Streaming Has Changed How Movies are Made

 Hello Again,

Continuing on the topic of streaming video.

I was very surprised to learn the target length for movies had been influenced by the size of VHS tapes and Blockbuster rentals.

See some more on that here:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/06/entertainment/movie-runtimes-longer-mcu-batman-oscar-bait-cec/index.html

... and now movies are getting longer for very different reasons.

The overall state of chaos in Hollywood is very interesting to observe.  I'm old enough to remember 3 main tv channels tuned in over air.  "Event" television meant you had to tune in (literally tune to the channel) to watch that show that week or you might never have the chance again.  How times have changed.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/07/business/dealbook/movies-hollywood-streaming-services.html

Here is a snippet from that excellent piece:

The broad outlines of the change are clear enough, even if the outcome is, as ever unknowable. The screenwriter William Goldman’s axiom that “nobody knows anything” in Hollywood remains a good rule of thumb. Anyone who predicts the future of movies (this writer included) is either bluffing, guessing or indulging in wishful thinking.

What will tomorrow bring?  Another Disney animation, another Marvel movie and more Star Wars. Yes. You can bank on those claims.

Best,

J.W. Gant

Streaming Passes Cable

 Hi!

In the pages of this blog I've been tracking all things technology related in various verticals including streaming video (including a post stating the newly declared Disney+ would become the new Netflix).

The recent news has spurred me to post again.  It has happened.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/18/streaming-viewership-surpassed-cable-tv-for-the-first-time-says-nielsen/

Streaming video has passed cable tv in viewership.  Wow!  How we have changed (or how far have we come? Have we?).

The milestone was reached in July this year, 2022.  Streaming held 34.8% while cable had merely 34.4% of viewers.  This may be as much about the decline in cable (I cut the cord years ago when my bill went up 39% with no additional services provided) as it is about the advent of streaming but new services being added every day such as Paramount +, Hulu, etc. mean more options in the modern preferred channel.

The next question to ask is, who is doing best at streaming? Netflix is on top and Amazon is #2 but those numbers are likely misleading.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/496011/usa-svod-to-tv-streaming-usage/

Is Amazon showing elevated streaming numbers because it is a service bundled with Prime, that offers many things as a possible priority to the subscriber over streaming video?  We may not fully know the answer to that yet.

Best,

J.W. Gant

Disney is the New Netflix

Serious competition has finally arrived for Netflix.

Disney

That is ...

Marvel

Star Wars

Disney Animation

all of that jazz all combined in one big offering.  Disney TV has tons of original content and it is all coming up for streaming.

Here is a story that describes the service:

https://www.cnet.com/news/disney-plus-streaming-service-preorders-release-dates-prices-shows-and-movies-to-expect-d23-discount/

Think this won't be big?

Disney offered a big discount to sign up early, if you sign for 3 years at the start.  Their service crashed upon open because demand was too big.

:-)

Here is a story on the impact to Netflix:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephenmcbride1/2019/07/08/netflixs-worst-nightmare-has-come-true/#6393a921396d

Happy ... streaming.  Let the streaming wars begin!

J.W. Gant