The streaming ecosystem is beginning to resemble the old cable TV model. To combat subscriber losses, platforms are launching cheaper, ad-supported tiers. Moving forward, we will likely see the "re-bundling" of services, where internet providers or mobile networks package multiple exclusive streaming services together for a single price. Gamified Entertainment Ecosystems
Today, popular media is a hydra. It is fragmented into niche universes. However, the human need for shared experience hasn't vanished; it has merely been privatized. Exclusive content is the new campfire. But to sit by that fire, you need a ticket—specifically, a subscription to Disney+, a Max add-on, a Crunchyroll megafan pass, or a Spotify audiobook upgrade. The streaming ecosystem is beginning to resemble the