User Experience, Business Models, and Emerging Technologies Within the Video Streaming Platforms Industry

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the cord-cutting movement in the U.S., resulting in a significant decline in the number of pay TV households. In July 2022, streaming services surpassed cable television in terms of TV viewing share in the U.S., marking a significant milestone. Despite the impressive growth of streaming services, companies are navigating an extremely dynamic environment, with competition intensifying, subscription numbers slowing down, and the average monthly churn rates increasing. As several critical questions remain unanswered, the future of the streaming services industry is uncertain. For instance, is the market already saturated? How are companies going to leverage emerging technologies? Will streaming services adopt a business model similar to that of cable TV? Where do live sports fit in? The purpose of this paper, presented as a series of articles, is to provide a detailed examination of the user experience, business models, and emerging technologies in the streaming services industry. Eight professionals working in media and technology companies - including Netflix, Hulu, Paramount, Disney, and Amazon - were interviewed to gather insights on the subject. Drawing upon these interviews, six articles were written, addressing the most pressing issues and significant developments in the streaming industry in 2023. These articles also cover a range of technological topics such as algorithms, discoverability systems, user experience and interface, and media usage across different generations, cultures, and devices. While the challenges are significant, there are opportunities for companies to innovate and provide users with even better experiences.Bachelor of Art