Tag: From the Archives

From the Archives revisits BBC iPlayer's 2007 launch, which made free catch-up viewing a consumer expectation and pressured traditional TV rights models. Now generating 8.9 billion annual requests, iPlayer faces growing funding challenges and increased dependence on third-party platforms like…

From the Archives revisits how Roku built an advertising business that could monetize streaming activity even when it didn’t own the programming or sell the ads. Direct Publisher expanded ad-supported supply, Audience Marketplace layered Roku’s first-party data onto publisher inventory,…

From the Archives revisits FilmOn X’s attempt to use remote antennas and cloud delivery to stream broadcast television without traditional carriage agreements. FilmOn X’s legal strategy briefly opened a path to cable’s compulsory licensing system, which could’ve lowered the cost…

From the Archives revisits how Betamax helped establish the legal and consumer foundation for modern streaming by protecting time-shifted viewing and recognizing that technology shouldn’t be treated as infringement just because it can be misused. The 1984 Supreme Court decision…

From the Archives revisits Quibi’s Turnstyle patent fight, where Eko alleged Quibi’s orientation-switching playback feature infringed interactive video patents before the service launched. The dispute showed streaming competition expanding into software, UX, and IP, with playback features becoming valuable assets…

From the Archives revisits Netflix's $1 million Netflix Prize competition, which challenged researchers to improve its recommendation algorithm and helped accelerate breakthroughs in machine learning and personalization. The contest reinforced a principle that still shapes streaming today: helping users discover…

From the Archives revisits how Rhapsody launched the subscription streaming model years before consumers, devices, and infrastructure were ready to support it at scale. The piece argues that while Spotify eventually dominated the category, Rhapsody helped establish the core mechanics…

From the Archives revisits Seeso and argues the service failed because comedy didn't drive the repeat behavior a subscription model needs. It shows that Seeso had credible programming and a clear editorial identity, but the product never matched how audiences…

From the Archives revisits how Amazon introduced Amazon Channels in 2015 to address the growing fragmentation of streaming by allowing Prime Video users to subscribe to third-party services directly within Amazon’s interface. The model positioned Amazon as a subscription aggregator,…

From the Archives revisits Hulu’s 2008 launch as a joint venture between NBCUniversal and News Corp, which brought full-length, ad-supported broadcast TV online in a controlled, monetised environment. Hulu’s 2010 introduction of a subscription tier that retained advertising created the…