Streaming services compared, including Netflix, Disney + and more – digitalspy.com, Digitalspy.com

20 years ago, looking to the future, you probably thought we’d have flying cars and robot maids by now. BlameThe Jetsons. Instead we’ve got streaming platforms, absolutely ruddy loads of them, and that number is only set to increase as we head into 2020 and beyond.

More TV and movie choices than ever before sound great. But those choices demand your hard-earned dollar, which means the vast majority of us are going to have to choose where our loyalties lie.

So what gives you the best bang for your buck?

We’re here to help you make an informed decision and pick the perfect package for you.

Netflix

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Price:

• Basic package (stream on one device only)=£ 5. 99 / month

• Standard tariff (two devices)=£ 8. 99 / month

• Premium tariff (four devices)=£ 11. 99

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Big changes are happening over at Netflix.FriendsandThe Office,two of the platform’s most popular shows, are set to leave Netflix US, the former heading to HBO Max next year, and the latter off to NBCUniversal’s currently unnamed streaming service in 2021.

Little is known about NBCUniversal’s platform, other than plans are in motion to launch it in April 2020, and the “vast majority” of its content will be acquired from elsewhere, including Sky Studios, which Comcast now own along with NBCUniversal.

A Netflix spokesperson toldDigital Spythat those changes “only apply to the US and there is no impact on the UK”, but it’s unclear if those terms will change in the future.

That is a trend that is happening all over the park as corporations take back content that belongs to them in a bid to challenge Netflix for the streaming crown.

And it’s something that could, although official reports have not yet surfaced, affect future legacy shows that Netflix currently licenses, such as:

•The Big Bang Theory

• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

• (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

•The Vampire Diaries

But while that might have initially alarmed execs over at Netflix, it also means that the whopping licensing fees – according to theNew York Times, the streaming giant coughed up roughly $ 100 million to keep hold ofFriendsuntil the end of 2019 – will play less and less of a role in their business model .

Instead, the focus is on increasing original content, which they make in-house and own outright, and continuing to focus on its established, consistently high-performing shows which consumers can’t watch anywhere else:

•Stranger Things

•(Black Mirror)

•The Crown

•Sex Education

•Mindhunter

•The Society

•Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

•The Umbrella Academy

•Making a Murderer

•Queer Eye

•You(season one also aired on Lifetime, but its second season will be a Netflix original)

But of course, there’s still a number of other supremely popular, well-executed series awaiting further seasons that Netflix doesn’t own outright, but will continue to stream:

• (The End of the F *** ing World

•Better Call Saul

• Schitt’s Creek

• (RuPaul’s Drag Race)

Then there’s the slate of big, A-Lister-fronted movies, which will enjoy limited theater releases before heading to Netflix and Netflix alone: ​​

• The Laundromat –directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman, Antonio Banderas and Sharon Stone

• (The King)– starringTimothée Chalamet and Robert Pattinson

• The Irishman –directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephen Graham, Kathrine Narducci and Ray Romano

Alfonso Cuarón’sRoma, released on Netflix last year, kick-started the platform’s reputation as a serious movie outlet, receiving ten nominations at the 2019 Oscars including one for Best Picture.

Netflix is ​​also paying particularly close attention to its teen and young adult market, with many of its titles catching the attention of younger viewers in a way that other streaming platforms have been unable to. (They clearly follow Hollywood’s “four quadrant” model – ie male / female / under – 25 / over – 25.)

TV series such asThe SocietyandChilling Adventures of Sabrina, alongsideEliteandOn My Blockare immensely popular with both young and older viewers. Young Adult movies, such asTo All the Boys I’ve Loved BeforeandKissing Booth,both of which have sequels in the works, also make Netflix an attractive option for teens.

Netflix is ​​also making a concerted effort with its foreign language output to capitalize on its vast global spread. In March, it was reported byThe Guardianthat the streaming giant has programs in 26 languages, and is aiming to have 100 in production by the end of this year –Dark(German),Money Heist(Spanish) and(The Rain)(Danish) are three of the platform’s most popular.

“It doesn’t matter where you live or what languages ​​you speak, this is about great storytelling,” said Netflix’s Chief Product Officer Greg Peters at Web Summit in Portugal last year (viaCNET).

“Netflix members around the world want authentic storytelling, they want a perspective from a passionate creator that’s grounded in the local culture.”

The wealth of original content, from scripted dramas and comedies, to films, documentaries and an impressive number of true-crime titles, continues to ensure that Netflix remains right up there as a top- tier streaming contender.

There is something to fit every age range, interest and mood, as well as an ever-growing number of foreign-language titles, making this option as inclusive as they come.

Prime Video (Amazon)

Price: (£ 7.) / month, or £ 79 / year (slightly cheaper at £ 6. 58 / month)

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Prime Video has the biggest library of TV shows and movies according toReelgooddata provided toBusiness Ins ider, with 14, 00 0 movies (compared to a fraction of that over on Netflix – just over 3, 800). Though quality, needless to say, varies.

It beats Netflix on TV shows too, with more than 2, 300 titles in its library compared to 1, 900 on Netflix.

So if you’re looking at the best package on the basis of numbers, Prime Video offers you more for your money.

But according toReelgood‘s data, Prime Video has fewer “high quality” TV shows than Netflix – series rated 8 or higher on IMDb :

• Netflix: 203

• Prime Video: 142

The biggest current titles available on Prime Video are:

• The Marvelous Mrs Maisel

• Vikings

•Jack Ryan

•The Boys

• • (Outlander) ***********************

The Man in the High Castle

• (The Grand Tour)

•Homecoming

•Good Omens

• Carnival Row

•Mr Robot

But in terms of films – 7.5 or higher – there’s only one between them:

• Prime Video: 125

• Netflix: 124

Prime Video also has a wealth of legacy series, such as(Lost),Parks and RecreationandThe X-Filesavailable to those who just can’t let go, or who missed out the first time around.

There’s also the option to buy or rent big-ticket (or classic) films and TV shows that aren’t included in the subscription, and you can download programs and watch them on multiple devices – if you’re a real TV nut, you can add STARZ PLAY to your package for £ 4. 99 / month if you’re in the mood for yet more original TV shows and movies.

Amazon has also been making moves in sports broadcasting – theTelegraph

branded its US Open coverage “impressive” – ​​and its Premiere League football coverage is also hitting the spot for fans of the beautiful game.

The streaming site is down to broadcast 20 Premier League matches every season for the next three years. That’s also complimented byBack of the Net, a brand-new football show hosted by Gabby Logan, Peter Crouch and John Bishop.

Plus, as well as a number of other nice extras, unlimited one-day delivery on tonnes of items is included in the package, which is a big bonus if you do a lot of online shopping.

There’s also the Fire Stick, which uses Alexa voice recognition to help you search for new content.

Apple TV

Price: (£ 4.) / month in the UK and $ 4. 99 in the US for a family package. If you purchase a brand new Apple iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or Apple TV, you’ll get the first year for free.

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There is one big disadvantage with Apple TV , launching on November 1: there will be significantly less content than on other streaming platforms to begin with. More, of course, will be added over time.

But what will be on offer is likely to be high-quality, judging by the players involved.

Here’s a taste what you can expect:

• See –a post-apocalyptic drama written byPeaky Blinderscreator Steven Knight starringAquaman‘sJason Momoa

•The Morning Show– a comedy-drama with Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon as rival TV presenters

• The Banker– a film based on a true story. Anthony Mackie and Samuel L Jackson star as two African-American entrepreneurs on a mission to provide housing loans to the their community in Texas during the Jim Crow era

• Amazing Stories– Steven Spielberg is bringing the Emmy-winning ’80 s fantasy-horror anthology series back to life

• Defending Jacob –based on William Landay’s 2012New York Timesbest-selling novel of the same name from Mark Bomback (War for the Planet of the Apes, The Wolverine), starringCaptain America‘s Chris Pine

) • Dickinson– a coming-of-age starri ng Hailee Steinfeld as poet Emily Dickinson

• Central Park –an “outrageous” musical comedy series with an all-star cast which includesFrozen‘s Kristen Bell and Josh Gad, Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), and Stanley Tucci

• Little America–Silicon Valley ‘s Kumail Nanjiani andParks and Recreationwriter Alan Yang are heading up the anthology series, which tells multiple stories across the US through the eyes of immigrants

• Toxic Labor– Oprah Winfrey’s documentary series about workplace sexual harassment. She is also working on a currently untitled series focusing on mental health with Prince Harry

• Servant– M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller, in which a couple struggling to deal with the aftermath of a tragic event must face a mysterious force when it enters their home

You can see the full rundownhere.

But there will be no licensed content on Apple TV , so don’t expect to find the likes ofFriends or Seinfeldwhen you sign in .

Subscribers will be able to watch content both online and offline, on demand, and free from ads.

The Apple TV app is available on the following:

• some Samsung smart TVs

• Amazon Fire TV

• LG

• Roku

• Sony

• VIZIO platforms

You can also catch the platform’s originals on the web at (tv.apple.com) .

Disney

Price:

• $ 6. 99 / month, so £ 5. 67 in the UK, or $ 69. 99 annually

• Or you can opt for a package including Disney , Hulu and ESPN for $ 12. 99 / month

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There is A LOT of anticipation surrounding Disney , set to launch in the USA, Canada and the Netherlands on November 12 before hitting Australia and New Zealand on November 19. It doesn’t yet have a UK launch set yet.

So, with that caveat, what might you eventually get? These are the titles that are already announced:

•Marvel:five new shows with roots in the Cinematic Universe –Falcon and the Winter Soldier(autumn 2020),(WandaVision) (spring 2021),Loki(spring) ),Hawkeye(autumn 2021), andWhat If …?, Ms Marvel, Moon Knight, She-Hulk.All future Marvel films will stream exclusively on Disney

•Star Wars:The Mandalorianlive-action series, a Cassian Andor live-action series, an Obi-Wan Kenobi live-action series, and an animated seriesThe Clone Warsis being revived for a seventh season. All of theStar Warsfilms will also be available.

• (Disney) classics:all of Disney’s original signature films will be included in the library, such asThe Little MermaidandThe Lion King, classic movies will stream exclusively on the platform, as will all the new live-action remakes and brand-new releases such as(Frozen 2)andMaleficent: Mistress of Evil

•Pixar:Monsters at Work(Monsters Inc),Forky Asks a Question(Toy Story), andLamp Life, a Bo Peep short movie. All Pixar movies and shorts will stream exclusively on Disney

• Disney Channel favorites:High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Lizzie McGuirerevival,Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe.You will also be able to stream 5, 00 0 episodes of Disney Channel’s most beloved shows, and all your favorite Disney Channel Original Movies

•(Simpsons):all 30 seasons on the animated sitcom will be available to watch

•National Geographic:more than 250 hours of content, including the Oscar winningFree Solo

You can also expect:

• Muppets Now– scripted series

• The World According to Jeff Goldblum– docuseries for National Geographic

• Encore!– executive produced by Kristen Bell, the reality series reunites adults with their high school musical castmates to put on a performance

• Noelle– Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader star in the movie about Santa’s daughter

• Secret Society of Second-Born Royals– starring Skylar Astin and Peyton Elizabeth Lee

• Togo– a film starring Willem Dafoe about the real-life story of a man and his sled dog’s journey through the Alaskan wilderness

• Timmy Failure– based on the book series of the same name, the story follows an 11 – year old boy who heads up a detective agency with his best friend, an imaginary polar bear

• Stargirl– based on Jerry Spinelli’s novel of the same name about a young girl tying to make her way in a brand new high school

• One Day at Disney– a documentary about a day in the life of a whole range of Disney employees

So if you love your classic and new Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars, this one really is a must.

NOW TV

Price:NOW TV has a number of different packages to choose from:

•Entertainment Pass– box sets and TV shows=£ 8. 99 / month (from Wednesday, October 9). Get access to shows such asBig Little Lies,Euphoriaand Chernobyl

•The Sky Cinema Pass– more than 1, 0 movies=£ 11. 99 / month

•The Sky Sports Pass– 24 – hour day pass=£ 9. 99 / week pass=£ 14. 99 / month pass=£ 33. 99 / mobile month pass=£ 5. 99 a month. Catch the latest Premier League and Champions League games, as well as rugby union, cricket and Formula 1. Keep your eyes peeled for offers on sports passes around big events such as The Ashes and the start of the new football season

•The Kids Pass=£ 3. 99 / month

•The hayu Pass– for reality TV shows such asKeeping up with the Kardashians,The Real Housewives of AtlantaandVanderpump Rules=£ 3. 99 per month.

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You can also save some pennies by purchasing one of theBundlesthey have on offer.

The best aspect of NowTV is that it allows you to tailor your content, ditching either TV in favor of movies or vice versa, or opting in for all of them if you’re feeling flush.

In terms of TV, there’s both Sky Originals, such asSave Me and Tin Star, and HBO’s finest, such as the aforementionedBig Little Liesand previouslyGame of Thrones, as well as legacy series such asThe WireandThe Sopranos.

Plus, there’s a number of non-Sky channels included to watch live and on-demand, such as Comedy Central and Fox.

Britbox

Price: (£ 5.) / month

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The BBC and ITV have joined forces to bring viewers Britbox, where you can find all of the biggest and best British TV content in one place. But Channel 4, Sky and Channel 5 are yet to be included.

It will offer its subscribers stuff from the archives, as well as commissioning brand-new programs. It will not affect BBC iPlayer or the ITV Hub because it won’t offer shows which are currently airing or recently aired – BBC shows will move to Britbox after 12 months on iPlayer, and 30 days after appearing on the ITV Hub.

Britbox will also follow the likes of NBCUniversal and Disney, removing the majority of its content from its competitors, such as Netflix. Popular BBC shows on Netflix which will likely move to Britbox areBodyguard,Happy Valley, Gavin & StaceyandLine of Duty.UnforgottenandMarcellaare three ITV shows that will likely leave the platform. Amazon also streams a number of popular British classics, which it will lose to Britbox.

While the likes of Netflix, Disney, Apple and Prime Video all have a number of options for younger viewers, that’s an area in which Britbox will be lacking.

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