The Streaming Surge: How Netflix, Hulu, and Others Are Reshaping Entertainment

Platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime have revolutionized how we consume movies and TV. With a vast library of content, viewers have a variety of digital content at their fingertips. This blog will explore the impacts of these services on the movie and entertainment industry.

Terminating Traditional TV

Before streaming services emerged, the prime source of entertainment was TV. Cable and satellite networks would air programs on a specific schedule, and viewers would tune in to the programs accordingly. So, if you were really invested in a show you'd have to wait til next week when the next episode aired.

Enter Netflix, which was launched in 2007. Netflix completely changed the game, by offering access to entire seasons of TV shows at once. No more waiting a week for the next episode of Gossip Girl or Breaking Bad — it provided the instant gratification of watching an entire show in one sitting. This change encouraged "binge-watching", where the entire series could be watched in one go without interruption.

Theaters vs. Streaming

With shows and movies at your fingertips, streaming has led to a decline in movie theater attendance. In 2024, movie ticket sales dropped 34% from the 1.225 billion tickets sold back in 2019. That is alarming over just five years. Why head to the movies when you could watch it at home?