Page 114 - ICE BUSINESS TIMES January 2020

Tech

THE

GREAT made its mark. It is highly likely,

though, that Disney+, with its own
vast content library (which includes
their entire repertoire of glorious
STREAMING time and nostalgia, as well as newer
classics that have survived the test of
productions, and a few fresh new
exclusives), will quickly prove itself
to be a formidable rival to the
streaming titan.
However, challenges do exist in this
WAR History repeats crowded battlefield. With each service
requiring their own app, many
non-techie customers would consider
itself as
it a hassle to maintain them all, at
w
least initially. Right now, no option
streaming
exists which can unify the contents of
common umbrella and make them
By Abhijit Asad platforms take Netflix, available for viewing anyone who wanted to keep track of Things’ on Netflix, to check out ‘The the streaming services under a
accessible from within a single
exclusively on the platform. The
Boys’ on Amazon Prime Video, and
specific shows across different
on the roles of platform even breathed new life platforms discovered that they needed maybe sneak an occasional peek at interface. While every streaming
TV channels into certain high-potential shows simultaneous subscriptions to each Disney+’s ‘The Mandalorian’, they company is devoting vast amounts of
resources behind their research to
would need to pay for Netflix,
streaming service – a prospect that
by renewing them past their
ith proper broadband internet original cancellation or hiatus was not only inconvenient, but also Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ all create combinations of offerings that
access hitting mainstream periods. For a vast number of disturbingly expensive. And now, at once, something that naturally would make it very difficult for a
availability worldwide, we have people, Netflix managed to with the arrival of Disney’s own would not make sense for a lot of subscriber to simply give up on it and
also witnessed the rise of supplant cable TV services along streaming service, Disney+, the budget-limited wallets, and would move to another service. Therefore,
streaming video content beyond with their myriad of pitfalls and viewers’ choices aren’t getting any inevitably lead to an either-or because of the added expenses of
‘casual’ platforms such as inconveniences. The benefits of easier to make. scenario for many viewers. having to subscribe to multiple
YouTube and certain unsavoury streaming media were far too Unlike cable TV, which offers a vast Netflix still continues to enjoy their services, many viewers are simply
domains of the internet. Faster at their own pace and timing of many to be ignored, and many number of ready-to-watch channels of first mover’s advantage in this sector, moving or reverting to pirating shows
internet connections have convenience. These shows can be users, who did not care for many different genres, along with a with its brand awareness growing all of their choice, which is technically
allowed entire movies and what watched on any smart device of regular TV programming, realized handful of premium pay-per-view the time, and the highest number of the worst-case scenario envisionable
used to be referred to as their choice, without requiring that this was all they needed. options, the catalogues of each subscribers, catering to 15.8% of by every player in this arena – no one
‘television programming’ to the viewers to own a physical Although competitors were slow streaming service is designed to cater video viewers around the world. Its would profit from such a scenario,
become accessible over the copy of the program on any to emerge, they did show up to the requirements of any viewer repertoire of offerings is growing at a unless some way emerges to combine
internet in high-quality medium, or to download and eventually. Amazon Prime Video, under its umbrella. But while their rapid pace, and the entities in charge the streaming services and/or make
streamable formats. The store a local copy of the videos on Hulu, HBO Now and Apple TV variety of content is massive, the fact of its content are also stepping up them more affordable.
conveniences offered by such their respective devices. made their appearances one by that the tastes of many a viewer their game to fully take advantage of The definition of video-based home
services are rather obvious – not Netflix was the first major player one, with enticing new exclusive would span the contents of multiple the added recognition the streaming entertainment has already undergone
only do they eliminate the need in the streaming game, rapidly offerings of their own, each with services continues to remain a service occurs. It is interesting to note a massive paradigm shift over the
for viewers to be tied to a establishing its service as a their own star-studded casts and constant challenge and a persistent that even many nations which are last decade, and the intense
television channel’s program must-have by not only offering a crews. With each platform loudly hurdle to be overcome. The challenge, considered havens of piracy – ours competition is a welcome
schedule, unpausability and vast number of shows both new touting their exclusives and new of course, is the fact that these included – have welcomed the arrival development, as such competition
relentless barrage of and old, but also by eventually arrivals with great aplomb in services aren’t exactly cheap, of streaming platforms, simply always comes to benefit the
commercials, but they also allow coming up with a whole host of their attempt to attract especially when subscribed to because of their instant availability consumer. But as the streaming wars
them to enjoy a vast number of ‘Netflix originals’ – shows and subscribers, the choice to together, and the total bills rack up (with no wait time) and lack of intensify, it still remains to be seen
shows of their choice – a veritable movies made with the subscribe to Netflix was suddenly quite quickly. For example, if necessity for on-device storage – and which services would be left standing
all-you-can-eat buffet of shows – authorization and support of not the most obvious one, and someone wanted to watch ‘Stranger even among them, Netflix has already at the end of it all.

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