We Must Save Streaming Video Before It’s Too Late

A generation of art risks extinction if the companies that own streaming services don’t believe their vast libraries are worth preserving. We have to act now to save it.

As much as we like to pretend otherwise, nothing lasts forever. Even works of art meant to outlive mere mortals aren’t immune to fate: Libraries can burn down or close, film strips disintegrate, and Snapchat messages self-destruct. The internet gives nearly everyone access to infinitely more content than has ever been available before, but that hasn’t solved this media preservation problem—and in some ways, it’s making it worse.

When it comes to saving online streaming video for upcoming generations, the future looks bleak. But it’s not too late. We have the technology and the power to preserve streaming art, but we have to act now.

LOST HORIZON

Our world is hostile toward the very idea of art preservation, and now the problem has come for the latest craze: online streaming-video services. Once a rising star that promised to transform the entire entertainment industry, streaming video’s bubble has just about burst. After reaching its peak, Netflix is on the decline. Other studios that saturated the market with competing services have now realized that they need to make money, not just spend money to woo new subscribers.