Why Are There so Many Streaming Services?

Why+Are+There+so+Many+Streaming+Services%3F

Abhiyan Kota, Staff Writer

Streaming services are the ultimate sources of entertainment for many. It is cheaper than cable, offers a variety of movies, some make their own TV shows, provides access to cable channels, and there is something to watch for everyone. In fact, streaming services have become so popular that there are now way too many of them. There is Netflix, Prime, Hulu, Disney Plus (soon), YouTube TV, CBS All Access, and HBO Now. Due to such a variety, many people don’t even have cable anymore; just wi-fi, internet, and a device to watch TV on. With so many available companies to choose from, it is good to know which one is best for you. It’s time to dig deeper and determine which is the best streaming company. 

First off, Netflix. Who doesn’t love it? Netflix is the trademark of what a streaming service should be. It runs on a price that is considered middle-range, $8.99/month. There is incredible original programming, in terms of both movies and TV shows. The selection is optimal because of the variety, size, incorporation of cultures, and quality of entertainment offered. The only drawback is that many titles come and go frequently, and Netflix doesn’t add new content that often. Netflix’s biggest competitors are Prime Video and Hulu. Prime is pretty nice considering it comes with the actual Amazon membership. It’s $12.99/month and has recently been releasing many high-quality original series. Unfortunately, Prime Video also isn’t good at offering new content on a reasonable basis and can become really pricey when adding other channels. Hulu is a big player in the streaming service industry. It is just $5.99/month, has original programming comparable to that of Netflix, and has many shows and movies of current significance. Its problem is the number of commercials and a bad interface.

Moving on, YouTube TV is becoming very popular. There are over 70 cable channels, all of the YouTube originals, live TV, the actual search engine itself, and impeccable packages including NBA League Pass. The only problem is YouTube TV is $49.99/month, making it the priciest service in this article, but consider the fact that it is cable, plus a lot more. The other two current and notable services are CBS All Access and HBO Now. Both offer all the TV shows from that channel and are on equal grounds when it comes to original programming. HBO, of course, has more quality and award-winning movies and TV shows, while CBS is all about comedic, daily entertainment. In saying that, CBS does offer the advantage of live news. All Access is $5.99/month and Now is $14.99. 

The final streaming service is Disney Plus, which is coming on Nov. 12. This is probably going to be a huge competitor, as it offers all movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Lucas Film, Marvel, and National Geographic. This is a pretty good variety, including the fact that there will be original programming, and it is said to be $7/month.

Overall, all these streaming services have their own unique things to offer, but the best ones are Netflix and YouTube TV. Netflix is good overall, with plenty of originals, blockbusters, unique gems, and impeccable variety for a pretty reasonable price. YouTube TV is expensive, but that is because you are getting most Cable TV channels, as well as many originals. Also, YouTube has never-ending content because of the search engine and channels by numerous YouTubers. The reason Disney Plus isn’t mentioned is that despite the content, it may be redundant to watch a bunch of Disney and Disney proper TV. Amazon Prime Video is nice, as it comes with Prime membership, but the lack of new content can be frustrating. Hulu is at the top of streaming services, but the interface is cumbersome and no one wants ads. Finally, the cable channel based services are interesting, but it seems pointless to have a streaming service based on one source of content.

 

Graphic courtesy of PCMAG.COM