For too long, streaming has been a one-way street. But now, fans have a chance to unlock exclusive perks whenever they watch their favorite content.
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A Web3-powered streaming platform, Replay vows to transform the entertainment industry — empowering viewers and creators alike. It allows audiences to be rewarded for their attention, all while unlocking new revenue streams for talented individuals behind the camera.
The entertainment world has changed dramatically in recent years, but some things remain the same. Revenue continues to be a one-way street — with consumers buying subscriptions or downloads for the content they want to see.
And it’s a huge market — with the typical American watching TV for about three hours a day. This is the ultimate definition of passive consumption, with viewers getting nothing in return for the time investment they’re making. Likewise, for entertainment brands, interaction with their audience ends when the stream does: media brands have no actionable way to invite their fans to get more involved in the projects they love.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Digital collectibles are a thrilling new form of engagement that can deliver added value to audiences — and for hardcore fans who have memorized every line of their favorite programs, premium content can unlock real value: creatives can activate their fandom by tying collectibles to perks like access to live events and exclusive content like behind-the-scenes.
Viewers aren’t the only ones crying out for change. Earlier this year, writers and actors in Hollywood embarked on their first joint strike since 1960 — with the production of TV shows and films grinding to a halt for months. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) was one concern, but many of those on the picket line were primarily worried about residuals — the income they receive when content is repeated on cable, played on Netflix, or bought on DVD. Actors have talked about receiving pennies whenever the shows they’ve starred in are put on streaming services — eroding what used to be a long-term revenue stream. More importantly, they don’t understand why they’re getting paid the rates they are, with little insight into performance metrics and how they’re used to determine payouts.
A more transparent, Web3-powered and blockchain-enabled solution is needed for them, too.
Making every view count
This is where Replay, a Web3 streaming platform built on Theta’s Core blockchain, comes in. The Web3 project offers RewardedTV free streaming service across all major platforms, with live events and “watch parties” with live chat so friends can watch together. Regular viewers can unlock exclusive nonfungible tokens (NFTs) related to their favorite content and support the projects they love — bringing them closer to creators.
Source: Replay
On the production side, creators can receive instantaneous payments whenever their content is seen — and get real-time insight into video activity. All of this is recorded on a distributed ledger, with Imagine Replay likening itself to a “universal meter” for content consumption.
The platform has already entered into top-tier partnerships — including with Chess.com, which broadcasts international tournaments to a community of more than 140 million members. This collaboration ensures superfans everywhere get even more out of the experience. Meanwhile, the hit anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! is also now available — complete with rewards, badges and digital collectibles as Replay gamifies the world of content discovery.
The Web3 organization doesn’t see its blockchain protocol as only being limited to its community-led streaming app RewardedTV: collaborations have also been struck up with other streaming services — starting with HalloweenFlix, which gives horror fans a much-needed fright as the spooky season approaches.
Overall, Replay’s goal is simple: bringing fans and creators closer together, and ensuring that both get even more out of the experience. Enhancing transparency in the video-on-demand space and unlocking new monetization opportunities for all can lead to even more exciting content entering the ecosystem.
