THE BEST PAID-FOR STREAMING SERVICES
Whether you’re thinking of ditching the licence fee or just watching to broaden your viewing options, there are plenty of streaming services to choose from. Remember that many streaming services have a mix of on-demand and live broadcasts – and if you watch any of the latter, you’ll need a TV licence.
Best for blockbuster movies and TV shows
If you enjoy watching the latest cinematic hits and TV shows, Now TV ( www.nowtv. com) is a good option. It’s owned by Sky and lets you stream the broadcaster’s various channels without having to slap a satellite dish on the side of your home or being tied to a long-term contract. You can build your own package depending on what you want to watch. For movies, choose Now TV’S Cinema Pass (£11.99 per month), which provides access to over 1,000 on-demand films as well as Sky’s live movie channels, where you’ll find a mixture of recent blockbusters, such as Jurassic World 2, along with classics like Ben-hur. The cheaper Entertainment Pass (£8.99 per month) includes a similar mix of on-demand and live content from channels such as Sky 1, Sky Atlantic and National Geographic. There’s a Sports Pass available too.
To watch, you can buy Now TV’S own
Smart Stick device (£24.99 www.nowtv. com/smart-tv-stick), which plugs directly into your TV via HDMI. Alternatively, install the Now TV app on IOS and Android devices, as well as your PC, then stream it to your TV using a Chromecast (£30, www.google.com/chromecast). Just press the Chromecast button on the device you’re streaming from (see screenshot left). You may also find your smart TV has a Now TV app, allowing you to log into your Now TV account and stream directly – check the support section of your device manufacturer’s website if you’re not sure.
It’s also worth noting that Now TV’S streams are at a lower resolution than a lot of its rivals. By default, maximum streaming quality is limited to 720p, though you can upgrade this to full HD (on supported devices) by paying extra for Now TV Boost (£3 per month). It’s also not possible to pause or rewind live programmes unless you’re using one of Now TV’S Smart Stick devices.
Amazon Prime (£79 per year, www. amazon.co.uk/primevideo) is also worth considering for the latest TV shows and movies. It has a growing number of popular exclusives, such as Mr Robot, The
Grand Tour (the Top Gear spin-off) and its upcoming Lord of the Rings series, along with a well-stocked selection of older shows and movies. Prime’s services are widely available across hundreds of different devices, including Amazon’s own Fire TV players, as well as mobiles, games consoles, set-top boxes and smart TVS. You also get the added bonus of Amazon’s Prime Music streaming service and free one-day delivery on Amazon purchases.
Alternatively, you could take a more pay-as-you go approach and rent or buy movies and shows when you want them on Google Play ( https://play.google.com), itunes/apple TV ( www.apple.com/tv) or Rakuten TV ( www.rakuten.tv).
Best for discovering new films and TV
Streaming services used to be just another platform for delivering older TV shows and movies. But that’s changing and now one of the key benefits is original content that you won’t find anywhere else. Netflix ( www.netflix.com) is one of the best in this regard. The on-demand video service started out as a DVD rental service, but has since evolved
into a streaming provider that also creates its own feature films, including Bird Box and Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman
(movies you currently can’t see anywhere else). As with Now TV, you can access Netflix using a variety of devices, including Chromecast, as well as on many smart TVS and Freeview set-top boxes (see screenshot right).
Worryingly, however, last month some viewers lost access to the Netflix app on their smart TV, which Netflix attributes to “technical limitations” ( www.snipca.
com/33607). If you’re affected by this, you’ll need to use another device to watch Netflix, such as a Chromecast or Fire TV. We’re hoping this doesn’t herald a trend where big companies like Netflix start penalising users of older devices.
Best for sports
This season, broadcasting rights for Premier League football is split across a number of services. Sky has the lion’s share and you can stream these – along with other sporting action – through Now TV if you sign up for a Sports Pass.
An ongoing subscription is expensive (£33.95 per month), but if there’s a one-off event you want to see, you can subscribe for a single day (£9.99). A mobile-only subscription is cheaper at £5.99 per month, but you’ll be limited to watching on your phone’s screen. You can’t stream it to your big-screen TV using a Chromecast device or hook your phone up to your TV via HDMI.
BT Sport ( http://sport.bt.com) is also a major player. It streams most of the Premier League action that Sky/now TV doesn’t, along with the UEFA Champions League, Premiership rugby union, boxing and more. You can subscribe for £25 per month if you’re not a BT broadband customer, but there are discounts if you bundle your subscription in with BT’S broadband and landline services. BT Sport supports IOS, Android, Chromecast and games consoles, but 4K and HDR aren’t available on all platforms (see www.bt.com/sport/monthly-pass for more details).
Amazon Prime screened a few Premier League matches late last year, so it’s possible we’ll see more football on this service in the future. Prime customers also get access to a decent amount of tennis, including the US Open and ATP
Masters tournaments, and it’s possible to sign up for even more sport, via the Eurosport Player channel add-on ( www. snipca.com/33602) for £6.99 per month extra. Remember, if you’re watching any sporting event live, even via a streaming service such a Now TV or BT Sport, you’ll need a TV licence.
Best for kids
Most of the streaming services we’ve mentioned provide a decent amount of content aimed at younger viewers. Netflix even has a useful parental control feature ( www.snipca.com/33603), so that children can only watch kid-friendly content when they launch the app (see screenshot below).
The big one to watch out for, though, is Disney+ ( https://preview.disneyplus.com/ uk), which launched in the US last year and is due to arrive in the UK in March. The new streaming service will host a vast back catalogue from Disney’s own intellectual properties, which include Marvel films, Star Wars and The Simpsons, as well as Disney and Pixar animations. But it will also offer new original shows based on these big names and more. Pricing and platform support in the UK have yet to be confirmed.