The pace at which online video streaming has evolved is revolutionary. In a little over a decade, streaming is already a threat to the established cable TV industry. Furthermore, streaming is now the largest form of digital media consumption.
Anything with increased demand attracts new players – and streaming cannot be left out. The competition in streaming services is now also heating up. Even with the intensifying competition, the number of streaming services continues to grow.
You’d be triggered to ask why streaming services have become so successful. In this article, we take you through navigating the general difference in the streaming services industry that makes it successful.
Overview of Streaming Services
Streaming is a method of receiving or transmitting data (particularly audio and video) over a computer network as a continuous steady flow, allowing playback to begin while still receiving data.
The key success of secret streaming services is in analyzing its user data and creating compelling original programs to serve subscribers better. Streaming gives people the convenience of letting them consume their content of choice.
However, while streaming seems to have numerous benefits, its success wouldn’t have been possible without a conducive ecosystem – its key success factors. There are those obvious ecosystem requirements such as the following:
- Fast and reliable internet connections.
- Smart, portable devices such as a laptop, tablet, smartphones, or smart TV.
Other factors are more intrinsic to streaming and provides the general difference for the success of the service as detailed below.:
General Differences Key for Streaming Services Success
1. Ease of Use
Anyone with an internet connection and a smart device can view any streaming media. This ease of use is the key success factor of streaming services. There can be changes to the requirements for broadcasting streams based on the scale and complexity of the content being distributed. Streaming provides low entry barriers.
Viewing traditional broadcasts has some technical requirements such as cable wiring, converter box, a satellite set-top box, or a satellite dish. Furthermore, it isn’t easy to view traditional broadcasts on mobile devices unless they start using a streaming app.
2. Convenience
The biggest aspect of streaming services distinguishing it from traditional TV is convenience.
Streaming gives you the freedom to watch your favorite program at your convenience – something you don’t get from traditional TV. In addition, streaming allows you to watch your program on any convenient screen and build a personalized experience. With a personalized experience, you can watch programs that you missed in different other channels.
One innovative, convenient idea that Hulu developed – which is only available in Japan and the US – is offering live sports streaming. This is convenient to users who only utilize cable television for sports and news. Having an alternative option further incentivizes cutting cable.
3. Interactivity and Use Cases
Streaming has made video content consumption an engaging activity, rather than the passive pastime that it used to be. Interactive use cases of streaming include live commerce, E-sports, trivia apps, social media, and film making, among others. Innovators are just beginning to explore how streaming technology can transform the experience of digital users.
In addition, streaming opens up new, lucrative monetization opportunities. Besides subscriptions, ads, and pay-per-view services, there are other avenues that some content distributors can use to generate revenue.
Traditional broadcasting remains stuck on one-way communication apart from a few obsolete tactics, such as using apps to stream, prizing viewers, or inviting viewers to vote online.
4. Adaptive Bitrate Streaming
Traditional TV providers offer either SD (standard definition) or HD (high definition) channels for the same content they provide to viewers. Users have to select which resolution they’d like to view manually.
This is where streaming stole the show.
Streaming uses adaptive bitrate technology, which automatically selects the resolution and bitrate of view based on the viewers’ internet strength and device. This gives everyone the best broadcast possible, and allows the stream to dynamically switch quality up or down with the changes in the viewer’s connectivity.
As a result, it does not matter whether the viewer is using a home theater plugged into high-speed internet, or a mobile device – each viewer is automatically given their best view based on their circumstance. You will find information about software applications to help your mobile device in streaming in a website such as Software Tested.
5. Global Scalability
At this stage of globalization, it is still a sad thing that most traditional broadcasts are limited to regional viewership based on the provider’s infrastructure. Other live streaming services such as Sling TV and YouTube Live are also geographically limited because of governmental restrictions.
As a result, streaming media came as a perfect solution for global content delivery at scale. Provided that the viewer has CDN infrastructure and internet connectivity, broadcasters going live can anticipate playback in any location.
6. Censorship and Copyright Infringement
This is not a key success indicator but a general difference that streaming services have used for their advantage in many cases. Streaming services are often censored and face a keen watch of the law.
Broadcasters never seem to encounter many rules and regulations when streaming content online. FCC rules guide streaming set-top boxes, and they must comply. However, many illegal broadcasts have gone viral without complying with the FCC rules before regulating bodies.
It is now possible to block illicit content or prevent copyright infringement. The streaming industry is looking for ways on how artificial intelligence can be used to regulate illegal content.
Wrapping Up
Streaming has revolutionized broadcast; it is a move towards original and more convenient personalized content. It can be considered a disruptive technology.
You shouldn’t expect streaming to be exactly what you want; you’d be setting yourself up for disappointment. However, it will certainly be better than cable or satellite.
The success of streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon show that content consumers want tailor-made products that are easy to use and that match their preferences. We believe that the information in this article has been insightful and helpful.
Watch this space for updates in the Technology category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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