Internet streaming services are changing the way we monetize movies and especially TV shows.
How often do we watch television at the time it airs now? Now that services like Netflix or Hulu Plus air most TV shows and a lot of movies on Demand for a much cheaper price, consumers are starting to rethink the way they get their media. This is causing networks to change the way they distribute their shows as well.
Networks like HBO and Showtime have their own streaming services that viewers have to purchase separately from cable and from Netflix. Other network channels will upload shows a week or two later on their own sites and/or on Hulu Plus. Even Amazon Prime comes with free streaming of specific shows and movies. New releases charge a rental fee, and users are more than welcome to purchase digital content as well as rent it or stream it with their subscription.
Because these internet services have so changed the industry, there has also been some backlash from consumers who prefer to set aside time to watch TV shows when they air. A few internet streaming services have responded in kind by charging a subscription fee and providing a schedule for when they’ll air which shows. The viewer is again at the mercy of the schedule. Judging by the minute amount of sites like this, however, it seems quite clear the On Demand is the more popular method of viewing, especially now that media can be streamed, not only through computers, but also game consoles, and mobile devices.
Of course this also affects the way a show’s popularity or success is measured. Old methods of rating like Nielsen Boxes don’t hold up anymore now that fewer and fewer people are watching television as it airs. Instead of only counting views from these boxes, it is more accurate to count views or check star ratings on streaming services as well as using Nielsen scores.
What do you think? Do you prefer to watch TV shows when they air or on your own time? How do you feel about streaming?