We all have our favourite steaming platforms that entice us to watch just one more episode before bed. Streaming content online has become the dominant form of entertainment in our busy lives.
So how has this innovation affected television as a whole? Read on to learn the history of streaming.
From Proof on Concept to Household Name
Within one generation, the power of TV and cable has shifted, as this new competitor has risen to dominance. But how did we get here?
In the 1990s, streaming was experimented with as a way of broadcasting footage. But only when significant investment came from companies like YouTube and Netflix did streaming become something consumers explored. As a result, streaming content and having programs on-demand is no longer just for the most expensive TV. Since the start of the millennium, it has exploded in popularity into a household staple where even cheap TVs can stream your favourite programs comfortably.
Binge-Watching Ad-Free Content
Most people nowadays will have binge-watched a show or two. The success of certain shows like Game of Thrones, The Crown and Orange is the New Black helped increase interest in this new way to watch shows.
The most prominent platforms such as Netflix, Disney + and Amazon Prime all pride themselves on promoting their vast library of choices, with the idea that there is something for everyone.
With content being on-demand, the concept of the advert break has been erased, with subscription fees replacing the need for predictable advert breaks. Now, most content you will watch will seamlessly go from one episode to the next without interruption.
Your Choice Of Program
Before streaming, audiences had to follow the scheduled content decided by the channel execs. With specific programs on at certain times, something would often clash and you would have to choose. Even with the benefit of recording functions, you still had to take the time to plan the recording. Even then, you’d probably have two programs to record simultaneously, thereby creating another choice to make.
Any subscriber will tell you that the immediate benefit from streaming is the broader choice of content. Therefore, the concept of ‘on-demand’ content has become a cornerstone of any streaming platform.
On-demand content removes all that hassle, letting you stream what you want to watch exactly when you want to see it. So now your entertainment is convenient won’t get in the way of your life.
The most popular streaming services can be downloaded as apps to your Cheap LED smart TV’s dashboard. They have become your private TV channels where you watch what you want when you want. You can also access curated streaming apps aimed at children or explore user-created content with the YouTube app.
With so many new shows and movies to enjoy on your new smart TV, your only concern will be what to watch next
Smart TV’s and their capabilities
It’s not only TV content that streaming has affected but also TV hardware. The TV has cemented its place as the centre of people living rooms; it’s been the device people decorate the space around since the 1980s.
The improvements in TV technology have continuously enhanced the viewer’s experience. This desire led to upgrades such as developing colour images in 1953 and the wireless remote control as early as 1955. The development of the flat screen at the start of the millennium was a landmark moment, but apart from making the screen larger, they left TV technology struggling for new places to innovate.
The rise of streaming content heralded a whole new area for invention; now, TV’s needed to be more interactive and process online data more efficiently, leading to the creation of the Smart TV.
Even a cheap smart TV will come with a variety of additional tools and functions pre-built into it and have the option to add more in the future.
No Squeezing around a Tablet Screen
Aswell as streamed content, you can also use your smart TV in a more personal way with your family. With your TV connected to your home internet network, your smartphone or tablet can interact with your smart TV. For example, either one can become your new remote control using Bluetooth or a way to present your phone photo album with your loved ones.
You can even use your cheap 4K TV to do video calls. For example, Facebook Portal offers a device to turn your smart tv into a streaming video call device so you can see the best image of your distant friends.
The Future of Streaming
The future of streaming is looking brighter as more content creators move to this platform. As the popularity rises, more companies are creating more affordable smart TV’s.
With such affordable options available, now is the time to find out everything a Smart TV can do for you. Contact our team today to discuss which model would be best for you.
