From The Archives

From the Archives unpacks the rise and fall of Redbox, the once-ubiquitous DVD kiosk that disrupted Blockbuster only to be steamrolled by streaming. After failing to seriously embrace digital, Redbox clung to physical media while the industry moved on. A…

From the Archives revisits Presto, Foxtel and Seven West Media’s early foray into streaming that launched in 2014. Despite strong studio partnerships and early market entry, Presto struggled due to confusing pricing, weak exclusives, and poor user experience, especially against…

From the Archives traces how indie streaming platform Inmoo laid the technological groundwork for what would eventually become ViX, one of the fastest-growing Spanish-language streaming services in the Americas. After being acquired by Latin Everywhere in 2015, Inmoo’s backend powered…

From the Archives revisits SnagFilms, a pioneering ad-supported streaming platform for documentaries and indie films. Founded by Ted Leonsis in 2008, SnagFilms built a massive syndication network and tech presence before shutting down in 2020 and pivoting to ViewLift, a…

From the Archives revisits Caffeine, a live-streaming platform founded by ex-Apple TV designers that promised a more social, toxicity-free alternative to Twitch. Despite a $100m investment from 21st Century Fox and partnerships with high-profile celebs, the company shut down after…

From the Archives revisits how Qello Concerts quietly disrupted music streaming by building a niche platform for live concerts and music documentaries. Launched in 2010, Qello offered on-demand access to full-length performances from major and indie acts, expanded into original…

From the Archives revisits Azubu’s, an esports-first streaming platform. Backed by $40 million in funding and exclusive streamer deals, Azubu aimed to rival traditional sports broadcasting but faltered due to inconsistent funding, missed tournament payouts, and the loss of key…

From the Archives revisits Viewster’s rise as a global AVOD pioneer, offering free, ad-supported TV and film content to over 120 countries at its peak. Despite innovative tech, early mobile support, and a strong anime presence, the platform couldn’t sustain…

From the Archives revisits how Beam set out to revolutionize game streaming with real-time viewer interaction, only to be acquired and eventually shuttered by Microsoft after rebranding it as Mixer. Despite superior tech and exclusive streamer deals, Mixer couldn’t build…

From the Archives revisits how PlayStation Vue aimed to reinvent live TV streaming before YouTube TV even existed. Sony delivered cutting-edge features like cloud DVR, multi-view, and wide platform support as early as 2015—but the service collapsed due to poor…