Television on the Desktop

Internet television (or online television) is the digital distribution of television content, such as TV shows, via the public Internet (which also carries other types of data), as opposed to dedicated terrestrial television via an over-the-air aerial system, cable television, and/or satellite television systems. It is sometimes called web television, though this phrase is also used to describe the genre of TV shows broadcast only or originally online.

The mid 2000s were the beginning of television programs becoming available via the Internet. ITunes began offering select television programs and series in 2005, available for download after direct payment. The video-sharing site YouTube also launched in 2005 allowing users to share illegally posted television programs. A few years later television networks and other independent services began creating sites where shows and programs could be streamed online. Amazon Video began in the United States as Amazon Unbox in 2006, but did not launch worldwide until 2016.Netflix, a website originally created for DVD rentals and sales began providing streaming content in 2007. In 2008 hulu.com, owned by NBC and Fox, was launched, followed by tv.com in 2009 and owned by CBS. Digital media players also began to become available to the public during this time. The first generation Apple TV was released in 2007 and in 2008 the first generation Roku streaming device was announced. Amazon's version of a digital media player, Amazon Fire TV, was not offered to the public until 2014. These digital media players have continued to be updated and new generations released. Access to Internet television has evolved from computer and television access, to also include mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. Apps for mobile devices started to become available via app stores in 2008. These mobile apps allow users to view Internet television on mobile devices that support the apps. In 2017 YouTube launched YouTube TV, a streaming service that allows users to watch live television programs from popular cable or network channels, and record shows to stream anywhere, anytime. After 2006, Internet television services began to switch from using peer-to-peer to the streaming method. After 2010 traditional cable and satellite television providers began to offer Internet television services such as Sling TV, owned by Dish Network, which was unveiled in January 2015.DirecTV, another satellite television provider launched their own internet television service, DirecTV Now, in 2016.Smart televisions, a type of Internet television receiver, took over the television market after 2010. As of 2015 smart TVs are the only type of middle to high-end television being produced. As of 2017, 28% of US adults site streaming services as their main means for watching television, and 61% of those ages 18 to 29 site it as their main method. As of 2018, Netflix is the World's Largest Internet TV Network, and also the World's Largest Internet Media and Entertainment company with 117 million paid subscribers, and by revenue and market cap

...
Wikipedia