Press Play: National Streaming Day
National Streaming Day is here (May 20th), and I didn’t even get you a card!
It doesn’t seem that long ago when streaming was a fringe option reserved for the tech-savvy. There was a time when only a few folks knew what a Roku or a Fire TV Stick was before everyone else did. They talked about buffering, internet speeds, and platforms. Not anymore, that was then. Today, streaming is as mainstream as flipping on the TV used to be. In fact, for many households, streaming is the TV.
From Tech Trend to Everyday Entertainment
When I say “then”, I’m referring to 2012-2013, over a decade ago. Since then, a lot has changed. What made the difference? Simplicity. Smart TVs, easy-to-use apps, and familiar brands have made services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ incredibly accessible. You no longer need to be “tech-savvy” to stream. You just need a remote and a solid Wi-Fi connection. HTC’s Smart Wi-Fi is built for this. Even streaming app interfaces are designed to feel intuitive, more like scrolling through a menu than configuring a device.
Smartphones Helped Streaming Grow
What has also made this transition easier is the wide adaptation of smart phones. If you can jump from your text thread to Facebook and then check your banking app, you can easily navigate the streaming world.
And honestly, streaming delivers what people always wanted: CONTROL. For decades, folks asked for ‘A la Carte’ cable packages. Streaming is probably the closest we’ll ever get. Watch what you want, when you want, without being tied to a cable schedule. Miss an episode? No problem. Want to watch an entire season in one weekend? Go for it. That flexibility helped push streaming from niche to normal.
Managing Streaming Costs
While streaming platform prices have risen substantially over the past five years, there is still opportunity to create your own custom package and manage COST. Most platforms allow you to decide whether you want to see advertisements. If you are “ad-tolerant” (yes, this is an actual phrase), your monthly costs will usually be lower. That gives you more flexibility in how you watch and what you spend. Looking to double down on your savings and make sure you aren’t paying for services you aren’t watching? Streaming platform gift cards are the answer. Available at most chain drugstores or supermarkets, these gift cards allow you to sign up without entering your credit card or banking information.
Since CONTENT is king, streaming wins hands down. Gone are the days of cable with 57 Channels and Nothin’ On. While most subscription platforms pride themselves on original programming, they also have deep libraries of shows and movies going back decades. Have a favorite show or movie from the 80’s or 90’s? It’s probably streaming somewhere. An easy way to find out where to view them is to check out IMDB, there you can search the database and more often than not, it will show you where your choice is available to stream.
All in all, streaming is a CONVENIENT way to CONTROL the COST of your CONTENT. Cable can’t match those 4 ‘C’s.
Oh… Happy Streaming Day! To learn more about streaming, check out our streaming marketplace page at HTC – Video.
