Did you know that on average 1 in 4 adults watch between 3 and 7 hours of online TV from streaming services in one sitting?
Due to the massive growth in online video content, more companies are putting their energy into streaming services to stay competitive in the marketplace. Marathon TV watching is now one of the most popular leisure activities, with an ever-increasing number of video streaming services emerging onto the market each year.
Initially, the choice for consumers was simple — Netflix. But times have changed. Today, more than ever before, there are a variety of devices and streaming services that appeal to different audiences depending on their interests.
Some people are “cord-cutters” meaning they’re willing to leave traditional cable TV behind completely. Others are “cord-shavers”, open to new streaming service models, while some people are “cord-nevers”.
As it’s not always easy to decide what option suits you best, we’ve compiled a list of streaming services (in no particular order) to help you narrow down your search for the best live streaming app.
HBO Max is ideal for people who aren’t fans of traditional cable TV. In the event that you already have HBO through your cable provider, you should be aware that the HBO app gives you a chance to watch HBO on your mobile, tablet, and many other devices.
HBO Max has more than 5 million subscribers and the platform is now available on different devices, including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Microsoft Xbox, Roku, Samsung TVs, and PlayStation Vue.
The platform is also available via a growing number of “cord-cutting” streaming services (that are revolutionizing the traditional cable TV format). These include DirecTV Now and Amazon Channels.
The key point here is that if you ever wanted HBO content but didn’t want to pay for cable or satellite service, HBO Now is your best option. Even better, if you’re an Apple product user, HBO Max works with its own app on your Apple TV, iPad, iPhone, and through a web browser on your Mac.
$14.99 per month.
Youtube TV is one of the best solutions for cord-cutters looking for another option in addition to Sling TV and DirecTV Now. As a cloud DVR-enabled platform with unlimited storage, Youtube TV offers live TV from 50 different providers.
With a selection of channels like Bravo, Disney, ESPN, FX, Fox News, Fox Sports, MSNBC, and National Geographic, you’ll definitely be spoiled for choice. There’s also an option to add channels like Showtime for an additional fee. The official word from YouTube says the platform is still in discussions with other networks, so you can expect more channels to be added to the roster soon.
The platform also offers rich program information across all devices with everything from plot descriptions, cast information, and related programming for movies and shows. For sports, team information, league rankings, scores, and team roster details are all available.
$64.99 per month.
Netflix has a vast library of movies and TV shows, plus now-classic original shows like “Orange Is the New Black” or hits like “Stranger Things”. The streaming service even has original movies “Beasts of No Nation”.
Netflix also launched an offline playback feature, which allows users with the Netflix mobile app to download content ahead of time on their devices in standard or high quality to view at a later time without requiring an Internet connection.
Useful information
Netflix currently has exclusive TV and movie deals with several large production studios. The pay-TV deals give Netflix exclusive streaming rights while adhering to the structures of traditional pay-TV terms. Also, Netflix has expanded its relationship with Comcast, which will include a Netflix subscription to new Xfinity cable packages.
Netflix offers a basic plan for $7.99 a month and a premium plan for $11.99 a month. If you’re looking for a plan priced somewhere in the middle, the $9.99 per month standard plan allows for streaming on two different devices simultaneously and includes high-definition video when they’re available.
With Disney+ you get access to Disney’s huge collection of original movies as well as Pixar, Marvel Studios, National Geographic, Star Wars, and some 21st Century Fox classics.
One of the biggest appeals of the Disney+ streaming service is its range of exclusive documentaries, feature films, short films, and new original shows. Subscribers also get exclusive behind-the-scenes Star Wars, Marvel Studios and National Geographic video content.
If downloading video media ahead of time suits you because internet connectivity is tricky or because you want to conserve mobile data on the move, Disney’s streaming service is let’s you store and download as much content as you want.
Disney+ has something to entertain the whole family and cover a variety of different tastes. Subscribers can use the streaming service on up to 10 devices at once, and you can keep everyone’s watchlists separate with up to 7 different user profiles.
You can pay a monthly subscription fee of $6.99, or you can pay for an entire year for a discounted $69.99. If you’re looking for more content, the Disney+ bundle standard package costs $12.99 a month and includes Hulu and ESPN+.
With a year-long subscription, Amazon Prime Video original streaming service has thousands of popular shows from around the world. For content consumers of every media, you can even get a free Kindle book every month and free two-day shipping on the purchase.
Amazon features over 40,000 titles of live streaming, but only a small number of those can be found in Prime streaming. The streaming service also allows offline downloads, so if you want to catch up on some old shows when you have extra free time or you can simply download it to your tablet and start streaming.
Enjoy TV shows like Transparent, Alpha House, and Mozart in the Jungle. Recently, they have added a selection of comedy and other children programs resulting from a deal with Viacom which controls MTV, Comedy Control, and Nickelodeon.
Amazon Prime Video is available in many countries, including the US: Canada, Australia, Mexico, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and more. Viewers can also access the platform on a number of supported devices such as Apple TV, Android, Smart TVs, Kodi, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Xbox, and PS4.
$119 per year or $13 per month, but a video-only subscription costs $9 per month.
If you’re a big fan of British TV then Acorn TV is the ideal choice for you. Browsing the content library on Acorn TV, you’ll come across current TV shows, feature films, documentaries and exclusive content. Every Monday new episodes of TV shows that are currently airing are added into the streaming service roster. You can browse through the archive and find past seasons of viewer favorites like Poldark, Doc Martin, and Midsomer Murders.
With an internet connection and a supported device, you can watch some of the most popular British programs and Acorn exclusives the classic ’80s comedy series “Alfresco,” which kick-started the careers of actors and actresses like Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson, and Stephen Fry.
You can also access Acorn TV on the following multiple devices, including laptops, desktops, tablets, iOS and Android mobile devices as well as through Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, or Apple TV. Recently Acorn TV became available on Comcast’s Xfinity X1 cable box, accessible via Xfinity on Demand and on the go via the Xfinity Stream app. The streaming service is available in the USA and Canada as well as the UK.
$5.99 per month or $59.99 per year.
CBS All Access features CBS-only shows both live and on-demand. Suitable for the “cord-cutters” who are looking for a major-network experience. This streaming service provides full-length episodes of CBS programs, and live programming streams of local CBS affiliates in a total of 124 markets. CBS All Access also has extensive catalogs of almost all of its current popular series.
Viewers can watch CBS original shows like The Good Fight, The Good Wife, and The Big Bang Theory on demand. There’s also the possibility to get access to shows that air exclusively on CBS All Access, like for example, Star Trek: Discovery. Sport lovers can enjoy NFL matches including Thursday Night Football with the All Access app.
The fun part is that all Amazon Prime members can get the ad-free CBS All Access package with their Amazon Prime membership. According to CBS, there are now 2.5 million subscribers to CBS All Access.
Price:
$9.99 a month for an ad-free subscription; $5.99 a month for a subscription with limited commercials.
Benefits
DirecTV Now is a great streaming service for anyone who wants over the top services without the satellite dish. While the service is limited to two simultaneous users at a time, viewers can watch DirecTV Now on multiple internet-enabled devices.
Many smart TV sets now come with the integrated capability to access streaming services like DirecTV Now, but if you have an older television, you can use a streaming attachment – Roku, Amazon Fire TV Google Chromecast – to give your device internet capabilities.
The company has now included a guaranteed cloud DVR, which is incorporated into the cost. The free version offers the option to record up to 20 hours of video for 30 days. If that’s insufficient for your needs, you can pay an additional $10 every month to increase storage to 100 hours and keep recordings for 90 days.
There are four packages: DirectTv Entertainment 160+ Channels $64.99/mo, DirectTV Choice 185+ Channels $69.99/mo, DirectTV Ultimate $84.99/mo, DirectTV Premier 330+ Channels $134.99/mo.
Hulu is for the cable TV “cord-cutters” who hate missing out on broadcast TV, but love staying up to date with current productions. This streaming service offers hundreds of seasons and thousands of episodes from major networks plus their original content.
Hulu covers shows from networks such as ABC, Fox, and NBC but it also has libraries like the memorable “Seinfeld”. Original content includes titles like “The Path” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Hulu recently signed a deal with DreamWorks Animation for the exclusive streaming rights to upcoming DWA feature films, as well as titles such as “Shrek,” “Shrek 2,” and “Shark Tale”. From 2019, the service will also get new theatrical releases, including “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” and “Trolls 2”, giving the kids plenty to look forward to well into the future!
Hulu has also signed a deal with Sony for the on-demand streaming rights to “The Good Doctor”, and a third season of “The Handmaid’s Tale” is secured as well. Hulu’s streaming service is available on any Android or iOS device. The experience on smartphones and tablets is amazing, with smooth playback and sharp resolution.
$5.99/mo or $59.99/year. No ads $11.99/mo. Hulu + LiveTV $64.99.
Perfect for Showtime series fans, allowing viewers to watch a cable network without the cable. You have access to all of Showtime’s movies, plus original shows such as “Billions,” “Homeland,” and “The Affair.”
The streaming service also offers streaming Hollywood movies plus its own original content. Showtime’s original series include “Homeland”, “Ray Donovan”, and “The Affair”, plus proven hits like Dexter.
In addition to their original fictional series, NHL fans can enjoy Showtime’s All Access: Quest for the Stanley Cup series. Alongside all of this on-demand content, Showtime allows subscribers to stream the channel live, with the choice between Showtime East and Showtime West depending on your time zone
$11 per month and $9 per month when purchased through certain services (Amazon Prime and Hulu). As mentioned earlier in this article, Hulu can also be bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+.
To sum up, it’s clear that more and more consumers are cutting their traditional cable TV cords and opting for video streaming services. It’s important to shop around to get the most competitive deal for you.
For streaming service providers, the recent boom in popularity means there’s a golden opportunity to monetize streaming and truly allow it to become the dominant form of entertainment.
One of the ways to do so is to put your content behind a paywall. But, monetizing your video or online content is a big business decision. As such, you should put some careful consideration into it. Our paywall solution is flexible, making the experience the best possible for your users.
Quickly and easily monetize live events using our intuitive interface. InPlayer gives you the essential tools needed to set up, manage and monitor the live stream, CDN and video player.
Talk to us to monetize your online content today.
Did you know that on average 1 in 4 adults watch between 3 and 7 hours of online TV from streaming services in one sitting?
Due to the massive growth in online video content, more companies are putting their energy into streaming services to stay competitive in the marketplace. Marathon TV watching is now one of the most popular leisure activities, with an ever-increasing number of video streaming services emerging onto the market each year.
Initially, the choice for consumers was simple — Netflix. But times have changed. Today, more than ever before, there are a variety of devices and streaming services that appeal to different audiences depending on their interests.
Some people are “cord-cutters” meaning they’re willing to leave traditional cable TV behind completely. Others are “cord-shavers”, open to new streaming service models, while some people are “cord-nevers”.
As it’s not always easy to decide what option suits you best, we’ve compiled a list of streaming services (in no particular order) to help you narrow down your search for the best live streaming app.
HBO Max is ideal for people who aren’t fans of traditional cable TV. In the event that you already have HBO through your cable provider, you should be aware that the HBO app gives you a chance to watch HBO on your mobile, tablet, and many other devices.
HBO Max has more than 5 million subscribers and the platform is now available on different devices, including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Microsoft Xbox, Roku, Samsung TVs, and PlayStation Vue.
The platform is also available via a growing number of “cord-cutting” streaming services (that are revolutionizing the traditional cable TV format). These include DirecTV Now and Amazon Channels.
The key point here is that if you ever wanted HBO content but didn’t want to pay for cable or satellite service, HBO Now is your best option. Even better, if you’re an Apple product user, HBO Max works with its own app on your Apple TV, iPad, iPhone, and through a web browser on your Mac.
$14.99 per month.
Youtube TV is one of the best solutions for cord-cutters looking for another option in addition to Sling TV and DirecTV Now. As a cloud DVR-enabled platform with unlimited storage, Youtube TV offers live TV from 50 different providers.
With a selection of channels like Bravo, Disney, ESPN, FX, Fox News, Fox Sports, MSNBC, and National Geographic, you’ll definitely be spoiled for choice. There’s also an option to add channels like Showtime for an additional fee. The official word from YouTube says the platform is still in discussions with other networks, so you can expect more channels to be added to the roster soon.
The platform also offers rich program information across all devices with everything from plot descriptions, cast information, and related programming for movies and shows. For sports, team information, league rankings, scores, and team roster details are all available.
$64.99 per month.
Netflix has a vast library of movies and TV shows, plus now-classic original shows like “Orange Is the New Black” or hits like “Stranger Things”. The streaming service even has original movies “Beasts of No Nation”.
Netflix also launched an offline playback feature, which allows users with the Netflix mobile app to download content ahead of time on their devices in standard or high quality to view at a later time without requiring an Internet connection.
Useful information
Netflix currently has exclusive TV and movie deals with several large production studios. The pay-TV deals give Netflix exclusive streaming rights while adhering to the structures of traditional pay-TV terms. Also, Netflix has expanded its relationship with Comcast, which will include a Netflix subscription to new Xfinity cable packages.
Netflix offers a basic plan for $7.99 a month and a premium plan for $11.99 a month. If you’re looking for a plan priced somewhere in the middle, the $9.99 per month standard plan allows for streaming on two different devices simultaneously and includes high-definition video when they’re available.
With Disney+ you get access to Disney’s huge collection of original movies as well as Pixar, Marvel Studios, National Geographic, Star Wars, and some 21st Century Fox classics.
One of the biggest appeals of the Disney+ streaming service is its range of exclusive documentaries, feature films, short films, and new original shows. Subscribers also get exclusive behind-the-scenes Star Wars, Marvel Studios and National Geographic video content.
If downloading video media ahead of time suits you because internet connectivity is tricky or because you want to conserve mobile data on the move, Disney’s streaming service is let’s you store and download as much content as you want.
Disney+ has something to entertain the whole family and cover a variety of different tastes. Subscribers can use the streaming service on up to 10 devices at once, and you can keep everyone’s watchlists separate with up to 7 different user profiles.
You can pay a monthly subscription fee of $6.99, or you can pay for an entire year for a discounted $69.99. If you’re looking for more content, the Disney+ bundle standard package costs $12.99 a month and includes Hulu and ESPN+.
With a year-long subscription, Amazon Prime Video original streaming service has thousands of popular shows from around the world. For content consumers of every media, you can even get a free Kindle book every month and free two-day shipping on the purchase.
Amazon features over 40,000 titles of live streaming, but only a small number of those can be found in Prime streaming. The streaming service also allows offline downloads, so if you want to catch up on some old shows when you have extra free time or you can simply download it to your tablet and start streaming.
Enjoy TV shows like Transparent, Alpha House, and Mozart in the Jungle. Recently, they have added a selection of comedy and other children programs resulting from a deal with Viacom which controls MTV, Comedy Control, and Nickelodeon.
Amazon Prime Video is available in many countries, including the US: Canada, Australia, Mexico, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and more. Viewers can also access the platform on a number of supported devices such as Apple TV, Android, Smart TVs, Kodi, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Xbox, and PS4.
$119 per year or $13 per month, but a video-only subscription costs $9 per month.
If you’re a big fan of British TV then Acorn TV is the ideal choice for you. Browsing the content library on Acorn TV, you’ll come across current TV shows, feature films, documentaries and exclusive content. Every Monday new episodes of TV shows that are currently airing are added into the streaming service roster. You can browse through the archive and find past seasons of viewer favorites like Poldark, Doc Martin, and Midsomer Murders.
With an internet connection and a supported device, you can watch some of the most popular British programs and Acorn exclusives the classic ’80s comedy series “Alfresco,” which kick-started the careers of actors and actresses like Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson, and Stephen Fry.
You can also access Acorn TV on the following multiple devices, including laptops, desktops, tablets, iOS and Android mobile devices as well as through Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, or Apple TV. Recently Acorn TV became available on Comcast’s Xfinity X1 cable box, accessible via Xfinity on Demand and on the go via the Xfinity Stream app. The streaming service is available in the USA and Canada as well as the UK.
$5.99 per month or $59.99 per year.
CBS All Access features CBS-only shows both live and on-demand. Suitable for the “cord-cutters” who are looking for a major-network experience. This streaming service provides full-length episodes of CBS programs, and live programming streams of local CBS affiliates in a total of 124 markets. CBS All Access also has extensive catalogs of almost all of its current popular series.
Viewers can watch CBS original shows like The Good Fight, The Good Wife, and The Big Bang Theory on demand. There’s also the possibility to get access to shows that air exclusively on CBS All Access, like for example, Star Trek: Discovery. Sport lovers can enjoy NFL matches including Thursday Night Football with the All Access app.
The fun part is that all Amazon Prime members can get the ad-free CBS All Access package with their Amazon Prime membership. According to CBS, there are now 2.5 million subscribers to CBS All Access.
Price:
$9.99 a month for an ad-free subscription; $5.99 a month for a subscription with limited commercials.
Benefits
DirecTV Now is a great streaming service for anyone who wants over the top services without the satellite dish. While the service is limited to two simultaneous users at a time, viewers can watch DirecTV Now on multiple internet-enabled devices.
Many smart TV sets now come with the integrated capability to access streaming services like DirecTV Now, but if you have an older television, you can use a streaming attachment – Roku, Amazon Fire TV Google Chromecast – to give your device internet capabilities.
The company has now included a guaranteed cloud DVR, which is incorporated into the cost. The free version offers the option to record up to 20 hours of video for 30 days. If that’s insufficient for your needs, you can pay an additional $10 every month to increase storage to 100 hours and keep recordings for 90 days.
There are four packages: DirectTv Entertainment 160+ Channels $64.99/mo, DirectTV Choice 185+ Channels $69.99/mo, DirectTV Ultimate $84.99/mo, DirectTV Premier 330+ Channels $134.99/mo.
Hulu is for the cable TV “cord-cutters” who hate missing out on broadcast TV, but love staying up to date with current productions. This streaming service offers hundreds of seasons and thousands of episodes from major networks plus their original content.
Hulu covers shows from networks such as ABC, Fox, and NBC but it also has libraries like the memorable “Seinfeld”. Original content includes titles like “The Path” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Hulu recently signed a deal with DreamWorks Animation for the exclusive streaming rights to upcoming DWA feature films, as well as titles such as “Shrek,” “Shrek 2,” and “Shark Tale”. From 2019, the service will also get new theatrical releases, including “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” and “Trolls 2”, giving the kids plenty to look forward to well into the future!
Hulu has also signed a deal with Sony for the on-demand streaming rights to “The Good Doctor”, and a third season of “The Handmaid’s Tale” is secured as well. Hulu’s streaming service is available on any Android or iOS device. The experience on smartphones and tablets is amazing, with smooth playback and sharp resolution.
$5.99/mo or $59.99/year. No ads $11.99/mo. Hulu + LiveTV $64.99.
Perfect for Showtime series fans, allowing viewers to watch a cable network without the cable. You have access to all of Showtime’s movies, plus original shows such as “Billions,” “Homeland,” and “The Affair.”
The streaming service also offers streaming Hollywood movies plus its own original content. Showtime’s original series include “Homeland”, “Ray Donovan”, and “The Affair”, plus proven hits like Dexter.
In addition to their original fictional series, NHL fans can enjoy Showtime’s All Access: Quest for the Stanley Cup series. Alongside all of this on-demand content, Showtime allows subscribers to stream the channel live, with the choice between Showtime East and Showtime West depending on your time zone
$11 per month and $9 per month when purchased through certain services (Amazon Prime and Hulu). As mentioned earlier in this article, Hulu can also be bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+.
To sum up, it’s clear that more and more consumers are cutting their traditional cable TV cords and opting for video streaming services. It’s important to shop around to get the most competitive deal for you.
For streaming service providers, the recent boom in popularity means there’s a golden opportunity to monetize streaming and truly allow it to become the dominant form of entertainment.
One of the ways to do so is to put your content behind a paywall. But, monetizing your video or online content is a big business decision. As such, you should put some careful consideration into it. Our paywall solution is flexible, making the experience the best possible for your users.
Quickly and easily monetize live events using our intuitive interface. InPlayer gives you the essential tools needed to set up, manage and monitor the live stream, CDN and video player.
Talk to us to monetize your online content today.
Did you know that on average 1 in 4 adults watch between 3 and 7 hours of online TV from streaming services in one sitting? Due to the massive growth…
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