When cable first arrived on the scene it was an undeniable step-up over traditional analogue TV. Internet streaming, while it had definite teething pains related to bandwidth and data caps, eventually enjoyed a similar golden age. At this point, however, an increasing proportion of users are growing dissatisfied with the video streaming services that replaced them.
On the other hand, some streaming services such as live casino game streaming have been making enormous strides in raising the bar of entertainment.
From the best to the worst, we want to look at how we got here.
Piece of the Pie
The problems as they exist today are born from the popularity and success of the first big names in online streaming. Netflix especially is not just a regional hit, but an international phenomenon. Millions of customers abandoned their cable subscriptions for this on-demand service, and this trend has only grown stronger over time.
The inevitable result of this is other large media corporations wanting a taste of that profit for themselves. Amazon wanted in, HBO wanted in, and many more are now salivating for a piece of the user subscription pie.
If these shows and films within these systems were equally shared, this could be a good thing. The spirit of competition, however, means that they are not. Shows which used to be centralised on one or two systems are now having their rights separated among the pack, meaning less choice for users unless they spurge for multiple services.
On the other hand, the world of online casino streaming takes a very different tack. Rather than flooding the market, these rely on serving users exactly what they want, without wasting time. A big part of this is due to the smaller-scale nature of casino streaming when compared to the likes of Netflix. Being interactive, casino streaming deals with dozens or hundreds of users at a time, instead of millions. This makes it all the easier to custom deliver a more customer-focused experience.
Not all Doom and Gloom
While these issues with movie and TV streaming seem poised to get worse before getting any better, not all hope is lost.
Again, take the world of online casinos for comparison. Many of these systems are similar, yet the leading services lean heavily on casino promotions to get ahead. Free spins, deposit matches, and seasonal bonuses might not be directly transferrable to video streaming, but at least this indicates that similar competition might end up aiding the wallets of the consumer.
There is also the distinct possibility that, again just as with online casinos, video-based cooperation could prove to be the way forward. Once it becomes increasingly evident to these media empires what fans want, and what they can realistically afford, they might end up renegotiating rights contracts for the good of all.
Britbox is one such example of a video streaming service that seems to know what it is doing. Rather than being a jack of all trade and master of none, Britbox focusses primarily on British TV. Here it carves out a niche, doing this better than any competition while offering an experience that many users are happy to rely on entirely.
In the Meantime
Where we stand now, getting the most out of your streaming service can be confusing, to say the least. With online comparison systems like Finder you can at least get a quick rundown of the general costs associated with each provider, and a look at the libraries which they incorporate, though this is undeniably inconvenient.
We know it can be a major hassle when you just want to watch some TV, but take heart, at least this problem couldn’t get much worse. Hopefully, these streaming services can learn from the likes of casino streaming and the better services like Britbox, to give customers a better entertainment future. At least, we hope.
