What better way to spend a wintery weekend than cosied up in bed with a thrilling Breaking Bad marathon or comforting classic film. Today it is easier than ever to stream your favourite TV shows and films on pretty much any device, including mobile phones. That’s why it is so important to compare TV broadband and phone packages out there, so you can find the best one and stream with the knowledge that your internet isn’t going to let you down at the final cliffhanging scene.
Netflix, LOVEFiLM and NowTV are three big players in the UK, all offering free month trials (which you should definitely take advantage of!). So, let’s take a look at what they provide.
Netflix
Probably the most well-known streaming provider, Netflix started out in 1997 with DVD rentals and recognised the trend for digital in 2007. Today it even produces some of its own hit TV shows including Orange is the New Black and House of Cards. You can also find British classics such as I’m Alan Partridge, new enthralling dramas like Sherlock and the soothing tones of David Attenborough on Planet Earth. Price plans start from £5.99 a month (which can be cancelled at any time) and you can watch on your Playstation, Wii, Xbox, PC, Mac, mobile and tablet.
LOVEFiLM
Part of the Amazon Prime Instant package, you can enjoy other perks with LOVEFiLM like borrowing Kindle books for free and complimentary one day delivery on Amazon purchases. Choose from 15,000 films and TV shows and enjoy watching them in HD. The library is filled with a mixed bag ranging from cult-favourite Twin Peaks, to Disney’s heart breaking Bambi, to hit show The Walking Dead. Pay £79 for a full year and you won’t need to worry about any monthly outgoings, leaving you to catch up on programmes stress-free.
Now TV
This is the one for die-hard sports fans out there. BSkyB’s NowTV gives you access to every Sky Sports channel, so you can stream the big matches onto your device; perfect for if you can’t be bothered to venture into the rain to find a pub that’s playing it. You can also catch new series and blockbuster films on the other Sky channels, such as Thor: The Dark World on Sky Movies or The Knick on Sky Arts. At £6.99 a month, it is a pound more than Netflix per month, so it’s worth judging how much of a Sky fan you are.
The great thing about streaming is the convenience of having such a wide range of entertainment at your fingertips. Whether you like to watch on your tablet in the bath, on your laptop in bed or on the TV laid out on the sofa, there are some really captivating series and films out there to keep you hooked.
Disclaimer: you might find your social life significantly dwindles due to watching five back-to-back episodes of The Killing on an evening.
Streaming media is all good and fun. In fact it reduces the stress of trying to keep up with weekly Cable TV showtimes or looking for physical copies to purchase. However for a country like Nigeria where Data rates are through the roof, it is still a tough business model to sell. I guess that’s why all those guys have ignored the market.
I can imagine in such a market place it still isn’t a viable option.
I’m a big fan of Netflix . . . it’s one of the most accessible streaming services in the U.S., not to mention affordable! I do know quite a few people who use Amazon Prime too, although I think it’s a bit more limited in its offerings. I think people use that more for the free shipping, ha. I know Hulu Plus is another big one over here too, but again, it just doesn’t offer as much as Netflix does. I’m so thankful for Netflix . . . I totally save money and don’t buy many TV shows on DVD or BluRay anymore, and I’m glad!
I love it too, although my time is too limited to get through my current Netflix queue. It definitely saves money 🙂