Streaming has become a crucial part of our existence in this modern digital age, where convenience has taken over superiority. Surviving the COVID pandemic without streaming services would have not been possible.
Now with the latest streaming platforms you can binge-watch your favorite TV shows and you can also watch the newly-released movies. Now you can conduct cost-efficient international meetings on Zoom and Google Meet, saving you energy, time, and resources.
JioCinema is a recent addition to the streaming industry. The Indian OTT platform is free of cost and you need a tool to unblock and watch JioCinema from anywhere.
Every day there is increasing competition among the streaming platforms. Each stands out with its unique features. The OTT industry is a thriving marketing channel, with audience coverage providing appropriate content for everyone. This accelerated with the advancement in smart TVs providing streaming apps for each platform.
Pre-2010: The Birth of Streaming
The streaming journey began before the turn of the century. Two huge events shocked the tech world in 2007. First, Apple debuted the revolutionary iPhone, which changed the way we use smartphones. Second, Netflix introduced its streaming services, in 2007, which opened the path for on-demand entertainment.
Hulu entered the streaming game a year later, in 2008, with a diverse selection of TV shows and films. The streaming scene was fast developing, and it seemed evident that the future of entertainment would be found online. This was Roku which was launched in 2009.
In 2008, YouTube hosted its first live event, back then it was not popular or even recognized but it surely laid the backbone of the streaming industry we have today. YouTube monetization is now one of the most popular ways to earn, giving YouTube a significant edge over others.
2010: The Rise of Smart TVs
The smart TV market began to grow in 2010. These televisions could link to the internet, allowing customers to access streaming platforms directly on their TVs in addition to watching cable or satellite channels.
This advancement made streaming more accessible to the general public. Another thing that propelled online streaming was a fast internet connection and easy access. This allowed users to stream without lagging and thus available on demand.
2011–2015: Streaming Goes Mainstream
Amazon Prime Video debuted in 2011, giving unique content to Prime members. The following year, Xumo entered the streaming arena, giving viewers even more alternatives.
By 2012, 25% of households had connected TVs, making it easier for people to stream their favorite shows and films. During the 2012 Summer Olympics, 10 million authorized devices accessed online content, highlighting streaming’s expanding popularity.
Netflix made a daring move in 2013 when it launched its first successful original series, “House of Cards,” which received critical praise and Emmy nominations. You may use a Google Chromecast device which connects your mobile devices to televisions.
In the gaming world, Twitch made history by offering what Let’s Play lacked, live video game content. Twitch is exclusively for gaming purposes giving gamers an advanced and more fun experience while playing video games.
2014-2017: The Streaming Competition Grows
Netflix maintained its superiority in the streaming industry throughout 2014, spending over $3 billion on producing entertaining content. Netflix productions received 31 Emmy nominations. With more and more household connections getting broadband internet connection and WiFi, streaming videos online is more convenient.
In 2015, new platforms such as Amazon’s Fire TV, Fubo TV, Dish Network’s Sling, and Comcast’s Xfinity Stream entered the market. DirectTV Now debuted its streaming service the next year, 2016, adding to the rising rivalry.
In 2017, Hulu introduced its Live TV service, and YouTube Live made its debut, giving consumers more options. However, Disney’s decision to pull Marvel and Star Wars content from Netflix marked a significant shift in the streaming landscape as major studios began to create their own streaming platforms.
2018-2020: More Advancements in Online Streaming
In 2018, 76% of U.S. households were equipped with Smart TV sets, and daily time spent was recorded as 15% of daily media consumption. Quibi, a short-form video platform, also entered the market.
In 2019, over 182 million people in the United States subscribed to over-the-top (OTT) streaming services, exceedingly more than half of the population. Some more advancements were, Viacom taking over Pluto TV and Crackle Plus.
OTT platforms started investing more than $105 billion in producing original content. By 2020, online streaming accounted for 25% of total time spent on the internet. The two streaming giants, HBO Max and Peacock TV, started their original content thus further diversifying the streaming landscape, and giving their competitors fierce competition.
Conclusion
This is how we got the online streaming services we have today. While the cold war among the streaming platforms continues, new OTT platforms are trying to offer the best to the public to achieve success.
JioCinema is also a recently introduced Indian OTT platform that allows its users to watch anything for free without any subscription hassle.
The only thing you need when accessing JioCinema is a premium VPN connection such as ExpressVPN. The future of streaming is brighter than ever since consumers will be able to access their favorite material from any location.
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