8 Developments That Will Change Streaming Forever

Streaming is a global business, and while traditional TV and film distribution does cover the global marketplace, big western studios don’t have the kind of access to that market they’re about to enjoy through the power of the Internet.

Alfonso Cuaron's Roma and Bong Joon Ho's Okja are two of the highest profile foreign language releases we’ve seen on streaming so far. The success of Okja may be particularly instructive, as the film utilised a Korean speaking lead, and an English speaking supporting cast to maximise its audience across multiple territories.

India is set to become the world's biggest streaming marketplace as broadband infrastructure becomes much more widespread in the country, and the territory is a high priority in 2019, even more of a priority than America or Europe. How long until a big budget Bollywood TV show breaks out in the west?

Netflix already sinks big money into shows you’ve never heard of, like the recent Russian language miniseries Trotsky, which likely won't even show up on your algorithm curated home page in an English speaking territory. Expect broader cultural crossover in this revitalised global marketplace; we’ve already seen major Asian stars and locales given pride of place in franchises like Transformers, Fast and The Furious and Star Wars so expect this trend to continue in the world of streaming.

What are your predictions for the future of streaming, and who do you think will come out on top? Sound off in the comments.