What does it really take to deliver flawless video streaming at scale, as audiences grow, expectations rise, and network complexity increases?

In a recent video interview hosted by Andy Waltenspiel, our leadership team sat down alongside one of our key customers to unpack the realities of today’s streaming landscape and explore where the industry is heading next. The discussion brings together strategic vision, hands-on experience, and a strong customer perspective on what truly defines successful modern video delivery.

As we close another transformative year in the media ecosystem, one thing is clear: streaming has become the beating heart of global content consumption. Live events, premium content, immersive media formats, and data-driven experiences are reshaping audience expectations at a pace never seen before.

Looking ahead to 2026, the video streaming industry is entering a new phase, defined by national-scale live events, stronger content protection, high-performance delivery, and smarter analytics. At MainStreaming, we see several major trends accelerating over the next 12–24 months, and we’re already working with broadcasters, OTT platforms, and ISPs to help them prepare.

Below are our key predictions for the industry in 2026, and why they matter.

In an industry where video consumption keeps growing and streaming quality is shaping how billions experience sports, entertainment, and global communication, 2025 has offered a clear signal: video delivery is evolving, and collaboration is now essential.

For MainStreaming, this year has been proof that our direction - placing broadcasters and ISPs side-by-side at the center of the delivery chain - is not only visionary but effective. From strategic partnerships and global deployments to recognition by analysts and measurable environmental impact, 2025 has marked a tipping point in our growth and in the media ecosystem at large.

MainStreaming, the award-winning and innovative Edge Video Delivery Network, is proud to announce that it has been recognized as a winner in the Edge Tech Champion category for IMPACT at The Fast Mode Awards 2025. This recognition highlights MainStreaming’s growing strategic relevance within the global telco ecosystem and marks a significant milestone as the company’s first award in the telco and ISP technology space.

In an increasingly digital-first world, streaming has become the default medium for experiencing major cultural moments, from blockbuster sports tournaments to global entertainment events and national political addresses.

National-scale streaming events are live online moments capable of reaching millions of concurrent viewers across a country or, sometime, even worldwide. They are no longer niche or occasional occurrences, they are becoming the new normal, and their scale is only expected to grow.

MainStreaming, the award-winning and innovative Edge Video Delivery Network, is proud to announce that it has been named in the 2025 Gartner Market Guide for Edge Distribution Platforms as a Representative Vendor. We believe that this mention reinforces MainStreaming’s position as a key innovator in edge-native media delivery, designed specifically for the evolving needs of video streaming, security, and AI-driven workloads at the edge.

At Capacity Europe 2025, Ian Franklyn, Chief Revenue Officer at MainStreaming, joined Capacity TV to discuss how the company is helping ISPs and content providers tackle one of the biggest challenges in digital infrastructure today — the surge in video streaming traffic.

As streaming continues to dominate global internet usage and viewers consume more on-demand and live content than ever, ISPs are carrying the load. This exponential growth puts pressure on network capacity, leading to bottlenecks, rising costs, and fluctuating Quality of Experience (QoE). Therefore, this challenge demands closer collaboration between ISPs and content providers.

In this interview, Ian Franklyn highlights the importance of a tightly connected ecosystem where broadcasters, ISPs, and technology enablers collaborate to deliver outstanding Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) for audiences. He explains why no single player can succeed alone—broadcasters need robust infrastructure, ISPs must prioritise media traffic, and tech innovators like MainStreaming must optimise every step of the delivery chain. By joining forces, the industry can ensure a seamless, sustainable, and scalable streaming experience that meets rising viewer expectations and drives long-term growth.

MainStreaming, the award-winning and innovative Edge Video Delivery Network, announces the closing of a new investment round to support its growth and international expansion strategy. The round included participation from existing investors United Ventures (via the UV T-Growth fund) and Indaco Venture Partners, through its Indaco Ventures I and Indaco Ventures I – Parallel Lombardia funds.