, the Motion Picture Association of America showed a steady drop in actual rentals and a growth in digital streaming, but the 2021 MPAA THEME Reports indicate new findings. It shows that the global home/mobile entertainment market has reached $78.5 billion in 2021, a 14% increase compared to 2020. The digital market was the primary driver of this growth, with a 34% increase in the international digital market.
No More Physical Media Sales
In the early 2000s, DVDs and Blu-rays were the best ways to create engaging movie collections. Film enthusiasts would go to stores and buy actual copies of their favorite films, often getting extra features like extended cuts or special commentaries. Back then, having a personal movie collection was something people took pride in.
However, things have changed when streaming services became popular. Today, all popular platforms give people access to extensive libraries of movies and TV shows without having to buy any DVDs. Thus, many people now prefer the convenience of streaming over buying physical copies. There is no longer the desire to own copies, as people can enjoy the same content with only a few clicks.
Before Streaming, There Was Cable TV
Not very long ago, the only way people watched something was through TV cable. They used to pay for several channels from different providers so that they could enjoy a wide range of shows.
While providers gave access to various content, it also included the fact that people were watching shows on a fixed schedule. Channel surfing was a common thing, but there weren’t many options to watch shows on demand.
That’s why when streaming was introduced, viewers no longer depended on a fixed schedule. They could just watch whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted. This is why it became so popular, making cable TV feel outdated.
The “Cord-Cutting” Trend
Several reports from Leichtman Research Group (LRG) analyze this phenomenon of cutting the cord. One provides extensive data regarding broadband subscriber growth and shifts in the pay-TV landscape. At the same time, the other, from March 2020, discusses the net loss of 4.7 million subscribers among major pay-TV providers.
Both these reports just highlight the ongoing trends of cord-cutting and the preferences for streaming services over traditional pay TV.
Broadcast TV and Shows
We live in a digital era where the internet allows you to enjoy Slotscalendar and also several streaming services. Yet, as you can see by now, it was not always like this. Before streaming, there were broadcast TV and shows that people enjoyed.
The whole family or friends would gather at specific times to catch the new episodes of a favorite show or watch reruns on syndicated networks. There was something special about that feeling of getting together and following the same thing.
Binge-watching: The New Trend
This trend of getting together in the same room ended as soon as streaming services were introduced. Now, viewers can watch entire seasons or even entire series all at once.
Platforms really encourage people to try this new trend called binge-watching, which means that you can enjoy multiple seasons on the go.
Shows such as Stranger Things and The Crown show how popular binge-watching has become. These were two of the most popular shows people enjoyed on Netflix in the last few years. Some even declared to watch the seasons multiple times.
Conclusion
We’re witnessing a new era of entertainment consumption. Looking back at how entertainment has changed, it’s clear that streaming has definitely changed how people watch TV and movies forever.
The older methods we described in our article are just pleasant memories for some, while for others, they turn into an imagination exercise. Looking to the future, streaming services will keep evolving, possibly adding new technologies to make the content even more attractive.
While not all traditional entertainment has disappeared, it’s pretty clear that streaming has become the preferred way to enjoy media materials.
