The humble Video Store v Streaming Media

Who remembers when on Friday after work you would stop into the Video store and hire movies to watch that night and all through the weekend?  Well I do, and they have virtually closed all of them down.  In my home town we only have one small video shop, however I don't even think its still open.  Perhaps some Milk bars still have them.  I am doubtful.

Now that we have moved away from renting Videos at the Video store, we have Netflix, Stan, Presto, Foxtel, Fetch Tv and probably many more that you can subscribe to watch on you Smart TV, Apple TV, smart phone, tablet or compatible device.

The problems that I am facing is that companies like Netflix just can't keep up, I am finding that I am watching whole season's in a day or weekend.  Then I have to wait till they bring out the next season.  Or worse still one platform has season 1 and 2, and then another has up to season 4 available for example.  I have Stan, Netflix and Fetch TV, and you can be forgiven for thinking that this is overkill.  However, I find that I can get The Walking Dead on Fetch TV up to season 6, however I have to buy it.  I think that they should make this available as a subscription option not a purchase option.  

Can Fetch TV make available Foxtel channels without having Foxtel connected?  Will they head down that road, for example Telstra has Foxtel with Telstra, and Optus has Foxtel with Optus, but you can't get Foxtel on Fetch TV or Telstra Box.

What are Netflix and the likes of Stan going to do - particularily that the next season of The Walking Dead is coming to Foxtel in October some time this year, however I no longer have Foxtel.  What are the other companies going to do -and what services are they going to offer?

The Governing bodies of Media should be allowing all companies access to everything, so no matter which company you choose to subscribe to you can watch it all.  Perhaps each company involved can make a deal with each other to allow their subscribers to gain access as a subscription offer for either just the shows or the actual channels only.  That way you don't miss out, each company has a cut from it, everyone makes money and all consumers get the variety they deserve.

Here is a great article which you may find interesting The Conversation, thanks to The Conversation for this interesting article.