Page 115 - ICE BUSINESS TIMES January 2020
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made its mark. It is highly likely,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                though, that Disney+, with its own
                                                                                                                                                                                                                vast content library (which includes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                their entire repertoire of glorious
                                                                                                                                                                                                                classics that have survived the test of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                time and nostalgia, as well as newer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                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
                                                                                                                                                                                                                crowded battlefield. With each service
                                                                                                                                                                                                                requiring their own app, many
                                                                                                                                                                                                                non-techie customers would consider
                                                                                                                                                                                                                it a hassle to maintain them all, at
                                                                                                                                                                                                                least initially. Right now, no option
                                                                                                                                                                                                                exists which can unify the contents of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                the streaming services under a
 Netflix, available for viewing                                                                                                            anyone who wanted to keep track of   Things’ on Netflix, to check out ‘The   common umbrella and make them
 exclusively on the platform. The                                                                                                          specific shows across different   Boys’ on Amazon Prime Video, and   accessible from within a single
 platform even breathed new life                                                                                                           platforms discovered that they needed   maybe sneak an occasional peek at   interface. While every streaming
 into certain high-potential shows                                                                                                         simultaneous subscriptions to each   Disney+’s ‘The Mandalorian’, they   company is devoting vast amounts of
 by renewing them past their                                                                                                               streaming service – a prospect that   would need to pay for Netflix,   resources behind their research to
 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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