With so many streaming services currently dominating the market, it’s safe to say that the industry is saturated with options. As a result of this, streaming platforms are being forced to find new ways to diversify, with hybrid tiers becoming the norm. If you run a business, then taking note of the changes currently happening within the entertainment sector, and how they are adapting to changing consumer preferences could provide valuable lessons in how other sectors are going to change over the coming years.
The Domino Effect of the Entertainment Industry
The rapid growth of online entertainment is creating a wealth of job opportunities. In 2025, the global entertainment market is set to be worth $2.8 trillion, with a lot of this being driven by digital advertising. This has resulted in more roles being created, including a higher demand for software engineers, graphic designers and digital marketers.
The entertainment market is also having a positive effect on the cloud services market, as most streaming services rely on the cloud in some way to provide a wealth of content to users. It’s not uncommon to see a domino effect on a global level. For example, Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle TV show was originally an English production, and has since sparked the release of a game, titled Too Hot to Handle: Love is a Game.
There are also numerous other international versions now available, that have been filmed in different countries. Examples include Too Hot to Handle: Latino and Too Hot to Handle: Brazil. Another example would be the Deal or No Deal TV show. A popular British staple, the show now has an American version, along with a mobile game, and several iGaming releases, including the Deal or no Deal Lightning Spins game. In this game, you have several classic symbols that have been taken from the original show. They include the telephone, banker’s wax stamp and white cup.
You also have the iconic golden envelope, with the game taking a fresh approach to the classic format. Examples like this show how the entertainment sector can easily influence other sectors. The development of new games can lead to software and application advances, which results in new forms of technology being released. Alongside creating more jobs, it also encourages creative marketing and bolsters sectors, which range from the cloud to software creation, graphic design and beyond.
The Entertainment Sector is Leading the Charge with Global Change
The entertainment sector has also paved the way for the acceptance of ad-supported subscriptions. Media companies are beginning to explore new strategies to increase revenue, whether it is by limiting password sharing like Netflix have done, or investing in in-demand content. As time goes on, more and more businesses are adopting this approach, as a way to offer premium content to users without locking them into subscriptions.
The trend of bundling services is also becoming more apparent. Third-party aggregators reflect a global trend that customers are becoming more cost-conscious. When you look across the world, we are also seeing more mergers and acquisitions, so companies can offer more services for a slightly higher price. Within the entertainment sector, this has helped to eliminate the need for traditional cable, as people can now access live sports, documentaries and even games through a single platform.
When you look at other sectors, such as retail, it’s not uncommon to see traditional stores transforming their entire shopping experience. Now, local retailers are offering drop-shipping opportunities by partnering with warehouses from across the globe. This is allowing them to offer way more, without having to undergo rapid expansion, that would otherwise be unviable. Sellers who use Shopify are a good example. So many small businesses use Shopify as their platform but now use third-party tools so they can utilize AliExpress for drop-shipping opportunities. Even Uber Eats is implementing a tiered service, where people can get reduced delivery fees and exclusive offers for one monthly fee. This transforms one-time services into recurrent, consistent sources of income.
With this trend continuing across numerous sectors, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the future of business is changing. Customers have more choices than ever, and to stand out, companies have to change their approach so that they can stand out in a crowded market. By following in the footsteps of the entertainment market, it’s become possible for businesses to not only survive, but thrive.
Not only is the entertainment business growing with general offerings, but it’s also scaling at a phenomenal rate. Netflix now offers professional sports and Amazon has their own games platform. Trends like this show that it’s not only important to offer more to customers, but to also explore new verticals. As time goes on, and as our world becomes more connected, it is becoming more viable for small businesses to do this. Whether it is through ad-supported tiers for software, or whether it is through focusing on expansion through exclusivity, it’s clear that businesses need to put a focus on scaling aggressively, while retaining core offerings.
This, combined with understanding the cost-conscious approach that customers now have, is the key to success in 2025.
