Streamin' In The U.S.A.

Last week I talked about the difference between network and cable dramas. In that blog post I had mentioned the low ratings, yet large of those cable shows. This may seem like a contradiction, but it actually isn't. This is due to the fact that a sizable number of people don't watch television, but still enjoy watching certain cable programs. This is where the popular and convenient choice of streaming comes in.

There are many websites and platforms where people can easily stream television shows and movies from. For some people this is a replacement a cable box or a satellite dish. Those people are tired of the old methods. They don't want to wait for a certain time every week to watch a show they enjoy. They want the power to watch it at anytime and with the help of smart phones/tablets, in any place.

The convenience and availability of streaming can be great. A lot of people enjoy the fact that they can watch an entire series at their own pace. No matter how quickly or slowly they want to watch their shows. For example: My family and I watched the entire first season of "American Horror Story" in a week. Streaming also helps people avoid the hurt of cancellation. What's the point of getting into a new show if it will be cancelled before the first season ends? Most shows gain a strong following before they're streamed, which helps avoid the fear of a show cancellation.

There are a lot of positive things about streaming, but I feel like there are just as many negatives. With more people turning away from traditional television, shows can be cancelled quicker because of even lower ratings. If you don't watch it when it airs, then how will it even reach "netflix" or "hulu"? In some cases it won't. Television shows can't grow without someone watching. 

For some this might be a positive. There are people that don't like any of the shows airing on the channels. Several companies out there understand this fact. "Netflix" and "Amazon" have already created shows that are only available through their services. The majority of viewers have stated that these are quality programs they are putting out. Does this mean that traditional networks will have to adapt to these ways? Can the internet take over as the main source for home media? Only time will tell.