So, what has 2021 saved? Well, if last year taught us something, it is that anything can happen, so all bets are open for this year’s ongoing wars.
Here’s our best guess on what to expect from the biggest names in streaming in 2021.
Netflix (NFLX) had a big advantage in streaming, and that advantage only increased last year. How bigger? In 2020, the streaming company added 31% more new users than in the previous year. This helped Netflix reach a major milestone: 200 million subscribers.
In 2021, it is doubtful that Netflix will slow down.
The service has a surplus of content from some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Lin-Manuel Miranda and The Rock. He also promises to release a new movie every week – an impressive feat, considering that US theaters are still almost closed.
To quote Mel Brooks, it’s “good to be the king”, but Netflix has a competitor with a chance to move closer to the throne this year.
Disney +
Disney had an incredible 2020, at least in streaming.
The company’s new service, Disney +, has attracted more than 85 million users in about a year, meeting its own long-term expectations.
And that happened at a time when Disney (DIS) it was itself being devastated by the pandemic, with many of the company’s established businesses – from box office to theme parks – having great successes.
Going into 2021 and beyond, Disney + is adding a content attack from its brand properties like Marvel Studios, Star Wars, Pixar and Disney Animation.
The new content, brand loyalty and fervent Disney + fan base make it a true rival to Netflix. However, 2021 will show whether it can really achieve it and possibly even surpass the streaming standard.
Peacock and HBO Max
Last year, two newcomers to the streaming party with Peacock from NBCUniversal and HBO Max from CNN’s parent company, ATT (T).
Both services have libraries full of popular content, but both had an access problem early on. Negotiations to reach popular streaming platforms, such as Roku (ROKU) paralyzed for months. And while some of these problems have finally been resolved, they may have prevented millions of potential customers from signing up.
HBO Max and Peacock also did not offer a big and hectic new show like Disney +’s “The Mandalorian”. Instead, both relied on old favorites like “Friends”, “Game of Thrones”, “Parks and Recreation” and “The Office” to attract new customers.
But in 2021, they both have big plans.
Peacock has an ace up his sleeve with live sports, including the WWE and the Tokyo Olympics (that is, if the already-delayed summer games really happen).
And HBO Max has plans to literally become its domestic box office, broadcasting everything from Warner Bros. ‘2021 feature films the same day they open in theaters – a revolutionary movement that has angered some feathers in Hollywood.
Paramount +
ViacomCBS ‘ (VIACA) CBS All Access will undergo a renovation in 2021.
The service will be renamed Paramount + this winter in the hope of using your studio’s name recognition to increase your subscriber count.
It’s a gamble – consumers may not associate Paramount with their popular franchises, such as Mission: Impossible or Star Trek, just as they associate Disney with Marvel and Star Wars.
But a treasure trove of children’s content from Nickelodeon, well-known brands like MTV, BET and CBS, as well as a star-studded remake of the “Godfather” series starring Oscar Isaac and Jake Gyllenhaal can help get Paramount noticed.
Apple and Amazon
And, of course, there are the deeply pocketed tech giants who are interested in streaming: Apple (AAPL) and Amazon (AMZN).
Apple TV + managed to create some buzz during its first year with shows like “The Morning Show” and “Ted Lasso”, while Amazon Prime Video was successful with “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”.
But as we move forward in 2021, both seem to be just risking the service from the impact they can have on the streaming world.
Apple, for example, has increasingly entered the movie business, while Amazon is about to hit the streaming stratosphere with its long-awaited, high-budget series “The Lord of the Rings,” which is filming its first season.
And now?
Hopefully, 2021 will see the world reopen with people being vaccinated. This will be great news, but it can also change the streaming score.
With the public no longer confined at home and with disposable income difficult to obtain for millions of families, the growth of streaming may slow down, and this may cause some major changes in the market.
