Who Will Win the Streaming Wars?
Streaming is the name of the game when it comes to releasing original content these days. Netflix started the trend and channels like HBO Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video have all become major players in the field. The industry is shifting more and more towards these platforms and COVID-19 has only expedited the process.
Now, with streaming being such a large part of the future of entertainment, you can’t help but stand back and wonder who will profit most off this transition. There’s a bunch of different possibilities but I think the most dangerous threat is Disney Plus.
Look at the way these channels are trending. As time goes on, the most important thing continues to be the original content they are releasing. It’s the stuff they put the most effort into and it’s ultimately what is going to get them their new subscribers. Buying Fox gave Disney even more room to explore and now we see them announcing shows based off of properties like Alien.
The thing is, as the rights to shows like The Office and Friends return to NBCUniversal and Warner Bros., a platform like Netflix is going to be forced to rely more and more on its original content. I just don’t see anybody beating Disney in that department. Look at the MCU and Star Wars movies. They consistently break box office records, drawing the attention of fans across the world. Disney is essentially taking that idea and translating into their original series on Disney Plus. They have more than twenty Marvel and Star Wars shows in the works. They are creating their own ecosystem of content for the masses.
Disney Plus already acquired 73.7 million subscribers in its first year, a goal Disney hoped to reach by 2024. The Mandalorian ranked at number three on Nielsen’s streaming rankings and you can only predict a similar fate for all their upcoming Marvel and Star Wars TV series. Disney isn’t just focused on quality but also what will attract a widespread audience. A limited series like The Undoing on HBO Max may garner a stronger critical response but nothing can beat the popularity of the properties which Disney owns.
The streaming wars are starting to take shape and only time will tell who will win out in the end. The one thing that is for sure is how vital original content will prove to be in the coming years. They’ve all shown that they can deliver a quality product but its the one with most widespread appeal that will win out in the end. My bet is on Disney. 2021 is really their first major go at releasing a huge slate of original content and it will be interesting to see how audiences respond. Lucky for us, we should have plenty of content to keep us busy in the coming months.
