Who Needs a Video Streamer?
It’s hard to believe Netflix transitioned from its DVD-by-mail business to streaming video on demand all the way back in 2007. Consumers who were sick of paying high monthly fees for cable and satellite TV embraced the convenience and lower cost of streaming and began to “cut the cord,” cancelling their monthly contracts for the affordability and independence of streaming video. Over time, both the selection of streaming providers, and their associated monthly fees, have exploded. So now, most of us are paying more for streaming video subscriptions than we ever did for satellite or cable subscriptions.
Streaming providers like Netflix have evolved into their own studios, and studios like Disney have evolved by providing their own streaming services. And if you want access to the latest movies and shows from Netflix, Disney+, HBO, AppleTV+ and more, you’re going to need a streaming media player.
While video streaming apps are built into most modern TVs and UST projectors, not all streaming platforms are created equal. Your new TV may have FireTV built in, but you may prefer Roku – or vice versa. And as your TV ages, sometimes the streaming menus get sluggish due to modern features and options putting a bit too much strain on aging, underpowered hardware. Also, most home theater projectors don’t come with any sort of streaming platform built in. So, if you want something to watch on that giant projection screen, you’re gonna need a streamer, a media player, or both.
What About Local TV?
As customers have transitioned away from traditional cable and satellite TV and embraced streaming, many have lost access to the old standard in TV viewing: local channels. Of course, you can sign up for a monthly service like YouTube TV or SlingTV, which provide access to some networks’ live broadcasts over the internet, but these services come with their own (usually high) monthly subscription fees. One device…