The online video streaming market is constantly changing. And we’re not talking only about Netflix testing its Ultra subscriber tier and hiking its prices while spending more and more on original programming. We’re talking about an ever-increasing market that has an ever-increasing number of players, all competing for the ever-growing mass of cord cutters who prefer to see their favorite shows whenever they want to rather than waiting for a TV channel to air them. 2019 will be a time when the streaming market will see many changes, with some highly anticipated services making their debut (and launching their high-profile series). Here are the ones to look forward to.
Apple
Image Provided by Apple
The Cupertino giant will make its debut on the media market with a series that has resisted screen adaptation for ages: Isaac Asimov’s “Foundation” series. At the same time, it plans to launch its own Netflix-esque streaming service sometime this year (some speak of a potential March release – we’ll see). Its shows will be available through Apple TV, on iPhones and iPads, as well as a number of smart TVs set to be released by major brands like Samsung, Sony, LG, and Vizio.
Apple’s offering will be a mix of original content and third-party feature films and series. The tech giant reportedly plans to show cinema releases two or three weeks after their premiere.
Disney
Disney has been speaking of launching its own online video streaming service for some time now, and this year it will actually do it. It has a great collection of exciting properties to build on: think Star Wars, Marvel (sans Spider-Man and the X-Men, for the time being) and loads of its own movies and series that scream for remakes and reboots.
The Mouse House plans to go strong from the start with original series like “The Mandalorian” and a yet untitled “Rogue One” prequel series, mini-series involving popular Marvel characters like Loki, Vision and The Scarlet Witch, and Falcon and The Winter Soldier, among others.
DC Universe
Launched in the US last September, with no word on going global – yet – the DC Universe service is an interesting one, for sure. It goes beyond movies and series alone – instead, it offers both original programming and movies and series from the past combined with a selection of DC comic books that can be read online, discussion space for fans, and a merchandise store. In short, it’s a DC Comics fan’s dream destination for a flat fee of $7.99 a month.
The service already has an original series – the gritty reimagining of the Titans in a live-action form – and has several others coming, like a Doom Patrol series, the revival of Swamp Thing, a drama series called Metropolis, and an adult comedy series called Harley Quinn. Plus, a ton of the greatest DC properties from the past, including the Superman films from the Christopher Reeve era, series like Lois & Clark with Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher as well as the classic Wonder Woman series starring Lynda Carter (remastered in HD).