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Are you old enough to remember the days when you had to watch a television channel at a given time to see your favourite show? Gone are the days of terrestrial and cable television, where programming and its schedule were firmly in the hands of the networks. Now, streaming entertainment allows us access to television, along with music and gaming, whenever we want it. Below, we give five amazing facts about streaming entertainment you never knew.  

Netflix Was Not the First Video Streaming Service

When Netflix began, it operated a mail-order service. You would select movies to watch on DVD, receive them in the post and then send them back when you had watched them. It was all very futuristic, but streaming technology was just around the corner and soon it would eradicate physical formats almost entirely.  

In 2007 Netflix launched its first video streaming service and would become the most subscribed provider on earth. But it was not the first to come up with this idea. YouTube had launched two years earlier, which allowed people to upload their videos. However, Reel.com, a competitor of theirs in the early days was attempting a similar endeavour as early as 1997.  

You Can Take Part In Your Own Gameshows 

One industry that has used streaming technology to great effect is the online casino industry. They have managed to create online tables with real dealers, who stream their card shuffling and roulette wheel-spinning antics to your home so you can play along.  

However, even more, exciting is the provision of online slot games that meld the traditional game show with reel-spinning fun. Once you enter into a bonus round, these live slots let you become the star of your game show. The host will stream your choices from a studio so you can win big prizes. Even well-known properties like Deal or No Deal now have online gameshow slots. 

Netflix’s First Ever Stream Was The Example Show 

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Long before Stranger Things and Bridgerton, Netflix’s sole offering was a series of test shots known as the Example Show. It soon became a cult classic and ran for two seasons. Actress and Actor, the hosts, would present a series of non-sequiturs that included juggling and theatrical monologues.  

Interactive Content Is Here

While it is still small and experimental, interactive content is here. Similar to choosing your adventure books of yesteryear, or the movie-type games that came on obscure consoles in the early nineties, you decide on the path the narrative takes. Animations and movies will unfold with multiple endings and storylines as you make the decisions. This blend of storytelling and adventure is already here with content such as the Bear Grylls endorsed You vs Wild. 

Lilyhammer Was the First Direct to Netflix Release 

The 2012 gangster drama Lilyhammer went under the radar but was vital in the history of streaming entertainment. It was the first content that went directly to Netflix. This meant it had not been seen on other channels or cinemas. It was at this point that Netflix began commissioning its programming, which would change the landscape forever more.  

Streaming will continue to evolve and provide more opportunities. Live shopping will inevitably become more popular, blending entertainment with retail. How the streaming giants fit into this remains to be seen but as a viewer, you can sit back and enjoy the quality ways to be entertained.