In today’s world, more and more people have adopted a new technology-reliant culture. This new trend has also affected the way people experience video content. Not too long-ago film was the go-to place if you wanted to experience quality videos. However, as time went on cable television as well as streaming services such as Netflix, as well as many others came into the limelight. A cinema by definition is a large hall where people pay to watch movies/ films for entertainment, on the other hand a streaming service is an on-demand source of entertainment that utilizes the internet to deliver shows and movies to viewers across the world on a subscription basis.
For the longest time, it has been the norm that movies would be released for cinema before they are released on DVD or in digital media. However, movie theatres are at risk of going extinct as the use of streaming services/ video on demand services increases. A good example is Netflix’s own rivalry with cinema. Netflix originally started as a service that mailed clients movie DVDs on demand. This is the time Blockbuster was the leading video store in the US.
Netflix developed a more straightforward video sharing platform that made it more enjoyable for clients with its main objective being to disrupt preexisting and outmoded video distribution services such as Blockbuster. As change is inevitable, Netflix continued to evolve while Blockbuster remained focused on only maximizing profits which lead to its inevitable failure. Netflix focused its efforts on the success of its television originals to invest in feature-length video content that is exclusive to their platform. Today Netflix has grown to be the world’s leading streaming service.
If box office reviews are anything to go by, it is evident that video on demand services have far surpassed cinema in the US, and this trend is replicated in other areas of the world such as in the Chinese and European markets. As a student studying film, this is a subject that you are likely to pass on to your essay writing service as your preferred topic as it has been a highly contentious issue for quite some time now. Below are some of the benefits video on demand services have over cinema:
• Convenient and easy to use
Currently, streaming services let you choose the films and shows you wish to see. Streaming services usually have an extensive catalog of videos you can watch on-demand. Compared to cinema, where you have to leave your house and conform to a schedule, video on demand services offer more convenience.
• Cost of the service
Having unrestricted access to a wide array of videos for an entire month is only a fraction of the price you would have to pay to visit the cinema every day for a month. Granted the content is not similar, but you get better value for your money with streaming services.
• Accessibility
Just as the name suggests, streaming services are available on-demand, at anytime, anywhere, provided you have an internet-enabled device and an active subscription. On the other hand, cinemas restrict you to only a couple of hours per movie, and at times you have to change your schedule to catch that new movie.
• Variety
With streaming services, you are spoilt for choice on which movie or show to watch as most streaming services have thousands of readily available videos on different genres that you can choose from. However, cinemas have strict viewing schedules, and the only options are limited to only what is currently trending, which is usually between a few weeks to a few months.
As you can see for yourself the benefits of video on demand services far outweigh those offered by cinema. As such it is evident that streaming services are the future of video sharing and distribution; however, cinemas still hold some value in the society as they provide a way for people to interact and socialize with each other as opposed to streaming movies from the comfort of your home.
Nonetheless, streaming services have caught on s much so that even Walt Disney Co. wants a piece of the pie with its Disney+ service. However, Disney has not entirely abandoned its affinity for cinema based on the exceptional experience one gets when watching a movie in a dark cinema hall. A sentiment that is echoed by many other theatre owners worldwide. The showdown between cinema and video on demand services is still looming, and the outcome is not clear as of now. However, it is clear that streaming services have caught on in such a short period and are here to stay; whether or not they will replace cinemas is yet to be seen.