By: The BitMar Team.
The way we consume media has undergone a significant change, in the last decade. Streaming services have revolutionized the way in which we watch Television shows, movies, and listen to music. Streaming technology has been around for over 20 years, but it was not until the early 2010s that it became mainstream. This article will take you on a journey, through the story of streaming, and explore how it has changed the way in which we consume media.
The concept of streaming dates back to the early days of the Internet, when people started sharing audio, and video, files online. However, the term streaming was not used until the late 1990s, when RealNetworks introduced the RealPlayer software. This software allowed users to stream audio, and video, over the Internet. In 2001, Apple introduced iTunes; which allowed users to download music, and videos. However, it was not until 2005 that streaming – as we know it, today – took off.
Netflix is credited with popularizing streaming. In 2007, the company launched its streaming service, allowing subscribers to watch TV shows, and movies, online. Initially, Netflix's streaming service was limited to a few movies, and TV shows. However, it grew rapidly in popularity. By 2010, Netflix had more than 20 million subscribers, in the U.S., alone. Today, Netflix has over 200 million subscribers, worldwide.
Streaming services have changed the way in which we watch Television shows. These services have allowed us to binge-watch entire seasons of TV shows, in one sitting. This has also changed the way in which TV shows are produced. Traditional TV shows were broadcast, weekly. However, since streaming services started releasing entire seasons, at once, changes in storytelling, and pacing, have shifted, as well. Streaming has also given rise to the "golden age" of Television, with many high-quality shows being produced exclusively for streaming platforms.
Music streaming services – like: Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora – have also changed the way in which we listen to music. These services allow us to listen to millions of songs, on demand, without having to download anything. Music streaming has become so popular, that it has overtaken physical music sales. In 2020, music streaming accounted for 56.1% of the music industry's revenue, while physical sales accounted for just 9.2%.
The rise of streaming has had a significant impact on the entertainment industry. It has changed the way in which we consume media—from the way in which we watch TV shows, to the way in which we listen to music. Streaming has also led to the production of more high-quality content, as streaming services continue investing billions of dollars in original programming. As streaming technology continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how it continues to shape the entertainment industry, in the future.
Next-generation streaming platforms – like: BitMar – may provide you the most affordable form of on-demand streaming entertainment. BitMar provides all-in-one streaming service, for life, for a one-time payment. It can connect you to millions of on-demand movies, TV shows, channels, videos, and songs (from many different sources on the Web), on the screens that you already own. In fact, BitMar provides access to more movies, and TV shows, than: Cable, Satellite, Netflix, Disney Plus, Max/HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Peacock, and Hulu – combined – and more songs, than: Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Prime Music, and Apple Music—combined. You may learn more, at: BitMar.com/.