National Streaming Day
Observed byInternational
TypeCultural
SignificanceA day celebrating streaming services and promotional offers
CelebrationsStreaming media
DateMay 20
Frequencyannual
Related toRoku, Disney+, ESPN+, Streaming media

National Streaming Day is an unofficial holiday occurring on May 20, intended to celebrate streaming media. It was established in 2014 by Roku. In recent years, some streaming services have used the holiday to offer streaming promotions or discounted products.

Origins

National Streaming Day was started by the streaming platform Roku, initially to celebrate the anniversary of their first streaming device launch, The Netflix Player, on May 20, 2008. The first holiday was celebrated on May 20, 2014.[1] It began as a celebration of streaming, with users of streaming platforms "encouraged to stream at least 60 minutes of their favorite entertainment today and share their selection using hashtag."[2]

More recently, the holiday began to see streaming services make announcements of upcoming content and/or releases. Roku often offers discounts on their devices, such as Roku Streaming Stick+ and Roku Ultra. They also offered free access to normally exclusive content that would require payment or subscription.[3] This was following a partnership with Showtime to offer some of their exclusive content for free on May 20.[4][5]

On National Streaming Day 2020, Disney+, ESPN+ and Roku announced a collaboration to release exclusive news and series sneak peeks.[6]

Announcements

On National Streaming Day 2020, Disney announced the release of Muppets Now, an unscripted Muppets show to air on Disney+.[7] It also used the unofficial holiday to announce a monthly bundle deal where the three streaming services were available for $12.99 a month.[8] Disney used May 20, 2020, to also announce the release of new content, the film Artemis Fowl.[9] During the same year, ESPN used National Streaming Day to announce the return of Peyton's Places for a second season.[10]

In 2021, Roku announced the release of their new Roku Originals on National Streaming Day.[11][12][13]

References

  1. ↑ "National Streaming Day means free shows and price cuts for Roku". USA Today. May 18, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Roku Establishes National Streaming Day". BusinessWire. May 20, 2014.
  3. ↑ Katzmaier, David (May 14, 2018). "Roku discounts players, offers free TV shows, movies with ads". CNET.
  4. ↑ Haskoor, Michael (May 19, 2018). "Roku Channel Partners With Showtime, Others To Offer Free Content For National Streaming Day". New York Post.
  5. ↑ Roettgers, Janko (May 14, 2018). "Roku Adds Full Seasons of Shows From Showtime, Fox and Epix to Roku Channel". Variety.
  6. ↑ "Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ Team Up for National Streaming Day Celebration". Broadway World. May 20, 2020.
  7. ↑ Shaffer, Claire (June 24, 2020). "Disney Plus Shares Trailer for First-Ever Unscripted Muppets Series". Rolling Stone.
  8. ↑ "Disney's 'National Streaming Day' Deal Gets You Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for $12.99". Thrillist. May 5, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Check out a special look at 'Artemis Fowl' on Disney+". ABC News. May 20, 2020.
  10. ↑ "'Peyton's Places' to return to ESPN+ for 2nd season". ESPN. May 20, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Roku to Launch Rebranded Quibi Originals This Month". Hollywood Reporter. May 13, 2021.
  12. ↑ Cooper, Daniel. "Roku will release 30 ex-Quibi 'Originals' on May 20th". Engadget.
  13. ↑ Spangler, Todd (May 13, 2021). "Roku Set to Release 30 Quibi Shows for Free". Variety.
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