The Rise of Prestige TV: How Streaming Changed the Game for Complex Storytelling

The Streaming Revolution and The Rise of Prestige TV

Over the last decade, the television landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation. Thanks to on-demand streaming and an abundance of new platforms, viewers now have endless options of shows to choose from. This new era of abundance has allowed for ambitious, cinematic storytelling – giving rise to what is now known as “Prestige TV.” Shows that may have struggled to find an audience on traditional networks have thrived with streaming, helping to elevate the art of television.

Quality Over Quantity

In the old broadcast model, networks prioritized shows that attracted mass viewership to sell lucrative advertising. But streaming services are subscription-based, freeing creators from swearing by ratings. This allowed shows to have smaller, niche audiences as long as subscribers were retained. Creators could focus on quality over quantity, telling complex stories across shorter seasons. No longer constrained by rigid episode counts and formulas, Prestige TV emerged.

Breaking the Mold

Early streaming shows like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black broke conventions by releasing full seasons at once. Viewers could now binge watch at their own pace, free from the weekly episode structure. This changed viewer habits and expectations. Creators could craft nonlinear, interweaving plotlines without worrying about weekly cliffhangers. Audiences also discovered there was merit in slower, character-driven stories – helping to elevate the prestige of the medium.

Critical Acclaim

As streaming gave rise to ambitious dramas like Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Sopranos, television started receiving serious critical acclaim. Prestige TV was no longer dismissed as a lesser art form next to cinema. The Rise of Prestige TV showed that streaming allowed television to match movies in terms of cinematic visuals, complex characters and gripping long-form storytelling. Prestige shows received major awards recognition, further cementing TV’s new prestige status.

Golden Age of Television

With an abundance of talent and budgets now flowing into television, many argue we are living through its golden age. Prestige TV has redefined expectations of quality and storytelling. Streaming has given rise to a new generation of “auteur” showrunners with singular creative visions, like Ryan Murphy or Shonda Rhimes. Audiences now expect richly layered narratives from even the smallest of genres. The Rise of Prestige TV has truly transformed television into an art form as respected as any.

International Appeal

The success of early streaming shows proved there was a huge appetite for sophisticated global content. International co-productions like Broadchurch and The Bridge helped expand the prestige drama format worldwide. As streaming goes global, local language content is thriving with international audiences. From Spanish dramas on Netflix to Korean thrillers on Viki, The Rise of Prestige TV has helped non-English stories find new platforms and fandoms.

The Future is Bright

As more traditional networks adapt to the new streaming model, the future looks bright for Prestige TV. With competition intensifying, platforms will continue investing in ambitious, cinematic storytelling. Audiences have more discerning tastes, seeking emotionally complex shows that challenge as well as entertain them. The Rise of Prestige TV has changed audience expectations forever, ensuring quality storytelling remains king in this new golden age of television.

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