Alexis Reape ’16: The recent growth of online streaming has led to a struggle between traditional cable companies and online businesses such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Instant Video, which offer instant access to television shows and movies that are high in demand. The changing landscape of how people access entertainment has affected students and teachers alike.
“I like it better when it’s streamed, like on Netflix, because it’s so much more convenient,” said Nina Pagano ’16. “You can watch 20 episodes in a row and cut out the commercial breaks and you can watch anywhere or everywhere.”
Photo courtesy of where2watchthis.com
Like Pagano, the majority of Netflix’s 50 million subscribers are streaming-only users. Since 2012, Netflix has also begun to create original programming such as the popular shows Orange is the New Black and House of Cards and has revived several programs that were cancelled on other networks such as Arrested Development.
The expansion and boom of online media, however, has created a clash of interests as many move from cable and its costly bills to online streaming as their main form of television. Although many users still prefer to keep both their cable television and their streaming accounts, many argue in favor of streaming over cable television.
“Streaming is so much better,” said Schuyler Kresge ’18. “You can plug in your device and airstream. [Online streaming] provides greater variety, which makes it the better tool.”
“I think that watching on your computer is a lot easier because sometimes the shows you want to watch are not on at the time you can watch,” added Kathryn Wilson ’16.
Although television enables an individual to “stumble across” shows he or she may have otherwise never have been exposed to, online streaming has become more popular because it provides program variety and the ability to skip through agitating advertisements.
“There’s a lot to be said for the television set, such as its size, but streaming is kind of convenient because you can use it whenever you want because you can skip commercials,” agreed Lynn Hay, Upper School History teacher.
Bailey Decker ’16 strongly believes in this principle, saying, “I never have time to actually watch TV because of the amount of homework I have, and I’m not going to stay up late to watch shows when I could just stream shows online and cut out the commercials and do it whenever I want.”
In addition to these benefits, there are many more reasons why users are switching from cable television to online streaming. EA Community Outreach Coordinator Rebecca Brinks commented, “I don’t mind watching on my computer… I like the sort of personal quality of that because then I can watch all by myself and remain uninterrupted.”
The issue of online streaming versus cable television will continue to be a topic discussed about in the future. The question remains whether or not television will resurge as a primary means of entertainment or die helplessly under the capabilities of the Internet. However, for busy individuals like Episcopal Academy students and teachers, online streaming seems like the better option for catching up with their favorite programs.