Netflix and Streaming Video is the first book to provide a
comprehensive foundation for understanding the business of
subscriber-funded streaming video and its implications for the role of
these services in culture. Drawing on Lotz's two decades of research, it
highlights the similarities and differences among streaming video
services (Netflix; Amazon) and video distribution technologies
(broadcast; satellite; internet).
Making a number of provocative and thought-provoking arguments, the book
first reveals how the reliance on subscriber payment and video on demand
produces different norms and strategies compared to previous video
businesses. It then investigates Netflix and how its particular blend of
characteristics distinguishes it from other subscriber-funded video on
demand services. The author expertly shows that, by understanding the
underlying economic and technological dynamics of these services (and
their differences), it is possible to better assess the actions taken by
the companies and what the future of video may encompass.
The book is a must-read for students and scholars of Media and
Communications Studies, as well as those wishing to learn more about
Netflix and streaming video services.