3 Predictions for TV in the next 10 years

Exponential advances in technology have changed entire industries, especially in the last 10 to 15 years. In media and television, for example, like Netflix, Amazon PrimeDisney and other digital channels or streaming services have also acted massively disruptive forces.

Given the fast pace of technological changethe landscape will continue to evolve and look completely different a decade from now. Let’s look at three trends that are likely to develop over the next 10 years in the entertainment industry.

1. Freedom to choose

The cable television industry has traditionally featured a range of popular channels that customers purchase as packages. The group of channels gives consumers the option to buy a combined package, which in theory costs less than buying each channel separately.

For years, this business model thrived. Then came streaming services like YouTube, HBO, Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon Prime, offering huge libraries of content at lower prices and with zero or very little advertising.

These developments deprived cable television companies of millions of customers. If they don’t adapt and meet the demands of today’s consumers, which are shaped by today’s market, they risk losing more of them.

Streaming providers

The trend in the entertainment industry is to give consumers more options, whether it’s watching live TV, last night’s favorite. reality TV episode, or binge-watch a full season of a past or present show. The influx of streaming services has shaken up the entertainment and cable industries, bringing consumers a greater variety of entertainment, including on-demand TV shows, movies and original content.

Netflix is ​​the most popular streaming service, followed by Amazon Prime and Disney+. The number of people signing up for these platforms continues to grow, especially following moves to offer cheaper plans that contain ads. Meanwhile, Amazon has managed to convince 200 million people to subscribe to Prime by combining it with various other benefits, including fast and free shipping on items ordered on its site.

Cord cutting

Cable and satellite TV providers lost out 20 million subscribers in the US as of 2014 and many of their customers are expected to follow suit in the next few years. By 2026, 80.7 million US households are expected to cut the cord, which is about 60% of the population.

The high costs of cable and satellite television are a major factor in this exodus. Streaming platforms often offer better content at a lower price, as well as less or no advertising.

Separation

For years, everyone talked about unbundling— allowing people to consume entertainment content on their terms and pay only for the channels they want. Now, the latest buzzword is “the great regrouping,” with services merging or combining in an attempt to offer more than the competition and tempt customers to take the plunge.

An example of this is Disney, which over the years has bought Hulu, the ABC network, ESPN, National Geographic, Pixar and Marvel Entertainment. As a result of many timely acquisitions, Disney is able to offer its customers a wide range of entertainment options. However, there are also some options. For example, subscribers can pay for just Disney+ or choose to add Hulu and ESPN separately.

Customers are demanding more flexibility, and with so much competition out there, providers, whether they’re streaming sites or cable companies, need to listen.

2. Ads are getting old

Streaming services are starting to introduce ads into them business models but not to the same extent as cable TV companies. It gives the option to pay more and not see them. And customers who opt for ads to pay less have to put up with much shorter ads.

Nowadays and increasingly in the future, advertising is done in different, more subtle and effective ways. Before, advertising was targeted based on the expected demographics of the TV program. Now, by tracking individual browsing activity, it’s possible to get a much better idea of ​​the viewer, which is much more valuable to advertisers.

In the future, traditional cable providers may become fully subscription services and offer similar viewing experiences to those that threatened to put them out of business. A hybrid model may be available 10 years from now, where a subscription service is combined with smart advertising. In this scenario, instead of having three-minute commercial spots during a 30-minute television program, the TV programming may change to one where the consumer will be required to have a monthly subscription so that they can watch banner ads. This type of advertising already occurs on the Internet, and the amount of data collected by television companies allows them to do much the same.

Advertisers will also be looking to increase engagement from their ads. For example, TV advertisers turned to advertising on the second screenthat draws viewers to their mobile devices – or second screen – to interact with the company’s website during the live program. For example, an ad could run during a live TV event, encouraging viewers to sign up for a promotion or sale through the company’s website using their mobile device.

3. More interactivity

Televisions are becoming much more interactive. In 2024, smart TVs are a fixture in most households, allowing people to stream video and music, surf the web, view photos, and so on.

The next developments expected to arrive are equally innovative. Companies like Meta (formerly Facebook), Google and Microsoft have grown virtual reality technologies. In the next 10 years, traditional television screens will give way, at least in part, to variations that fit virtual reality (VR) glasses and headsets.

Other advances we could see include the ability to place bets during games with a remote control or voice, artificial intelligence paving the way for better recommendations and greater personalization, such as, for example, ability during sports games to organize your own replays and return to live footage whenever you want.

conclusion

The way people watch television has changed substantially over the past decade. A wave of new competition and continuous technological advances are shaking up the industry, forcing TV companies to adapt and put more effort into satisfying consumers. The result is expected to be more choice and flexibility, fewer ads and more interactivity.