A Long Strange Trip

Eric Schumacher-Rasmussen reflects on recent unexpected changes in his life, including a surprising newfound appreciation for the Grateful Dead, and his thoughts on his long-time tenure as editor of Streaming Media now that he is moving on from the role.

When the Levee Breaks: The Origin of On-Demand Content

Herbert Morrison's stunning narration of the Hindenburg disaster marked the first time recorded audio was ever broadcast as breaking news. The indelible words "Oh, the humanity!" remind us that it's the content—not whether it's live or on-demand—that makes the difference.

Help Others Stream

Those of us in the industry sometimes lose sight of the fact that billions of people around the world have never used the internet, much less connected on Zoom or watched The Mandalorian in 4K. Here's one way you can help streaming video reach those who don't have good connectivity.

Career Lessons from Little Steven

Steven Van Zandt—aka Little Steven, aka Silvio Dante, aka Miami Steve—has never stayed in one place for long, and staying true to your personal muse is a lesson we'd all do well to remember.

Get Back: Peter Jackson's 8-Hour Movie Suggests OTT Attention Spans Might Be Longer Than We Thought

Today, binge-watching is many people's favored mode of viewing. That's entirely our industry's doing (some might say fault), and it stands as a compelling counterpoint to the notion that we've devolved to the point where we're incapable of paying sustained attention to stories and storytellers.

Editor's Note: The Streaming Gold Rush of 2021

We haven't seen this much funding or merger and acquisition activity in the streaming market in at least 15 years. Don't expect it to slow down anytime soon.

IATSE May Need to Strike While the Iron is Hot

Studios and producers are reaping the rewards of the OTT revolution. It's about time everyone involved in creating our favorite shows and movies gets their fair share.

Top 10 Reasons Why Streaming Media West is Better Than Big Expos

As the future of the behemoth conferences is in doubt, Streaming Media West will return to Huntington Beach in November. Here's just a few of the reasons why you should join us.

Ditch the Niche: It's Time to Come Up With a New Term

Calling some OTT services "niche" is an insult to not only the content they deliver but the audiences they serve. Isn't ESPN a "niche" service, too?

The Road to Wellville

The familiar flow of event work was upended when COVID-19 restrictions brought in-person production to a screeching halt and virtually everything went virtual. Mutually recognized production standards were among the first things to go. 

The New Normal

COVID-19 has changed everything, including streaming video. Consumers are demanding higher quality than ever, which means our industry needs to redouble our efforts to delivery that quality more efficiently.

Can We Stop Talking About Disney+?

Sure, The Mandalorian is great, and Disney+ has shaken up the world of OTT. But the real revolution isn't happening in the living room.

The Quiet Conference: At IBC 2019, No News Was Good News

Some years are revolutionary, some are evolutionary, and some are just "meh." Here's why those "meh" years are the best ones for the industry.

$21: The Amount Consumers Want to Pay Barely Covers Two Services

Households are reacting to new OTT offerings by tightening their belts and closing their wallets. Is this a boon for ad-supported services or the end of expansion?

Trouble Ahead: Netflix's Bad Quarter Could Turn Into a Bad Year

The constant drip, drip, drip of bad news for the SVOD leader has taken its toll, and viewers are leaving en masse. Suddenly the giant doesn't look so powerful.

Disaggregation Nation: Cord-Cutters Need to Make Tough Choices

The golden age of TV is also the golden age of TV providers. As the number of services grows exponentially, viewers wonder what they've gotten themselves into.

Modern Times: Getting Live Video Right Demands a Special Skillset

It wasn't easy for silent film directors to make the jump to talkies, and it isn't easy these days for video producers to get the hang of live streaming.

Press Pause, Get an Ad?

Hulu and AT&T's plan to show commercials when viewers pause is a reminder that these are tech companies, not broadcasters, at heart

Bridging the Streaming Media Gender Gap

The Women in Streaming Media group, which strives to improve the visibility of women in our industry had its first meetup at IBC, but the entire industry needs to make a better effort to make sure women's voices are heard.

20 Years of Streaming Media: Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Streaming Media launched during the dot-com bubble, and while some of the early players faded away when their funding ran out, others helped chart the future of the industry.