A streaming media service is an online provider that allows users to watch or listen to content, such as films, TV series, music, or podcasts, over the Internet. Instead of downloading the content to a media device, users can stream it in real-time, which means they can start watching or listening immediately without having to wait for the entire file to download. Streaming services offer instant access to content, allowing users to watch or listen on-demand without the need for downloads or physical media. Some streaming services started as an add-on to a Blu-ray video title as a supplement to the material watched. Popular examples of video and audio streaming services include Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Audible, and Spotify.
Over-the-top media service (OTT) (also known as streaming platform) is a streaming media service delivered via the public Internet. OTT television bypasses terrestrial, cable, and satellite transmissions, the systems that have traditionally been the controllers or distributors of television content. As with broadcast networks and cable channels, many major film studios are involved in the production of the content provided by streaming television platforms.
Digital streaming acts in a similar way to video on demand in that the program to watch is selected. But the program is not recorded or stored like it might be on TiVo, etc. Digital video purchases grant a user indefinite access to a show or film, but the terms and conditions vary as to whether the file can be downloaded or must be streamed.
A client end-user can use a streaming device, smart TV, computer, or smartphone to start and continue playing digital video content before the entire file is transmitted. Users will need an Internet connection to stream or download video content. Users lacking compatible hardware or software systems may be unable to stream or download certain content.
Video on demand streaming platforms
100+ million subscribers
Service Parent Launch Country of origin Subscribers Content Areas served Netflix Netflix, Inc. January 16, 2007 325 million Netflix Originals, Studio Ghibli, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Wizarding World, BBC Studios, ITV Studios, Studio 100, WildBrain, Wow Unlimited Media, Lionsgate Studios, Bento Box Entertainment, MarVista Entertainment, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, STX Entertainment, Skydance Media, Gaumont, Xilam, A&E Networks, ABS-CBN Studios, GMA Network, Viva Entertainment, Regal Entertainment, Astro Shaw, Primeworks Studios, CJ ENM, JTBC, Sony Pictures Entertainment, NFL, MLB, WWE, licensed content from other vendors. Worldwide JioHotstar JioStar February 11, 2015 (as Hotstar) February 14, 2025 280 million JioHotstar Originals, Star Studios, Viacom18 Studios, Jio Studios, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+, HBO Max, The Pokémon Company, Muse Communication, licensed content from other vendors. Canada, India, Singapore, United Kingdom Paramount+, HBO Max, Discovery+ & SkyShowtime Skydance Corporation Paramount+: March 4, 2021SkyShowtime: September 20, 2022HBO Max: May 27, 2020 Discovery+: January 4, 2021 Paramount+: 82.5 millionSkyShowtime: 6.2 million HBO Max & Discovery+: 164 millionTotal: 252.7 million Paramount+ & SkyShowtime: Paramount+ Originals, CBS, CBS Sports, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television Studios, Skydance Pictures, Miramax, Dimension Films, Republic Pictures, CMT, MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon Group, Comedy Central, Showtime Networks, Smithsonian Channel, BET, Tyler Perry Studios, NFL, UFC, Zuffa Boxing, licensed content from other vendors. HBO Max & Discovery+: HBO Inc., HBO Max Originals, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, The CW, Discovery Channel, Food Network, TLC, Asian Food Network, HGTV, ID, Travel Channel, Animal Planet, Magnolia Network, New Line Cinema, DC Studios, TNT Sports, CNN, BBC Studios, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, The Cartoon Network Inc., TBS, TNT, TruTV, Wizarding World, Discovery+ Originals, Discovery Channel, OWN, licensed content from other vendors such as A&E Networks and ABS-CBN Studios. Paramount+ & HBO Max : Worldwide Discovery+: Austria, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, MENA, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States
SkyShowtime: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
https://s201.q4cdn.com/336605034/files/doc_earnings/2024/q1/earnings-result/WBD-1Q24-Earnings-Release.pdf Amazon Prime Video & MGM+ Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon Prime Video: September 7, 2006MGM+: October 30, 2009 205 million Amazon Originals, Amazon MGM Studios, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Orion Pictures, American International Pictures, Lightworkers Media, National Football League, WNBA, NBA, ABS-CBN Studios, GMA Network, Regal Entertainment, Viva Entertainment, Astro Shaw, Primeworks Studios, CJ ENM, JTBC, licensed content from other vendors. Worldwide Disney+ & Hulu The Walt Disney Company Disney+: November 12, 2019Hulu: October 29, 2007 196 million Disney+ Originals (Hulu), Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney Branded Television, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, National Geographic, ABC, The Muppets Studio, 20th Television, Freeform, FX Networks, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures, ESPN, NFL, NHL, College sports, WNBA, NBA, licensed content from other vendors. Worldwide YouTube Premium Google (Alphabet) November 14, 2014 125 million YouTube Originals, licensed content from other vendors. 120 countries Tencent Video Tencent Holdings Ltd. June 2011 120 million Tencent Video Originals, licensed content from other vendors. Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam iQIYI Baidu, Inc. April 22, 2010 101.4 million iQIYI Originals, licensed content from other vendors. Worldwide
50–100 million subscribers Service Parent Launch Country of origin Subscribers Content Areas served Youku Alibaba Group December 21, 2006 90 million Youku Originals, licensed content from other vendors. China Mango TV Hunan Broadcasting System April 20, 2014 73.31 million MangoTV Originals, Hunan Television, Hunan Broadcasting System, licensed content from other vendors. Worldwide ZEE5 Zee Entertainment Enterprises February 14, 2018 65.9 million Zee5 Originals, Zee TV, &TV, Zee Marathi, Zee Yuva, Zee Sarthak, Zee Kannada, Zee Telugu, Zee Bangla, Zee Punjabi, Zee Keralam, Zee Tamizh, Zee Café, licensed content from other vendors. 190+ countries Vidio Emtek October 15, 2014 60 million Vidio original content, licensed content from other vendors. Indonesia Apple TVApple Inc. November 1, 201960 millionApple TV Originals, MLB, MLS, F1114 countries
10–50 million subscribers Service Parent Launch Country of origin Subscribers Content Areas served Peacock NBCUniversal (Comcast) April 15, 2020 48 million Peacock Originals, NBC, NBC News, NBC Sports, Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation, Illumination, Universal Animation Studios, Universal Television, Telemundo, Bravo, NFL, MLB, WNBA, NBA, licensed content from other vendors. Worldwide SonyLIV Sony Pictures Networks India (Sony) January 22, 2013 33.3 million Sony TV, Sony SAB, Sony Marathi, Sony Ten, Sony Max, Sony Max 2, Sony PIX, Sony Six, licensed content from other vendors. Canada, Europe, Middle East, Indo-Pacific, United States BiliBili Bilibili Inc. June 26, 2009 28.5 million Bilibili Original, licensed content from other vendors. Worldwide iflix Tencent May 27, 2014 25 million Previous licensed content: The Walt Disney Company, MGM, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Fox, and Starz Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam Curiosity Stream Curiosity March 18, 2015 25 million Factual nonfiction content in science, history, mathematics, technology, robotics, and nature 175 countries MBC Shahid MBC Group 2008 SVOD: 4.8 millionAVOD: 17.8 millionTotal: 22.6 million Shahid Originals, MBC Group, Rotana Media Group, Saudi Sports Company, Al Arabiya, SBA, licensed content from other vendors. Worldwide WATCH IT United Media Services March 5, 2019 SVOD: 3.3 millionAVOD: 17.1 millionTotal: 20.4 million Al Hayah, CBC, Egyptian Television Network, Mehwar TV, National Media Authority, ON E, DMC TV, TeN TV licensed content from other vendors. Worldwide Crunchyroll Sony Group May 14, 2006 21 million Aniplex, Kadokawa Corporation, Pony Canyon, Shogakukan, Shueisha, Toei Animation, licensed content from other vendors. Worldwide DAZN Access Industries July 8, 2015 20 million DAZN original content, Eurosport, Sportdigital, Juventus TV, Inter TV, LFC TV, Milan TV, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, Golden Boy Promotions, UEFA Champions League, UFC, PGA Championship, Formula One, WWE. Worldwide Lionsgate+ Starz Entertainment October 8, 2012 19.6 million Starz Original, Lionsgate, Lantern Entertainment, Dimension Films, Hearst Entertainment, Tribune Entertainment, licensed content from other vendors. India, Indonesia, (Lionsgate Play), Ireland, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, (Lionsgate+) and 17 countries in the MENA region (Starzplay Arabia), United States and Canada (Starz). Eros Now Eros Media World August 2012 19 million Eros Now originals, Hum TV, ARY TV, licensed content from other vendors. Worldwide Viu Viu International Ltd(PCCW Media Limited) October 26, 2015 13.8 million Viu Originals, licensed content from other vendors. Bahrain, Egypt, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, United Arab Emirates VMX Viva Communications January 29, 2021 12 million VMX Originals, Viva Films, Viva Cinema, Studio Viva, licensed content from other vendors. 78 countries Kinopoisk Yandex May 23, 2018 11.9 million , licensed content from other vendors. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Uzbekistan iWant ABS-CBN Corporation January 8, 2010 11 million iWant Originals, ABS-CBN channels like S+A, ANC, Kapamilya Channel, DZMM TeleRadyo, ABS-CBN Studios, Star Cinema, GMA Network, GTV, Regal Entertainment, Viva Films, Studio Viva, MediaQuest Holdings Worldwide
1–10 million subscribers