The streaming business thus far has performed like the typical new growth industry, luring lots of contenders to the table since (NASDAQ: NFLX) got the ball rolling back in 2007. This year marks a major pivot point for the business, though.

The early growth phase is over. The bulk of the low-hanging fruit has been picked. From here, it will be much tougher to drive subscriber growth. Some services won't survive -- at least not as we know them. Indeed, it's increasingly looking like the market's current leaders are best positioned to remain its leaders, leaving all the others fighting -- unprofitably -- for scraps.

Investors can't afford to ignore this paradigm shift.

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Source Fool.com