Before cord cutting you really only had three or so options for TV entertainment. You could pick from your local cable TV provider, satellite, or if you were lucky a third option.
Now the number of options cord cutters have is really skywriting as cord cutting continues to grow. According to a recent report on OTT Video Services by Parks Associates in the United States as of March 2016 there were 101 different services available to cord cutters. Not only are there 101 different services available in the last year, but 33 new OTT services have hit the market just in 2015.
This growth has been driven by the rapid growth in new cord cutters and even by cable subscribers who are supplementing their cable service. The other reason we are seeing growth in new streaming services is how easy it is to monetize them.
Roku is the real leader here, because their ad platform allows app makers to quickly build Roku channels, put Roku ads in them, and monetize the channels. This allows for services, such as Sci-Fi Station a new and free streaming service on the Roku that brings you a ton of new sci-fi content. You also see a growth in consumers being willing to pay for services, such as HBO NOW and Showtime, creating a demand for subscription services.
Although it is unlikely that all of these services will last it does show how streaming has changed everything. Now new services can pop up in hours and compete with large companies without the need for billion dollars of investment to get started. This is not only a win for cord cutters but also for content creators. Now someone with a show or movie is not limited to the back shelf at a movie store or hoping a cable channel picks them up. They now have the ability to stream their content online in minutes without needing some executive’s permission.
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