The Era of Streaming

In class, we have discussed how Netflix is considered New Media. Well if Netflix is considered New Media than so should just about every streaming platform. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Spotify, and more. Since streaming services have taken off, the hands of bigger and more traditional companies are their hands forced. Almost every major channel now offers a streaming version of their product, this is because with so many streaming services available consumers are choosing to “cut the cord” which for the uninitiated means canceling cable. This is forcing channels to offer streaming services in order to keep up with falling numbers.

If we go back only 4 years ago, I still used my iPod every day and took it everywhere I went. I had an iPod Video which had 160GB so that I could never run out of space. Today that iPod is neglected in the corner of my desk at home with probably a layer of dust covering it. I now use Spotify and it has literally saved my life. It may sound hyperbolic but it is so convenient to have unlimited music on my phone. I don’t have to worry about running out of memory anymore, I can make custom playlists, follow artists to stay up to date, share music with friends, and it even suggests new music to me based on what I listen to. My iPod could only store music which I had to upload to it using a computer. Spotify as completely made mp3s and iPods obsolete. Another thing Spotify allows is compatibility on just about any device; phones, tablets, computers, gaming consoles, and Bluetooth speakers.

Just some of the devices Spotify can run on

Netflix has also completely changed the game. Netflix started as a DVD rental company in order to compete with then rental giants Blockbuster. As soon as Netflix began to move over to the digital end of streaming it was essentially game over. When I was a kid I couldn’t count the number of  Blockbusters there were around the city on my hands because there seemed to be one everywhere. Now that Netflix took over I still can’t count how many Blockbusters there are on my hands, because I can’t count to zero on my hands. Some may argue that Netflix should not be considered new media but it absolutely should. Netflix has undergone a third level of evolution in their brand, they are now content producers, and that is scaring the traditional Hollywood bigwigs.
Last October CNBC released an article that discussed how much Netflix would be spending on original content in 2017, a whopping $6 billion! Not only are they now distributing their own content, but their content is high-quality stuff. A lot of Netflix’ original content has been nominated for Emmys and Golden Globes, and they have exclusive rights to handle most of Marvel’s shows. They have the rights to Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Daredevil.

Whether streaming is here to stay or not, it is currently running full force with no intentions of slowing down. What are your thoughts on streaming and how it may have changed how we consume media of all kinds?

New Media or Modern Media?

In this day and age, we have so many new forms of media as well as new mediums for said media. We have the internet which hosts a plethora of mediums to consume new media. YouTube, Podcasts, Webcomics, Netflix, Hulu, and Twitch. On top of all of those mediums there is also an insane amount of platforms on which one can advertise; Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and even Snapchat.

I asked a few weeks ago what is considered new media. The reason I posted this question is simply that we talk a lot about webcomics, but the internet has been around now for a few decades, at what point is it no longer new? The internet has certainly allowed for innovations and ideas that just a few years ago were unfathomable. The idea of being able to stream content with Netflix seemed crazy and even crazier was the idea that it would catch on. Many people remember illegally downloading music through services like lime wire; now most of those people would have no problems paying for an inexpensive service like Spotify in order to listen to any music, anywhere, at any time!

Something that is interesting to me is when two forms of “new media” come together. An example of this would be podcasts and YouTube. I have put a lot of thought into this recently because I am thinking of creating a podcast for my final project. Earlier I was asking myself what the difference was between a podcast from today and the radio from the ’30s and ’40s. Obviously, one difference would be accessibility. In the ’30s if you missed a radio show you were most likely out of luck. Today you can go back and listen to previous podcasts. Another difference is being able to listen to on-the-go with any of today’s portable and digital devices. Now when you combine a podcast with YouTube is where things get interesting. I listen to the Joe Rogan podcast from time to time. When I listen to him I seek out his podcast on YouTube rather than his podcast site. I feel more engaged actually seeing and watching Joe and his guest/s interact rather than just listening as if it were radio. I have always been a visual person so maybe I am biased but I think it’s interesting to see the two mediums come together.

Joe Rogan’s Podcast on YouTube

Joe Rogan’s Podcast Site