With OTT based video streaming services on the rise DVDs, TVs and other conventional forms of entertainment have taken the back seat. Viewers are seamlessly enjoying the idea of practicing total control over their watch list. Over-the-top (OTT) platforms have enabled its users to watch what they want when they want and wherever they want.
With the media landscape rapidly changing, entertainment and technology giants have also prepared themselves to face this challenge. The overarching goals of these giants are now consolidation and curation of the best content. Also, increased internet bandwidth and abundance of video content have been a major enabler of this ‘cut the cord’ movement and kindling this video streaming era.
SlingTV: Free Sling Orange + Blue video streaming for all users until March 15
Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+: bundle for $12.99 per month (List Price $17.97 per month; Save $4.98)
CBS All Access: Free 7-day trial
Amazon Prime Video: 30-day free trial of ad-free streaming
Philo: 7-day free trial of live, on-demand TV
Hulu: $5.99 for TV streaming with ads
11 Best Video Streaming Services Featured(Detail and Best Price)
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular video streaming services of 2020.
Disney plus offers endless hours of popular music and movie playback for every device available in the market. Launched in November 2019, it’s a subscription-based video-on-demand OTT service and is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. Disney plus relies on the technology developed by Disney streaming services. Within no time of its launch in United States, Canada & Netherlands and Australia, New Zealand & Puerto Rico a week later, its user base crossed the whooping 10M mark.
The video content library offered by Disney+ is certainly the largest across the globe. It is one of those OTT service providers that disrupted the market with 500+ movies and more than 7500 TV shows on its initial launch day. Its gigantic collection supports each and every device based upon its playback capability. The quality ranges right from 260p to 4K UltraHD video and dolbyatmos surround sound.
With this wide variety of content, it’s possible that you think about any random title and it’s already listed. However, the UI of this OTT service provider is very clean and clear with web-like carousel showcasing the all-time hits. It offers an ad-free subscription service with support for upto 4 simultaneous streams and 7 bespoke profiles. Disney plus is available at a price cap of USD$ 6.99/month and USD$ 70/annum for web, iOS and android devices, best video editing app for android and gaming consoles.
Pros: Disney-owned content all in one place. Offline download. 4K streaming. Good performance
Cons: Most of the originals are from existing franchises. Not all material from the 21st century Fox acquisition is available yet. Basic parental control only.
Conclusion: Disney + has an impressive library of high-quality shows and movies in a featured-filled video streaming package, but it needs to expand its content horizons to be a complete service.
Founded in 1997 as a humble DVD-by-mail service, Netflix has now grown into a 15.8 billion USD behemoth. It is the first platform that saw the potential in paid OTT service way back in 2007. With over 150 million subscribers all over the world, over 37 percent of the global internet users watch Netflix for their entertainment.
Netflix offers the best package of local and international content to enjoy. It offers a wide range of content from different countries with subtitles for easy accessibility. For instance, Money Heist is a Spanish TV series that gained popularity in several countries through Netflix. People watched it by reading subtitles. Netflix Originals’ popular production Narcos also has a lot of scenes in Spanish, subtitled in English.
Aside Netflix has also produced a lot of original content to cater specifically to the Hindi-speaking Indian audience. Some of the most loved web series are Sacred Games, Ghoul, Selection Day, Little Things, Lust Stories and Delhi Crime among others. Aside, it also offers some of the most popular critically acclaimed TV shows from all over the world including Suits, Sherlock, Breaking Bad, House of Cards, Lucifer, Black Mirror, Stranger Things and 13 Reasons Why, Altered Carbon, Black Mirror, Dead to Me, Mindhunters, Orange is the New Black, Russian Doll, Stranger Things, The Umbrella Academy, Unbelievable and The Witcher.
Netflix is also home to one of the biggest digital libraries for movies from all popular production houses in Hollywood and Bollywood. Some of the best movies you can enjoy on Netflix are 12 Years A Slave, Beauty and the Beast, Dangal, Doctor Strange, Bird Box, Iron Man, Moneyball, The Jungle Book and The Dark Knight among others. Its subscription plans are as follows USD$ 8.99 for the basic plan (monthly), USD$ 12.99 for standard plan (monthly) and USD$ 15.99 for premium plan (monthly).
Pros: Great value for unlimited video streaming. Apps available for multiple devices. Huge list of content including high quality original programming. Family Friendly Video. Parental control.
Cons: No information about change in availability of material. Thin cutting-edge material selection.
Conclusion: You can get all of them for $ 8 per month, given that Netflix is a bargain. Paying for an account is a mindless person, especially those of us who live without cable.
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Backed by the eCommerce giant Amazon, Amazon Prime Video offers seamless access to its rich video content library with either a standalone Prime Video subscription (video streaming services from Amazon) or an Amazon Prime subscription (includes super fast delivery on products).
Amazon Prime Video provides access to an increasing list of original content made and a ton of latest and classic movies from diverse demographics. Prime Video subscription is also relatively cheaper than Netflix and as mentioned above it also comes bundled with other prime services of Amazon including faster delivery and exclusive access to offers on its wide range of products.
Amazon has invested a lot of money in producing original web series and a majority of these are loved by the audience and boast of great IMDB Worldwide ratings. These are Fleabag, Hunters, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Bosch, Catastrophe, Patriot, Red Oaks, The Boys, The Man in the High Castle, One Mississippi, The Undone and The Grand Tour.
Many of these original shows are excellent and are at par with other OTT providers offerings, although the other players are offering a much deeper content collection, but Prime Video definitely stands out with its library. Recently, Prime Videos also announced the production of 20 new and returning series to cater to a wider set of audience.
Prime Video also offers a great collection of movies in English and other regional languages. For viewing options, it offers 4K and HDR streaming along with monitored downloads for offline viewings. It also works seamlessly with web browsers, Android, iOs, Fire devices, gaming consoles and STBs. Prime video offers simultaneous streaming of 3 titles and across 2 devices individually. Pricing options for Amazon Prime are USD$ 12.99 for the monthly plan and USD$ 119 for the annual plan. The only prime video membership comes at a subscription of USD$ 8.99.
Since the launch of OTT video streaming and live streaming TV services, the industry has been in a constant state of flux. User requirements are changing with every passing moment and so are the subscriptions and the concurrent technology. While video streaming is obviously the future, some are gaining and some are losing out the market. It is thus bound for the OTT platforms to take time to settle on both pricing and services offered. With no contract to sign and the ease of opting out anytime, ultimately it would be the consumer who would be deciding the future of these video streaming platforms.
Pros: A collection of excellent original content and shows from other networks. 4K, HDR, and offline capabilities. Allows you to rent or buy movie and TV shows.
Cons: Some interface clutter. Occasional glitches in the test.
Conclusion: Amazon Prime hosts very popular and prestige content for video streaming and also has impressive technical capabilities such as 4K HDR streaming and offline viewing.
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YouTube TV offers an excellent selection of live sports and news channels as well as many entertainment options. Some of the top networks available include ABC, AMC, CBS, CNN, ESPN, Fox, FX and NBC. It recently added content from the Discovery Network, along with Animal Planet, Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel. YouTube TV is the first major live TV service to add local PBS channels to its lineup. If YouTube TV’s library of over 70 channels still doesn’t meet your needs, you can also add other packages to your membership, such as NBA League Pass, Showtime, and Starz.
With YouTube TV, you get unlimited cloud DVR storage. The service will keep your recordings for nine months and you can stream your content from anywhere in the US. A YouTube TV subscription supports up to six accounts, so you can share with family or roommates, although note that you can only stream from three accounts simultaneously.
Pros: The best solution for cord-cutters is looking for another option besides Sling TV and DirecTV Now. It has a cloud DVR with unlimited storage with Jio TV from 50 providers. With its selection of channels such as Bravo, Disney, ESPN, FX, Fox News, Fox Sports, MSNBC, National Geographic, USA and many more. There is also an option to add channels like Showtime for an additional fee. YouTube says that it is still in discussion with the network, so more channels may be added soon.
Cons: It was recently announced by Google that the price of YouTube TV would be $ 35 to $ 40 per month, as MLB Network would be joining soon and plans to hold MLB for an additional fee for YouTube TV Is revealed. YouTube TV offers rich programs on all devices with plot details, cast information and related programming for movies and shows. For the game, team information, league rankings, scores and roster details are all available.
Conclusion: YouTube TV offers an excellent selection of live sports and news channels as well as many entertainment options.
Hulu impresses as one of the best all-in-one options for cord cutters, given its diverse set of streaming options. In addition to a strong library of classic shows and a good selection of films, Hulu offers a strong live TV option (over 60 channels of news, sports and entertainment programming). Nevertheless, Hulu overtook some of the top competitors, given its lack of original content and limited selection of 4K content. According to a deal that began in March, FX will premiere new seasons of the original show on Hulu and add seasons to the current and previous showsto of the stage.
Pros: Provides a deep list of content, including full seasons and a full range of episodes. Works beautifully on mobile devices. Provides 720p HD quality video. Commercial-free option.
Cons: Netflix offers a better variety of movies and original content. Amazon and iTunes provide HD 1080p-resolution content.
Conclusion: For those eager to watch an entire season of their favorite shows on various devices, Hulu’s subscription service is a worthy investment, especially now that it offers a commercial-free premium tier.
FuboTV is a great choice for any cord-cutting sports fans. This “sports-first, but sports-only” service provides comprehensive live sports and entertainment content for all your devices. If you want to watch an NFL game on Sunday, catch an MLB game that airs during the day, or even stream a movie on-demand, fuboTV has you covered.
Pros: Wide variety of live sports and on-demand entertainment content. Reliable, high quality streaming. Well organized interface. Enabled DVR functionality.
Cons: Expensive. No ESPN. Cannot view content offline. The mobile app can use polish.
Conclusion: If you are a sports fan and want to cut the cord, fuboTV is well worth watching for its variety of sports programming, as well as its other entertainment channels.
While it may seem limited to pay for a video streaming service from a single broadcast TV channel, CBS All Access TV offers a wide lineup of on-demand. Furthermore, CBS All Access is the only place where you can watch the original content of the service as it airs including The Good Fight, Star Trek: Discovery and The Twilight Zone reboot. Star Trek: Picard is the latest title to launch on the service.
Pros: Huge list of current and classic CBS shows. Live CBS News and NFL Games. competitive pricing. Support for various platforms.
Cons: Some special origins. No offline viewing. Some reliability issues. No support for 4K or HDR content. Cluttered interface.
Conclusion: CBS All Access is mandatory for those who want to watch a CBS original, but its large list of past and present shows may not be enough to attract anyone else.
Crunchyroll is one of the most complete anime streaming services in its library with over 1,200 titles. Popular shows on the service include Titan, Death Note, FLCL, Fullmetal Alchemist Attack: Brotherhood, Hunter x Hunter, One-Punch Man, several Naruto series and Yuri !!! On ice. Crunchyroll also has some original series, such as A Place for Than the Universe, In / Spector and The Rising of the Shield Hero. Upcoming titles include Onyx Equinox, which is set in Meso-America, and Meiji Geken: Sword and Gun, which takes place in Japan during the 1870s. It maintains a respectable lineup of around 40 simulcast shows. Those who can’t get enough of their favorite anime shows can also buy relevant merchandise, manga and more from the Crunchierol Shop.
Pros: A possibly fantastical lifestyle.
Cons:
You are at the mercy of the author of said anime world. Massive disorientation. A whole new set of problems.
Conclusion: Crunchyroll is one of the most complete anime streaming services in its library with over 1,200 titles.
Dazn is the best video streaming service for fans of boxing and MMA. This is a relatively good value, as customers do not need to spend on pay-per-view (PPV) fees to watch particular fights. With Dazn, you get boxing matches from Golden Boy Promotion, Matchroom Boxing, GGG Promotion and World Boxing Super Series. MMA content is available from Bellator, Combate Americas and KSW. Note that Top Rank Boxing and UFC Fight are not part of Dazn’s regular offerings.
Pros: Live boxing and MMA coverage, No pay-per-view fees, Affordable annual price
Cons: Lacks UFC and Top Rank Boxing events, Light on non-combat sports
Conclusion: While $19.99/mo. is more expensive than most streaming services, DAZN is an appealing option for fans of boxing or MMA
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ESPN + offers a respectable lineup of live on-demand sports programming for only $ 4.99 per month (or $ 49.99 per year). It is not a replacement for ESPN’s regular channels, but it may be enough for cord-cutting sports fans. With the service, you can view a selection of several daily sports programs including MLB, NHL, MLS, PGA Tour, and various college sports leagues. Unfortunately, neither ESPN’s Monday Night Football nor its live NBA coverage is part of this membership.
Pros: Highly polished UI; A large library of materials; HD-quality streams; 5 streams allowed simultaneously.
Cons: Cluttered search option; Unexpected coverage of pro football and basketball; Not a replacement for cable TV.
Conclusion: ESPN+ works over the internet. All you need is a reliable internet connection, an ESPN+ subscription ($5/mo), and a compatible device. You don’t need to have cable or any other streaming services. You will probably want a streaming player, such as a Roku or Apple TV – but you can also use your computer or smartphone.
HBO Now offers an impressive list of new on-air original content, including beloved old series such as Chernobyl, The Stranger, and Westworld, such as Ankush Yoriyesiyasum, Deadwood, Girls, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, Sex and the City. , Six Feet Under, and The Wire. On top of that, HBO’s on-demand streaming service includes a collection of popular films (including the recent Deadwood: Movie), featuring a range of genres including action, comedy, drama, family, horror / sci-fi, latino, romance. Includes wide range. , And suspense. HBO Now works best in combination with another streaming service that offers a live TV component or a larger and more diverse content library. In fact, many other streaming services offer HBO Now as an add-on, which helps streamline the billing and account management process.
Pros: Awesome original series, No plan-based limitations, Lower price than Netflix Premium
Cons: Wider range of shows and movies, Expanding selection of original series and movies, Higher max resolution
Conclusion: HBO, the king of subscription cable, has set its sights on cord cutters. HBO NOW, the cord-cutter focused twin of HBO GO, is part of HBO’s aggressive push to compete with Netflix.
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