When it comes to TV, it’s a streamer’s paradise out there.
Who bothers with terrestrial TV when there’s a world of streaming and on-demand content to feast upon?
It’s all right there at the click of a button, from the latest blockbusters (many often premiering straight to streaming) and shocking true crime series, to comedy box sets, cinematic nature, travel documentaries and so much more. Come the weekend, we’re lucky if there’s time to run a brush through our hair. But, never mind the mad barnet: this is a golden age for home entertainment.
But, as with Krispy Kreme doughnuts and, say, sunbathing, there can be too much of a good thing. The choice is often so broad, it can be overwhelming.
Most streaming services have their plus points alongside a monthly fee, so unless you’re happy to cough up triple figures every month, signing up for every single one is a non-starter. So, how to pick the best?
For years, Sky has dominated the paid-for TV scene, offering incredible, great-quality content to the viewing masses. It’s got something for every flavour of viewer; from the latest fixtures and tournaments on Sky Sport, to Sky Cinema and Entertainment packages that beam the best movies and dramas from across the pond onto our screens.
Back in the day, you’d need an engineer to come over and install a satellite dish to get the goods, but since Sky launched its Glass smart TV and Sky Stream plug-in service, all you need is a decent Wi-Fi connection to start watching.
Sky Stream, which turns any smart TV into a Glass, offers more than 150 channels and over 30,000 shows. Basic Sky Stream comes with Sky TV (including Sky Entertainment, Sky Atlantic, Discovery+) and Netflix but Sky Cinema and Sky Sports need to be purchased as add-ons, raising the entry-level package costs of £26pm.
That may not seem a whole lot if you’re living in a household where you can split the cost amongst you, but for those who live alone or with a partner, it can add an extra burden to bills (boo).
How to get streaming sites for free
A good way to road test streaming sites is with a SIM or mobile phone contract; providers like Three, EE and Vodaphone throw in short-term memberships, usually around three months, as a complimentary perk.
To that end, we’ve taken a look at the alternatives to see if they can compete with Sky, either alone or combined with another streaming service. We’ve left out services from the UK’s major channels - think BBC iPlayer, All4, ITVx and so on - since they’re free anyway.
Is Sky the limit, or can you mix and match your streaming to find a better fit? Read on to find out.
Amazon Video
Best for: budget
Just one element of Amazon Prime membership, Prime Video has an enormous catalogue of films, TV series, cartoons, documentaries and more. Much of the content is free, but there are some things you may have to pay extra to hire or rent.
The retail behemoth has such deep coffers it’s been running Amazon Studios since 2010 to produce Original content, often starring the A-list, for its members. Some of its viral hits include Fleabag (co-produced with BBC Three), The Boys, Daisy Jones & The Six and most recently, the adaptation of the movie game Fallout.
According to Statista, there are around 31,000 hours of content on the service, which should stop the wails of ‘there’s nothing to watch’ in their tracks.
Along with Video, Prime members also get access to Amazon Music, Amazon Photos storage, and discounts from the likes of Odeon, Deliveroo and HelloFresh.
When you consider that Prime membership costs just £8.99 a month, or £95 for an annual fee, it starts to look like Amazon’s greatest deal of all. Over an average month, it works out to just 29p a day. Want to find out more, including how to score membership for free? Roll up.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
Netflix
Best for: big-budget original entertainment
2012 was a big year; not only did London host the Olympic Games, but it was the same year that the UK got Netflix too.
Launched on January 4 of that year, the company is one of the oldest streaming services around, starting as a DVD rental in America in 1997. Fast forward to today, and it’s the most-watched service around, with some 16.3m subscribers treated to 39,000 hours of viewing (that works out to around 4.5 years of continuous watching - no loo breaks).
Netflix is home to some of the best TV of recent times; think Stranger Things, Sex Education, One Day, Baby Reindeer and The Crown, which cost an estimated $230m to make.
It’s just started offering the full Sex & The City back catalogue to viewers, broadcasting the 90s show to a brand new generation of viewers.
There are new things to watch every month, which can create a mixed bag but it’s not long before the next word-of-mouth hit is uncovered and goes viral.
The site offers numerous plans from an affordable £4.99 a month if you’re happy to put up with ads, to the advert-free Standard priced at £10.99pm and Premium which comes in 4K and HDR which costs £17.99pm but allows four sets to tune in at the same time and downloads available on up to six devices.
Buy now £4.99, Netflix
Disney+
Best for: big kids (and actual children)
A relative newcomer to the UK’s streaming scene, Disney Plus has only been around in the UK since 2020. It was auspicious timing for them, given the pandemonium that was poised to be unleashed on the world.
Stay-at-home measures meant subscribers gave the streaming site a proper chance and were rewarded with more fantasy and family-friendly content than you can shake Mickey Mouse’s gloved hand at.
The service has morphed and evolved since then, offering old movie classics and shows for an older audience through its Star channel alongside popular Disney favourites and Star Wars and Marvel films and their spin-off franchises, like The Mandalorian. Right now, it’s the only place to see the Oscar-winning Poor Things and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour too.
There’s a lot of TV gold on here, from Modern Family, Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives to more than 700 episodes of The Simpsons (ay caramba is correct).
Like Netflix, a basic subscription will cost £4.99 a month with ads, while the Standard package, free from ads, costs £10.99pm. Opt for Premium to ensure 4K UHD and HDR, immersive Dolby Atmos sound and downloads on up to 10 devices with four screens able to tune in simultaneously.
Buy now £4.99, Disney+
NOW
Best for: shiny Sky content without the contract
If you want to watch Sky content without signing up for an official Sky TV package, NOW is your best bet. The streaming service hosts the hottest Hollywood releases from Sky Cinema and you can sit down to Sky Originals and HBO programmes too. You can also pick ’n’ mix your account so you won’t pay for Sports, Cinema, Hayu or Entertainment if you don’t want it.
Content-wise, this is slick and snazzy with immersive viewing to plunge yourself into: think Game of Thrones, True Detective, The Sopranos and, of course, Succession. On the film front, fresh from the big screen movies are shown here first, from Barbie and Oppenheimer to action like Mission Impossible, The Flash and The Beekeeper.
While we love the content, NOW’s interface can be clunky to use and it is one of the more expensive options around.
The Fully Flexible Entertainment pass costs up to £9.99pm and includes Sky Arts, Sky Atlantic and Sky Max but if you’re happy to commit for six months, you can bring it down to £6.99pm.
Buy now £6.99, NOW
Apple TV+
Best for: quality over quantity
You don’t have to be an Apple disciple to subscribe to the tech giant’s streaming service, much to the relief of Android fans. The catalogue is small but considered here with the focus on new, star-studded series and Originals like The Morning Show rather than running older TV. Apple TV+ is where you can find Billie Eilish’s documentary, Ted Lasso and the critically acclaimed Slow Horses.
Unlike some of the other streaming sites, Apple does allow a 7-day free trial to give you a taste of what’s on offer, which could be useful over the holidays when you’ve exhausted all other entertainment avenues.
It’s a flat fee of £8.99pm to watch.
Buy now £8.99, Apple TV+
BritBox
Best for: the best of British
From Grange Hill, Only Fools and Horses and The Thick of It to The Inbetweeners and TOWIE, BritBox is home to the cream (and sometimes the dregs) of British television. Some of the most popular shows from terrestrial channels can be found all under one roof here alongside reality TV and documentaries on notorious characters like the East End’s Kray twins.
By and large, it’s ad-free although you will see ITV promotions where they’re contractually obliged.
It’s a flat fee of £5.99pm to watch after a 7-day free trial.
Buy now £5.99, BritBox
