Of course, one issue that has had a major bearing on this area is the rise of streaming technology – a concept that has brought a range of content into our homes and onto devices in a whole new way.
Part of life
For many of us, accessing streaming services and platforms on TVs, smartphones and tablets has become an integral part of daily life. We relax in front of films and TV boxsets from the likes of streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, play competitively against contenders in online gaming matches or lose hours listening to our favourite tunes on music services.
In particular, the gaming industry has forecasted further growth in the years to come, with a Newszoo report estimating that the global games live-streaming audience will reach 728.8 million just this year alone. Whilst video gaming has been transformed by the mainstream popularity of streaming services such as Twitch, live casino gaming has also become a major trend, which generally involves people taking part in classic table games such as poker, hosted by real-time dealers via a video link.
A prime example of a well-established online casino with such facilities is SkyCity, which offers a combination of traditional slots, bingo and table game titles alongside more immersive experiences such as live iterations. There are numerous titles available, including the likes of Texas Hold’em, European Roulette, Three Card Poker and Lightning Roulette.
Many of the major brands within the streaming space have established themselves as dominant forces, complete with recognisable names and logos, as well as a household name status for users all over the world. With this in mind, it was always going to be major news when two of them chose to join forces.
The Netflix Hub
Spotify recently confirmed that it is collaborating with one of the giants of film and TV streaming, Netflix, by launching the Netflix Hub.
The company outlined how both Free and Premium listeners in countries including Australia, New Zealand and the UK would be able to access a range of content through the service. The offering includes official playlists for shows such as Bridgerton and Money Heist, as well as official soundtracks for the likes of Squid Game and Cowboy Bebop. There are also podcasts dedicated to shows including The Crown, while an enhanced album experience for the western The Harder They Fall has also been unveiled.
Spotify stated that the hub would give fans “the full audio-streaming experience from the entertainment they love”.
Generating headlines
Considering just how important streaming has become to many of us, it is no surprise that a collaboration between two powerhouses of the area has generated major headlines.
The launch of the Netflix Hub is an intriguing new development for Spotify members in Australia and several other countries, so it will be interesting to see how the partnership evolves across the coming months and years. Could we see further collaborations involving other streaming giants going forward? This may well be a fascinating area to follow.
