Could SVOD Services Signal the Death of the American Film Industry?

Abstract

The recent advent of subscription-based video-on-demand (SVOD) services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime has posed a new threat to theatres around the world. Historically, whether it was the introduction of sound, color, widescreen, 3D video, or the Smell-o-matic, the film industry has always managed to counter its prospective replacements with the introduction of new, albeit sometimes gimmicky, technology. Nonetheless, with average audience attendance approaching an all-time low, could Hollywood be fighting its final battle?

Keywords: SVOD, Netflix, Hulu, Hollywood, service video on demand