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National Streaming Day – May 20, 2024

National Streaming Day is celebrated on May 20 every year. On this day, the revolutionary movement of streaming services and how it introduced a whole new wave of watching movies and T.V. shows are highlighted. From Netflix, Disney+, and Apple T.V.+, to Paramount+, the insurmountable number of films, series, documentaries, and reality T.V. shows accessible for streaming in the comfort of your home is fascinating. It’s a fun holiday that gives you the excuse to grab a bucket of popcorn, relax on the couch, grab the remote, and enjoy a day watching some good shows. Find out more on how you can celebrate National Streaming Day below.

History of National Streaming Day

Contrary to popular belief, streaming services are not 21st-century products. The power of the internet stream broadcast started on September 5, 1995, when E.S.P.N. streamed a live radio broadcast of a baseball match between the New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners. Thousands of subscribers worldwide tuned in via high-end technology that was developed by a Seattle-based company called Progressive Networks. Of course, none of the broadcast hosts or the subscribers had a clue that this would be a baby step of an entire streaming revolution that would involve movies and T.V. shows. However, that was a sign of a lucrative possibility.

By the mid-2000s, there was an increase in the content demand from large audiences during the rise of H.T.T.P.-based adaptive streaming and content delivery networks (C.D.N.). On February 14, 2005, YouTube was founded by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim, which gave people access to long-format videos, news, and entertainment. It became well-known to the public by December 2005 — and the world of streaming has never been the same again.

In particular, 2008 was a pivotal year for streaming as Microsoft launched Smooth Streaming and Netflix introduced Watch Instantly. Around this time, Hulu also introduced its private beta site — the N.B.C. was one of its first content providers.

But the streaming industry as we know it today didn’t take off until Netflix produced original content in 2013. T.V. shows like “Orange Is the New Black,” “House of Cards,” and “Masters of None” pioneered the landscape of original series made for streaming services. Movies soon followed to become popular content for streaming services. Since then, the entertainment industry has never looked back and has invested more time, money, and manpower in streaming platforms as a primary media of entertainment.

National Streaming Day timeline

1995
The First Live Stream

A baseball match between the New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners is live-streamed by E.S.P.N. to a thousand subscribers.

2005
The Origin of YouTube

Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim launch YouTube.

2008
The Start of Commercial Platforms

Hulu, Microsoft, and Netflix all launch their streaming beta platforms.

2013
The Netflix Effect

Netflix pioneers original T.V. series as streaming content.

National Streaming Day FAQs

How much do I have to pay to subscribe to Netflix?

As of 2022, Netflix subscription fees range from $9.99 to $19.99 a month with no extra costs or contracts.

How many devices can use one Netflix account?

The Basic Netflix plan can only accommodate one device at a time, the Standard Plan can host up to two devices, and the Premium Plan can host up to four devices.

How much does Amazon Prime Video cost?

Amazon Prime Video costs $15 monthly or $139 annually.

National Streaming Day Activities

  1. Netflix and chill

    Invite your friends over for a Friday night of movies and drinks. Select your favorite films and T.V. shows on Netflix, grab a bucket of popcorn, and enjoy an enjoyable night!

  2. Make a watchlist

    If you’ve been busy working, maybe it’s time to create a watchlist for you to binge on the weekend. Start by browsing through available movies and T.V. shows on different streaming platforms and see which ones you wanted to watch.

  3. Subscribe to Netflix, Hulu, or Apple T.V.+

    The truth is these streaming platforms produce excellent quality content. Subscribe and support these streaming companies so they can continuously create high-quality T.V. shows and movies for us to enjoy!

5 Interesting Facts About Streaming Platforms

  1. First streaming film to win ‘Best Picture’

    Apple T.V.+’s “CODA” is the first streaming film to win the Oscar for ‘Best Picture.’

  2. The most number of subscribers

    Netflix is currently the most subscribed streaming platform with over 221.6 million subscribers.

  3. Netflix D.V.D.s

    Netflix used to offer D.V.D.-by-mail services to its subscribers.

  4. YouTube’s active users

    As of 2022, YouTube currently has two billion active users.

  5. The Disney+ investment

    In 2022, Disney+ spent about $33 billion on producing content.

Why We Love National Streaming Day

  1. It’s a cinema at home

    Who doesn’t love watching movies in the comfort of your own home? Streaming services give us the luxury of high-quality films right in our living room.

  2. We love T.V, shows, and movies

    Watching movies and T.V. shows is the perfect way to cap off a stressful week. National Streaming Day gives us the perfect excuse to binge-watch excellent content.

  3. It’s a great way to hang out with friends

    Grab a drink and a slice of pizza, sit back, and relax. Hanging out with friends is even cozier with streaming. It’s the best way to laugh, cry, and get scared altogether while watching your favorite movies or T.V. shows.

National Streaming Day dates

YearDateDay
2024May 20Monday
2025May 20Tuesday
2026May 20Wednesday
2027May 20Thursday
2028May 20Saturday

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