Do you remember the time when your family would gather around the TV to watch some after school special? Yeah, we do too. But cable TV is becoming a thing of the past today. It’s slowly being replaced with something even better — streaming services. Of course, these platforms were merely an add-on to DVD in the beginning. However, the development in technology has led to the decline of traditional cable. Viewers are cutting the cord and opting for TV streaming services. Indeed, 1 out of 3 Americans doesn’t have cable.
In addition to that, 55% of Americans subscribe to a streaming platform. As many countries try to stop the spread of the coronavirus, some believe it’s a good time to forego cable TV to save money. But, what if you still want to spend your Friday night watching a good TV show? Fear not! Although traditional TV is becoming less popular, the entertainment industry still has a lot to offer. To find its gripping and engaging titles, you only need to subscribe to a streaming service and off you go.
Don’t know where to start? Luckily, we’re here for you. Here are our picks for the best TV streaming services (in no particular order):
Ready to find out where you can discover your next favorite movie or show? We are too!
Disney+
We’ll begin with a video on-demand streaming service that is currently the talk of the town. No, we’re not talking about Netflix. Have you heard about Disney+? We presume your answer is “sort of.” But there’s a reason for this. The platform doesn’t try to be the main live TV streaming service, it seems happy enough to be your third or fourth choice. Indeed, Disney+ promotes itself as a family-friendly option that’s there for you if you ever need something light and bubbly to watch.
Furthermore, you can watch a pretty specific content here. There are popular Disney movies, Pixar, Marvel, and even Star Wars. Basically, whatever Disney owns is on this platform. The service saw the light of day in November 2019. Ever since then, it has amassed around 54.5 million subscribers worldwide. Not too shabby for the app that was launched seven months ago, huh?
The app itself is user-friendly, featuring genre listings and 4K streaming. Admittedly, its library isn’t as comprehensive as that of Netflix. But, hey, we’ll give Disney+ a break, it’s still a little youngster in the industry. Nevertheless, it deserves to be named one of the best TV streaming services. Just one look at its classic titles and we’re sold!
Lastly, we’d say that it’s well-priced. For just $6.99 per month you can stream its movies and TV shows (you can also subscribe for a year which will cost you $69.99). On July 3, Disney+ added Hamilton, the hit musical about the Founding Fathers. Because of this, there’s been a 74% increase in the app downloads in two days.
HBO Max
HBO is pulling out all the stops to reign the streaming industry. In addition to HBO GO and HBO Now, HBO Max is the latest addition to this cable network. To be honest, having three services is a bit confusing. Can’t they just consolidate them into one? Perhaps they’ll give this some thought in the future. For now, what you need to know is that HBO Max is the main focus. This is where you’ll find the best HBO content.
Furthermore, for $14.99 per month, you’ll watch TV shows like Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, and The Wire. Like we said, the best things that came out of HBO are on here. Although the channel network specializes in adult drama and comedy, HBO Max is a more appealing service that strives to offer something for everybody.
But HBO Max doesn’t stop here. Namely, Warner Bros has “landed” its multiple channels to HBO Max, including Cartoon Network and TCM. We have to say, this comes across as a premium service. Not only that, but it can also rival Netflix. It’s also a dollar cheaper than Netflix’s Premium plan. However, there’s one downside — it doesn’t have 4K streaming. Who knows, HBO might add this in the future.
For now, its features certainly make it one of the best TV streaming services worldwide.
Hulu
This next platform certainly deserves to be among the other best TV streaming services. What platform gives Netflix a run for its money? The answer is Hulu.
Hulu offers popular titles like South Park, The Handmaid’s Tale, and The Simpsons along with other TV shows from FOX, Comedy Central, and NBC. Here’s one mind-blowing fact: Hulu is available on the gaming console The Nintendo Switch. Talk about an achievement!
What’s more, Hulu stands out as one of the best options for cord-cutters because of its many streaming options. Apart from classic shows and movies, the platform offers a live TV option. Here you’ll find over 60 cable channels of sports, news, and entertainment. There’s also a limited 4K content that makes it a fierce competitor in the industry. Recently, the service signed a deal with FX to feature new seasons of shows on Hulu and add past and current seasons.
Hulu’s basic plan is the cheapest in the industry. For just $5.99 per month, you’ll get access to all of the platform’s on-demand programs. But if you want an ad-free experience, we suggest Hulu’s Premium plan that costs $11.99 per month.
Netflix
If you’re a true movie buff and fan of TV shows, you probably acknowledge only one platform — Netflix. We have to agree with you. It is, without doubt, the biggest and best TV streaming service. If you plan to become a cord-cutter, Netflix is the staple streamer you should subscribe to in order to survive the days without cable. In fact, most smart TVs come with the Netflix app, making the whole cord-cutting process easier.
Today, Netflix has over 182 million subscribers around the world. And one look at its library tells us why. Its portfolio is enviably large, featuring numerous award-winning TV shows such as Stranger Things, House of Cards, and Orange Is the New Black. The quality of the movies and TV shows we watched is exquisite, showing us why people can’t stop coming for more.
Additionally, the app is easy to use and has many helpful features. Netflix analyzes the shows and movies you’ve watched and recommends new titles based on your history. Although it sometimes makes a wrong suggestion, we still appreciate that Netflix tries to expand our cinematic knowledge!
Finally, the platform has three pricing models:
- Basic: It costs $8.99 per month and has a lot of limited features.
- Standard: This streaming plan costs $12.99 per month and lets you watch on two screens at the same time.
- Premium: The plan costs $15.99 per month and allows you four simultaneous streams.
It’s no wonder Netflix is one of the best TV streaming services (if not the best)!
Amazon Prime Video
It seems that the sky’s the limit for Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon. Seeing the potential of video on-demand service, Bezos decided to come up with his own platform. This was when Amazon Prime Video saw the light of day.
Over the years, Prime Video has advanced so much that it’s certainly one of the best TV streaming services today. It boasts a growing library of original content from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel to Bosch. In addition to this, Prime Video offers a good collection of popular movies and TV shows.
Moreover, subscribers have the option to download content and watch 4K titles which are the two features the audience loves. Although Prime Video has a lot of original series, they don’t receive the same hype like their Netflix’s counterparts. Nevertheless, they’re worth your time.
When it comes to the cost, Prime Video’s subscription amounts to $8.99 per month which is the same as Netflix’s Basic plan. However, you can also enjoy a 30-day free trial and give Prime Video a go!
