If online entertainment has thought us one thing, it is that convenience is most people’s first consideration, even when having fun. Perhaps, it is for that reason that streaming has become such a huge hit. After all, why travel to a film festival or theater, when you can watch the same film of Netflix? Why browse TV channels, when streaming platforms have the same shows available and curated in various categories? Why even travel to a casino, when you can play online?
All of these questions used to have the same answer; because of a sense of community. However, as the internet is becoming a lot more popular, people are starting to build online communities, that feel just as personal as land-based social gatherings. On top of that, streaming platforms allow for social interaction on a level never before seen. So, it is no wonder that this new technology is taking over the world of entertainment, and beyond.
Different Aspects of Streaming
When most people think of streaming, their first thought goes to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, or one of the numerous other film and television streaming platforms. To be fair, it is certainly understandable why one might think of these services when streaming is involved. They are, by far, the most popular streaming platforms, and the face of the technology. However, streaming goes beyond just film and television.
For example, in the gambling industry, businesses are using streaming to create a more immersive and realistic experience. We are, of course, talking about live dealer casinos. Though, calling them that is likely a misnomer. After all, you can play at a live roulette Canada site, without any dealers involved. This sort of interactive gaming may have been popularized by gambling websites, but it has caught on a lot more broadly. Even Netflix is gearing up to launch an interactive game on their platform.
Closely tied to gambling is sports betting, and that industry wouldn’t exist without its parent market; sports. Of course, most fans of football, basketball, or any other athletic competition are aware of the huge impact streaming has had on these games. Once upon a time, people would gather in front of the TV at a specific hour to watch the game. Nowadays, you can stream it on various platforms on the internet, using your phone, tablet, or PC. In other words, you don’t even have to be at home to watch your favorite sport.
Online Entertainment and Streaming
We’ve not even begun to scratch the surface of the streaming industry. The titans of entertainment are certainly benefitting greatly from the streaming services that make their business model easier. However, the ones who are really reaping the rewards of streaming are online content creators, particularly YouTubers, Twitch Streamers, and Tik Tok personalities. Through streaming, they are capable of creating a deeper and more exciting bond with their audience, and building personal relationships.
Plenty of YouTubers have grown in popularity, specifically because of YouTube’s streaming options, which have been around for over ten years now. Tik Tok and Instagram influencers stream themselves chatting with their fans, and in doing so build a stronger and more loyal fan base. Even the website formerly known as Twitter has added a streaming service, allowing users to create rooms, and chat among each other, and their followers.
Streaming has also found a niche in the cricket fandom. As one of the three most popular sports in the world, cricket has an audience of over 2 billion. Fans enjoy watching their favorite players compete for titles and overcome obstacles. However, as with most sports, cricket is a seasonal game. Well, with digital technology’s help, as well as powerful streaming services, cricket fans can enjoy their favorite game all year round.
Simulated Reality League is a new concept, said to have originated in India. By using simulations, fans can create a fully-virtual cricket match, the outcome of which is decided purely based on the past performances of teams and players. SRL has found a huge following online, particularly in cricket betting circles.
Video Games and Streaming
The biggest sub-category of online streaming is, without a doubt video game streaming. In fact, streaming as a concept is intricately tied to video game culture. Some of the biggest streaming platforms were initially created as a way to bring gamers together, and give a platform to professional players who participate in eSports. Indeed, Twitch, the biggest streaming platform online, was initially a site for gaming exclusively, before the content naturally branched off to other topics.
Streaming video games, however, remains the number one Twitch category. Not only has the website played an instrumental role in popularizing eSports, but it has also served in enhancing and strengthening the video game industry and community. Of course, video game streaming has also done wonders for indie developers, whose games can now reach a broader audience, in large part thanks to Twitch streamers.
A Look at Audio Streaming
When most people talk about streaming, we usually think about visual content, like film, television, video games, or even gambling. However, there is so much more to streaming than simply the visual. Let us not forget, that one of the biggest sub categories of streaming is music streaming. Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Music are all incredibly successful platforms, that allow easy access to music artists from all genres. But, what effect do streaming platforms have on the music industry at large?
While music streaming platforms have gotten criticism in the past, they’ve also been instrumental to elevating the voices of lesser-known artists and musicians. But, music is not the only way in which audio streaming platforms are thriving. In fact, talk radio is making a sort of comeback in the form of podcasts. The Podcast market is bigger than ever now, and it is thanks to the availability of streaming sites that fans can get the latest episodes of their favorite podcasts conveniently and quickly.
