Streaming services to keep, drop or...
…dip back into later on when there’s something REALLY worth watching
Hundreds of millions of people signed up for streaming services across the world to keep us entertained during multiple lockdowns. Our home was no exception and we subscribe to the Big Four: Netflix, Amazon, Disney and Apple. But we don’t need so many now that lockdowns are coming to an end and inflation is starting to bite.
It’s time for a value check-up – so which ones will survive our streaming shake-out?
1. NETFLIX
PRICE: €7.99–€17.99 PER MONTH
OFFERING: People might complain about ‘nothing new to watch’ on Netflix but then smash-hit black comedy Don’t Look Up came along. In fairness, the streaming platform is working hard to update content – spending $19bn this year – and has a wide-ranging and enormous archive if you bother – or know how – to check it out. (Handy tip: watch out for the viewing suggestions under any TV show when you look it up.) VERDICT: Netflix can be pricey for high-quality streaming at up to €17.99 a month. But I’ve got used to making the most of it and both new content and the content archive are hard to do without. I’ll stick with it for now – but I highly recommend switching in and out of streaming services as you exhaust the content that’s to your taste. You can always dip back in again when it’s freshened up.
2. PRIME VIDEO PRICE: £7.99
(€9.58) A MONTH OR £79 (€95.80) ANNUALLY
OFFERING: Prime Video has more than 100 million subscribers, offers many of the latest movies and has come up with plenty compelling original content of its own.
Original productions include The Grand Tour, the follow up to Top Gear, which does nothing for me but seems popular. Another showpiece is The Man In The High Castle about a dystopian world where the Nazis have taken over. The real world is bad enough for me, thanks very much Amazon, although a lot of people might like this kind of stuff. On the other hand I loved The Marvelous Mrs Maisel – about a straighttalking female comedian building a career in the 1950s. And, although it won’t appeal to everyone, I like watching tennis, which Amazon covers in abundance.
VERDICT: Unlike Netflix, Amazon’s deal includes high-quality streaming. However, Netflix wins on content. So it makes sense for me to cancel Amazon and dip into it again when it has new stuff I like, such as the US Open tennis tournament.
3. APPLE TV+ PRICE: €4.99 PER MONTH
Anyone who buys a new iPhone, Mac or iPad will get three months’ access for free.
OFFERING: I enjoyed the Tragedy Of Macbeth and The Morning Show on Apple. Ted Lasso is also on Apple, though I haven’t seen it. Content here is more restricted than Netflix and it’s hard to tell which content is free and which you have to pay for, sometimes handsomely.
VERDICT: While I was impressed with some content mentioned above, there wasn’t much else for me and I won’t subscribe when I actually have to pay for it (I had three free months after buying an Apple product). However, it may be worth dipping back into when something I really want to see is on.
4. DISNEY+
PRICE: €8.99 PER
MONTH/€89.90 ANNUALLY OFFERING: Disney+ originals include The Mandalorian, a Star Wars spin-off, following a bounty hunter five years after The Return Of The Jedi, plus Disney’s entire back catalogue from Fantasia to Freaky Friday.
According to Darragh Cassidy of comparison site Bonkers.ie: ‘There’s also every Star Wars film in 4K HDR, a vast majority of the Marvel
movies and almost every Pixar film ever made. And did we mention there’s every episode of The Simpsons too!?’ VERDICT: If you have a youngster, Disney is almost indispensable for classic content that both adults and children can enjoy. There’s also decent adult-oriented material like Dopesick with Michael Keaton. So Disney is staying in this household, but it is dispensible if you don’t have children.
5. THE REST
NOW TV gives access to the best stuff from Sky Atlantic or sports/cinema depending on which package you pay for. It’s expensive, starting at €15 a month, though it’s worth watching out for special offers. Hayu provides access to Reality TV shows such as Keeping Up With The Kardashians – if you’re into that kind of thing – for €5.99 a month. I haven’t tried it but it seems dear enough for such limited fare. There are other free services like Peacock that are worth trying. As an old Irish saying goes: ‘Má tá sé saor, tóg é.’ If it’s free, take it!