While we may look back, with rose-tinted glasses, on the days where we had to visit Blockbuster or fork out for expensive popcorn at the cinema each time we wanted to watch a movie, there’s no doubt that modern streaming services are objectively better.
Today, we have all the content we want ready to go, whenever we want to watch it, wherever we are.
Want to binge-watch the entire box set of Parks and Recreation in one weekend? No problem! Want to watch one of your favorite Disney movies while on the train? Sure thing! Want to watch documentaries about science, history or technology? You’re spoilt for choice!
Streaming platforms have revolutionised the way we watch everything, including movies, TV shows and sports. The only problem is that there are now so many different streaming platforms, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you.
Streaming Sports
Sports is probably the most confusing streaming market. Generally, there is no one place that you can watch all of the games from your favorite sport, especially if that sport is played within your own country.
For example, fans of the second, third and fourth-tier teams in English football can watch their team play using the English Football League’s iFollow streaming service, except for games that are played between 3 PM and 5 PM and games that are shown on Sky Sports. Fans outside of the UK and Ireland can use the service the watch all games though, but domestic fans don’t have this privilege.
The same applies to the NFL. The NFL League Pass is a streaming service that lets fans in the US and abroad watch replays of all games that season. However, watching live games depends on whether the game is being shown on one of the several different sports channels that have rights.
It’s less confusing for overseas viewers, but some games are shown on TV in European and North American markets, meaning those games aren’t available for live streaming either. This can be frustrating for American football fans who want to follow the games live so that they can make bets on NFL games and monitor their progress.
If you’re watching a sport that’s broadcast on TV in the country you are in, then you’ll most likely need to find the streaming service of that broadcaster. For example, Sky Go or Now TV in the UK or ESPN in the United States.
Alternatively, check the sport’s own website as most offer a streaming service for overseas fans. This includes the NFL, Formula 1, MLB, the NBA, although the coverage varies from country to country.
TV Boxsets
Thankfully, things are a lot easier for watching new and classic TV shows. There are still several options to choose from, but the market is a lot less fragmented.
Streaming heavyweights like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu all offer a great selection of TV Boxsets. The catalog varies from month to month, so you will find shows you enjoy watching today may not be there in a few months.
While this may be frustrating, it also means you get some variety and don’t have to just watch the same content over and over again.
Most now also make their own content. For example, Netflix has created hit shows like House of Cards, Orange is The New Black, and Money Heist.
To find the one that’s right for you, check out the service’s catalog and choose the one with all the most shows you want. Also, be prepared to cancel and switch to a different service when you have watched everything you want.
Movies
Movies are much the same as TV shows, in that the main streaming services each carry a good selection. The films you can watch will depend on which movie studios that platform has signed a contract with. Many also make their own films, often with large budgets and big-name actors.
Although Amazon and Netflix have both been investing heavily in regional content, it’s important to note that the majority of their libraries are filled with Western-made movies.
Disney Content
If you’re looking for TV shows and movies that were created by either Disney or Fox, then you’ll likely not find it on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. Disney pulled most of its content from these services several years ago when it began working on its own streaming service.
Disney+ launched in the United States at the end of 2019 and in the UK at the start of 2020 offers Disney fans with almost every movie and TV show created by the company. After Disney bought Fox in 2019, it removed shows like The Simpsons from Hulu and they can now only be streamed through the company’s own platform.
Star Wars fans can also enjoy most of the films made by Lucasfilm and the more recent ones made since Disney bought the company in 2012.
Regional Content
If you want to watch shows in your own language, or you enjoy watching TV shows and movies made in other countries, there are plenty of streaming platforms you can use.
For lovers of Bollywood movies, both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have been buying and creating a lot of content for Indian audiences. If that’s not enough, the streaming platform Eros Now claims to have the biggest Bollywood movie collection, with 1000s of Indian titles.
For Spanish language content, Pluto TV Latino has over 20 free Spanish channels, while Tubi lets you stream movies for free. Pantaya is an all-Spanish language service, while Sling Latino have several options for Spanish speakers.
For lovers of anime, Crunchyroll and Funimation both offer an extensive range of shows, including popular Japanese titles and original content produced by the platform itself. HIDIVE gives you access to shows as they are premiered in Japan.
With so many different options, it’s likely you’ll need to use several different streaming platforms. Don’t be afraid of canceling one for a while while you watch the shows on another, this means you can enjoy a range of content without breaking the bank.
