Times are changing. Thanks to digital streaming technology, at-home entertainment is now just a click away. Fueled by a year of lockdown due to the pandemic, the streaming wave continues to swell—and it will forever change the way we watch television.
Streaming is on the rise.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that in 2020, the number of subscriptions to online video streaming services reached 1.1 billion worldwide (Motion Picture Association).
In the United States, the number of streaming subscriptions increased by 32% last year, totaling 308.6 million. According to the WSJ, “The world’s largest streaming service, Netflix, recently surpassed 200 million subscriptions globally. Disney boasts more than 100 million subscribers to its Disney+, which isn’t even two years old.”
Here’s why streaming is so popular.
Streaming is easy and accessible: If you have an Internet connection, you can stream content on your TV, tablet, or smartphone. You don’t even need a smart TV to stream Netflix movies, YouTube videos, or Amazon Prime series on your screen. Today’s streaming devices–like Roku or Firestick—can stream that content (and a whole lot more) to most HDTV models.
If you do have a smart TV, innovative streaming efficiency is built right in via pre-programmed streaming platforms: You can access many of the leading streaming services directly from the TV’s main menu. It’s as easy as using your old TV guide, but with responsive digital connectivity. Plus, more shows and movies are now being created exclusively for streaming channels, which you don’t have access to with traditional cable/satellite service.
How can you get the best streaming performance?
Your Internet service will affect streaming quality. Fiber-optic connectivity is regarded as the industry best-practice for Internet speed and reliability. As such, it delivers an exceptional streaming experience. The standard recommended minimum speeds for various types of streaming include:
- Video in standard definition (SD): at least 3 Mbps
- Video in high definition (HD): at least 5 Mbps
- Video in HDR or 4K: at least 25 Mbps
As you consider provider options for your Internet service, use these minimum recommended speeds to guide your decision-making and maximize your streaming performance.
Is cable/satellite TV losing steam?
More and more customers have pulled the plug on cable TV—and here’s why: According to Survey Monkey, more than half (58.5%) of customers surveyed indicate that streaming services are cheaper than cable/satellite. A third say that streaming is more convenient for on-demand programming than cable/satellite services.
Just be aware that while you can access some online streaming content for free, most streaming services require a monthly subscription fee.
Streaming is the future. Is your community ready?
With streaming technology gaining momentum, it will only be a matter of time before seeing full adoption of exclusive streaming.
Just as your streaming experience is only as good as your Internet, your Internet is only as good as your network infrastructure. Fiber is regarded as the industry gold-standard. Fiber offers futureproof reliability: Investing in fiber network infrastructure for your high-density residential community is paying yourself forward. Unlike coax cable, a fiber-optic architecture will manage technology upgrades for decades to come.
At QXC, we offer the best of both worlds: Our IPTV service delivers “traditional” TV service via our advanced Active Optical Network fiber-optic architecture. Over that same fiber network, you can also access your streaming content with all of the performance benefits that only fiber can provide.
If you’re interested in learning more about streaming, IPTV or fiber-optics, connect with QXC today. We’re here to help.
