Streaming platforms have been around for quite some time now but their proliferation has become greater since the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic. The use of such platforms is made easy because of their simple access methods to multiple devices such as PC, mobile phones and tablets, and even gaming consoles.
As of 2021, there are many streaming platforms from which to choose, and while some of them offer fantastic value for money over traditional media outlets such as cable and Sky the majority of them either aren't very good or contain content that can be found elsewhere or inside another package.
Because of this, it might not be too surprising to find that some of the biggest companies offer the best streaming platforms. These platforms include:
Netflix has been around for a while and is the largest streaming platform currently available while Apple TV is new to the game but offers some great alternative viewing and Disney has some of the best first-party productions available as well as iconic IP.
The beginning of binge-watching started here so you may want to stock up on supplements since you won’t be leaving the house; I remember that someone wrote a blog post about supplements once, but it's lost to TV time. Anyway, Netflix is undoubtedly the king of streaming platforms and currently holds the record for the most concurrently subscribed users at over 200 million. The video streaming service originally started as a movie rental platform but quickly evolved into a video-on-demand service that has grown year on year thanks to its first original production, House of Cards, whose quality was on par with that of an HBO series such as The Sopranos.
One of the driving forces behind a platform such as Netflix is customer disinterest in paid commercial TV with not only digital TV services that are provided free but even subscription and contract-based services such as Sky TV. The phenomenal growth of Netflix now means that it is the premier choice for people wishing to switch to video-on-demand streaming services and iconic shows such as Stranger Things, The Crown and Ozark place Netflix originals among some of the highest-rated shows ever watched in production history.
As a commercial entity and technological innovator, Apple is a force to be reckoned with. Since the introduction of the Macintosh personal computer in the 1980s the company has been a driving force behind high-tech production and commercial consumerism in America and indeed the rest of the world. Under the supervision of the late Steve Jobs, Apple's commitment to providing a comprehensive user experience has been at the forefront of the company's business model for decades.
Given that Apple likes to be the face of technological change all over the world it was only a matter of time before the company decided to embrace the world of video-on-demand and produce their own original content. While subscriber numbers are nothing like Netflix, the platform is indeed one of the best around and provides very well-produced alternative content with excellent shows such as Defending Jacob starring Chris Evans, the very relevant Truth be Told, and the creepy Servant from horror legend M. Night Shyamalan.
Disney Plus is the newest addition to the growing list of video-on-demand services however given Disney's long history of Amazing Productions that appeal to both adults and children the streaming service has exploded onto the scene with subscriber numbers that are quickly catching up to Netflix and currently stand at a whopping 95 million which has been helped along by its integration with Sky TV in the UK.
The great benefit of Disney Plus is that all subscribers have access to an amazing array of iconic movies and TV shows from Disney originals such as Snow White and Cinderella, for example, to all the Star Wars movies including the brand new ones and the Marvel movie back catalog of the Marvel Cinematic Universe which includes such series’ as Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor as well as The Avengers and X-Men. New Marvel and Star Wars TV shows are also currently available such as Falcon and The Winter Soldier and The Mandalorian.
