Cutting the cord from your cable service might be the most liberating act you ever take, and with so many TV streaming services out there, there’s every reason to take the plunge. Before you snip, though, you might want to consider your options. Here are some important features to look for in a TV streaming service, along with some recommendations on the best movie, series, and live TV streaming services available today.
Amazon Prime Video is a great option as it has contracts with many of the television stations like Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, and HBO, so it offers a huge selection for different audiences all the time. Most services will throw in a bundle of goodies that you can really capitalize on if you play your cards right. Amazon Prime Video is a great example of this as it offers plenty of great features. With a Prime membership, you get free 2-day shipping, free Kindle books, and unlimited access to music and videos every month.
If you want a huge variety, you can’t go wrong with the king of streaming: Netflix. This service offers a tremendous array of TV shows, movies, and original content, and new content replaces older episodes every month.
While still relatively new, Disney+ is more than making the case for itself with its rapidly growing catalogue of content from studios like Disney, Pixar, National Geographic, and more.
Variety is nice, but sometimes you want something specific. If you already have a particular style or genre in mind, then you’ll want a service that caters to that type of niche viewing. Whether it’s WWF matches, reality TV, or original content, several sites have their own niche that they specifically gear their content towards, and that’s what will really make one service stand out from the next. If your world revolves around sports viewing, then Sling TV is your best option. Aside from hosting several premiere cable channels like the Food Network, HGTV, and TBS, Sling TV delivers quality sports programming from the best channels including ESPN, NFL RedZone, and the Pac-12 Networks.
Hulu has a great rounded out selection of the top networks like ABC, CBS, Fox, 21st Century Fox, the CW, Disney, A&E, and NBC. And, what’s particularly nice about Hulu is how quickly it updates content. Some streaming sites take months to get the new episode releases from their partnered networks. Hulu, on the other hand, receives the latest episodes as soon as they air. Hulu has an unusually large number of anime shows. So, if this is your niche, you have an address.
Naturally, price should come into play whenever you are weighing different options for any service. Especially in the TV streaming industry, there’s a lot of competition. Believe it or not, competition is great for consumers. Because each brand is vying for your subscription, competitors will drive down the overall price and add benefits to services in order to outdo the other guys. This all translates to good value for your money, so hurray for competition! Apple TV Plus offers a growing slate of its own content including original dramas, kids programming, and exclusive shows featuring famous personalities like Oprah and Steve Carell.
At $14.99 per month, HBO NOW is somewhat more expensive, but it yields some rich premier content that’s difficult to find anywhere else. In addition to legendary shows like The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, and Veep, you get movies, sports, and documentaries all in one bundle.
Maybe you’re following a heated political debate or news report that just has to have up to the minute reporting to keep tabs on what’s going on. Of course, if you’re a sports fan, you aren’t going to want to wait until the next day to watch the game, either! FuboTV in particular is a strong choice for sports lovers who need to catch games as they air. Because sometimes you just need to see it now!
Which networks a TV streaming service provides depends largely on the partnerships they’ve created with the local and cable networks. AT&T TV Now is a great option for accessing your favorite network channels. With more than 50 channels including ABC, Fox, NBC, and CBS, AT&T’s platform is one of the best TV subscription platforms and is sure to have your favorites from the biggest and best in network television.
The best value of all, though, comes from YouTube TV, which allows up to 6 accounts simultaneously for your monthly subscription, great live streaming capabilities, and more than 40 different channels. Best of all, you’ll get unlimited storage and DVR functionality. Sling also offers DVR, but storage is a real perk that is exclusive to YouTube.
Whether you’re looking for the best in Hollywood films, the newest groundbreaking TV series, programming for your children, or the latest live sports and news, today’s choices offer a streaming platform for nearly every want and need. So make the most out of your streaming by choosing a service that delivers all that you want...and maybe a little more.
