The way that we consume media is changing all the time, as the Internet is used more and more in the distribution of a wide range of content. While our relationship with all forms of media is changing rapidly, this evolution is perhaps the most obvious with video.

The Internet is being increasingly used to rent physical DVDs, and also as a way to stream video content directly to people's homes. There are a number of reasons why this sort of service has become so popular, including ease of use, affordability, range of titles, and speed of service. Traditional video and DVD rental stores are struggling in many parts of the world, due partly to the fact that online video rental (Online Videothek) services can offer consumers a wider range of services and products at a cheaper price.

While online video rental can offer customers a number of benefits over traditional rental, the way that these services are set up is really quite similar. Customers access a central website that works with a back end database to display the titles that are available to rent, which are payed for using a debit or credit card. Once a customer has picked a selection of DVDs, they are then shipping directly to the customers house. Some companies work with dedicated courier services, while others may use express post through the postal system. While these DVDs take a day or two to arrive, there are a number of benefits in terms of the price of titles and the selection range.

While the online rental of DVDs and media has become a huge business, the online streaming of video content has the potential to change the industry to an even greater extent. Most people in the developed world and many people in developing countries now have access to fast enough Internet to allow video streaming, and a number of services are now operating to cater to this demand. Along with video websites like YouTube, there are now also a number of commercial services such as Apple TV, Roku, and Google TV. These services work by allowing customers to purchase media and have it streamed directly to their computers or TV screens, with all the advantages of instantaneous delivery and digital distribution. Both online rentals and video streaming services are likely to prosper in the coming decade, as more people turn to the Internet for their everyday entertainment needs.