the contenders

Netflix

Its mechanic is much the same as last year – go-anywhere accessibility, 4K visuals, multi-room options. But Netflix has made huge advances in terms of its original programming, with smashes including

House Of Cards and Stranger Things.

Spotify

Many music-streaming services have crumbled, but Spotify is still standing – and even the threat of Apple Music hasn’t shaken its foundation. Spotify’s vast user base, huge collection and recommendations ensure it remains ahead of the pack.

BT TV

If you like football, chances are you already have BT TV in your home: it holds virtually all of the soccer rights going. And it’s now a serious set-top-box competitor, bringing add-ons like Sky Movies, Sky Sports, Netflix and more to your screen.

Amaz on Pr ime Video

Amazon Prime Video comes as part of the Prime service, which offers a host of shopping benefits. But Prime Video is worth the annual outlay alone, with an ever-growing roster of movies, plus an increasing number of original programmes.

Now TV

Sky TV without a dish – that’s one way of describing Now TV, and it’s relatively accurate too. Attach the box to your telly and you can buy a day’s, week’s or month’s worth of sports, movies or entertainment – all without the hassle of a contract.

Apple Music

A plucky new contender in the music-streaming landscape this year is a little start-up called Apple. We’ve a feeling they’ll do alright. With huge iTunes user numbers and a vast reservoir of listening data to call upon, Apple Music is a big deal.