Downloading movies to own rather than paying for a short-term rental period will drive video-on-demand spending over the next decade, according to a study released Tuesday by Screen Digest in the U.K. and U.S.-based Adams Media Research. The study suggested that the Apple iTunes model, where consumers purchase content outright rather than a temporary download, would drive movie VOD. "Video-on-demand technology is spreading rapidly, and will become pervasive in the decade ahead," said Adams Media Research's president and senior analyst Tom Adams. "But turning that technology into a substantial movie market is going to require a complete reassessment of the industry's 10 year-old assumptions about VOD."
Alternative Payment Methods (APMs) – comprising digital wallets, instant payments, and QR payment systems – are experiencing explosive growth that's reshaping the global financial services marketplace. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research , the combined global transaction value for APMs is projected to reach $142 trillion by 2030. What's particularly fascinating is the underlying driver behind this trend: a growing desire for financial sovereignty, with nations developing domestic payment ecosystems rather than remaining dependent on international financial networks. Payment Ecosystem Market Development In 2024, approximately 45 percent of the global population used digital wallets – a remarkable adoption rate for a technology that barely existed a decade ago. China leads this transition, with 95 percent of its population using WeChat's payment functionality. WeChat exemplifies the "super app" phenomenon, where payment capabilities are in...