Tech Bytes is a technology podcast, produced by the Digital Services department at Niles-Maine District Library.

In this episode, we talk about Kanopy, a movie and TV streaming resource from the public library, and an article on Indie Wire, which praises it as a streaming platform with staying power.

Transcript:

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Hi, and welcome back to Tech Bytes. I’m your host, Todd, and today, we’re talking about the library-exclusive video streaming app Kanopy. I’ve said many times that I think that Kanopy is the one of the best resources that are available from the public library.

This week, I saw an article on Indie Wire, a film industry website, that also calls Kanopy a “hidden gem” and “the best kept secret” of the streaming industry.

In a moment, we’ll be back to talk about just how Kanopy great is, and why Brian Welk of Indie Wire, sees Kanopy as a streaming platform that has staying power, even while many of its competitors are being consolidated into each other.

[Music - Tech Bytes theme]

Ok, we’re back, and we’re talking about Kanopy. Kanopy is rare in the streaming universe. The content is well-curated and free for public library users. With a library of 35,000 titles that grows by nearly 150 titles per week, it has become a major player in an intensely competitive marketplace.

General Manager of Kanopy, Jason Tyrell, explains the streaming service’s structure to Indie Wire.

“Tax dollars pay libraries, libraries pay Kanopy for access, and Kanopy pays studios to license their content, just as other streaming platforms would.”

When thinking about how much of our tax bill goes to the public library, the cost for a Kanopy user is miniscule compared to what that person may spend on other streaming platforms in a year.

Although the service gets constant requests from users to be able to simply pay for the service like they would for Netflix, Disney+, or Peacock, Tyrell explains that he believes that it is critical that Kanopy remain a “valuable library resource.”

With Kanopy, there are titles that are meant to engage a younger demographic with arty-er indie films and thought-provoking documentaries.

Recently, I heard a colleague at another library refer to himself and people like him as an “A24 dork.” A24 is the film production company that has recently skyrocketed in popularity for the critically successful and sometimes oddball and avant garde films.

Kanopy certainly has plenty of content for the A24 dorks among us, but there’s a lot more too. From world cinema to contemporary classics, it’s hard to find just one title that I want to watch when browsing the service’s library.

And with apps for devices and smart TVs, logging in with your library card and watching diverse, high quality films couldn’t be easier.

Tech Bytes is recorded in Studio A on the lower level of the Niles-Maine District Library, where Niles-Maine cardholders have access to the recording equipment and software that were used to produce this episode.

A text transcript of this episode can be found in the show’s notes.

The article referenced in this episode, Why Kanopy May Be Uniquely Positioned to Survive the Great Streaming Consolidation was written by Brian Welk for indiewire.com.

Thank you for listening, and if you have questions about Kanopy, other library resources, or any other technology question, you can find us on the lower level, at the Library’s technology desk. You can also email us at digitalservices@nileslibrary.org.

If you enjoy listening to this podcast, and want to have easy access every time a new episode is released, please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.

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Tech Bytes #29 - Kanopy on IndieWire.com

Checking In, Checking Out is the official podcast of Niles-Maine District Library.

With each mini episode, we'll share a little bit of new or useful library-related information. Tune in for staff picks, book talks, technology news and more!