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What are the main streaming from Netflix to Apple TV Plus as Britbox launches in the UK?


Which of these streaming services should you choose?

New streaming service Britbox has launched, entering into an increasingly crowded streaming market alongside the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime.

The platform, created by the BBC and ITV works like other streaming services in that viewers will pay a subscription fee for access to the shows and boxsets available – offering both new and old content from the BBC, ITV, Channel 5 and, in 2020, Channel 4.

With other streaming services having recently entered the market though – and more to follow, we’re pretty much spoiled for viewing choice right now – but what are the main streaming services, how much do they cost and what do you get for your money.

Read on for our guide…

Netflix

Netflix has no shortage of original content (Picture: Netflix)

How much is it? Plans start from the basic monthly plan at £5.99, standard at £8.99 and premium costing £11.99 per month.

When was it first launched? 1997, initially as an online DVD rental service before making the move to streaming in 2007.

What’s included? All of the plans offer unlimited streaming and you can watch on any device, be it laptop, phone, tablet or TV. The main differences between the plans are the HD options and number of people who can watch at the same time – Basic allows only one person to view at any time, standard offers two while premium allows four people to view the service at once.

Why do you need it? As well as offering a huge selection of movies Netflix has become renowned for its original series and movies, giving the world such smash hits as Stranger Things, The Crown, 13 Reasons Why, Orange Is The New Black, House of Cards, Making A Murderer, Mindhunter and Queer Eye (and its Japanese special). They’re also the people who give UK viewers the chance to see US TV hits such as Riverdale, The Good Place, Jane The Virgin, Power, Breaking Bad, Star Trek: Discovery, RuPaul’s Drag Race and Suits. If binge-watching is your thing then there’s more than enough for you to get stuck into here.

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime offers originals, movies and more besides (Picture: Getty Images)

How much is it? Annual membership costs £79 or you can pay £7.99 a month. A 30-day free trial is also included when you sign up.

When was it first launched? Originally launched in the US in 2006 as Amazon Unbox, later being renamed Amazon Video on Demand. The company took over streaming service LoveFilm in 2011, with that company eventually being folded into Amazon Instant Video in 2014.

What’s included? The basic Prime Video service with a ton of movies as well as Amazon Original TV series. However Amazon also offers a number of different subscription channels within Prime for which you have to pay extra – these include Starzplay (featuring content from US channel Starz), Hayu (reality TV), Shudder (horror movies), MGM (movies and TV series) and Eurosport.

Why do you need it? Amazon’s made some great inroads into the original content in recent years, with their series including Mr Robot, Jack Ryan, The Man In The High Castle, Carnival Row, The Boys, Good Omens, The Grand Tour and the Emmy winner The Marvellous Mrs Maisel. As with Netflix’s original shows, it’s pretty much the only place in the UK where you can watch them, so if you’re a fan of original series then it’s well worth the money.

Britbox

BBC Director General Tony Hall and ITV CEO Carolyn McCall have launched Britbox (Picture: PA)

How much is it? £5.99 per month with a 30 day free trial included.

When was it first launched? 7 November 2019

What’s included? The streaming service will feature classic series from BBC, ITV and Channel 5, as well as some new shows added exclusively. From 2020 it will also feature Channel 4 programming, 31 days after it has first appeared on All4. It will also offer multi-screen viewing with accounts.

Why do you need it? Britbox is aiming to offer an array of shows not available on the free online platforms as well as current shows once they are no longer on BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and All 4. Which means this will be the place to catch up with old episodes of Downton Abbey, Gavin And Stacey, Broadchurch and – yes! – Love Island. Add to that a whole bunch of classic shows from Fawlty Towers and Blackadder through to Ab Fab, Extras and a whole 600 episodes of Doctor Who arriving on Boxing Day, and there’s a whole lot of content here for your money.

Apple TV Plus

Apple TV Plus has only been on air for a week (Picture: Getty Images)

How much is it? A monthly subscription costs £4.99 but you can also get a seven-day free trial. If you buy a new iPad, iPhone, Mac, iPod touch or Apple TV2, you’ll also get free Apple TV plus for a year.

When was it first launched? 1 November 2019

What’s included? One subscription can be used across six people, giving them ad-free access to the content available, plus you can stream the films and TV shows on the service through any Apple device via the Apple TV app – which your iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV should come equipped with.

Why do you need it? Apple TV Plus is the only place where you can access their original content, with TV shows including Jason Momoa’s futuristic thriller See as well as Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon in The Morning Show – both of which have already proven popular with viewers. With other content including fact-based comedy Dickinson, space race drama For All Mankind, Documentary The Elephant Queen and kids puppet show Helpsters, the service is catering for all ages and could well rival Netflix in the original content stakes.

Disney Plus

Disney Plus will bring all of Disney’s content together in one place (Picture: Getty Images)

How much is it? UK prices have yet to be confirmed but in the US it’ll cost users $6.99 (£5.45) a month.

When was it first launched? The only one of these services which has yet to be launched, Disney Plus is being launched in the US, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands on 12 November. At the moment the UK release date has yet to be confirmed although sources have said it’s likely to be ‘early 2020’.

What’s included: The subscription price will allow four users to watch at once as well as offering 4K streaming for viewers.

Why do you need it? It’s set to become the go-to place for Disney content – meaning you can expect plenty of Marvel content including series Ms Marvel, She-Hulk, Moon Knight and Wandavision, as well as Star Wars. Specifically the first ever live-action Star Wars series The Mandalorian – which will see Ewan McGregor reprising the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

NOW TV

NOW TV offers on-demand content from Sky (Picture: NOW TV)

How much is it? The cost of NOW TV varies according to what you want to watch – the Entertainment pass is £8.99 a month, Sky Cinema pass is £11.99, Sky Sports pass £5.99, and Kids pass £3.99. You can also nab a Hayu subscription for £3.99 a month. All of those come complete with a free seven-day trial. If you don’t have a Smart TV with built-in access you’ll also need a Smart Box which will set you back £45.99 or a Smart Stick for £14.99.

When was it first launched? 2012

What’s included: A whole lot of Sky On Demand content – handy if you don’t have a Sky account – and you can watch instantly on over 60 devices including iPad, iPhone, PC and games consoles.

Why do you need it? If you don’t have Sky or Sky On Demand but don’t want to miss out on all those Sky Atlantic shows or sports action then this is ideal – there’s no contract and you only pay for the channels you want. Plus with over 300 box sets on offer and 1,000 movies there’s more than enough to keep you busy.



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