Today we have Netflix, Amazon prime, Apple TV and one god knows how many more streaming services.
But streaming is not a new business. It goes back. Way back. So back that you would never imagine!
The world's first streaming service predates the internet. Heck, it's so old that electricity was a word unknown to a good chunk of the world.
Meet the theatrophone, introduced back in 1880s, that allowed subscribers to listen to opera and theater over their telephone line.
It was invented in 1881 by French engineer Clément Ader and was first demonstrated at the 1881 International Exposition of Electricity in Paris. In the 1890s it became a commercial service in Paris, London, Budapest and some other cities.
It worked with the help of microphones that were placed near the stage or in the orchestra pit of a theater. These microphones were connected to telephone lines and transmitted the audio live to the subscribers of the service.
Eventually the theatrophone faded away in the early 20th century as the radio became more widespread.
Anyways, that's something cool I learnt today and I thought you guys would find it interesting.
Here's a link to the original article I read before writing the post in case you would like to read more on it!
Or just watch this video !
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
