In 2010, 88% of American households paid for TV service. In 2017, only 79% did and this downward trend is predicted to continue.
Why is this happening? One of the biggest reasons is that it’s possible to watch great quality television online through streaming.
But in today’s crowded landscape, it can be tough to know which streaming services will work best for you! That’s why we created this ultimate streaming guide to help you navigate all the various options.
Check it out below!
Netflix :
Cost: $8 a month for a single screen, $11 a month for two screens, $14 a month for four screens at once.
Netflix started the streaming revolution and is still one of the biggest players in the industry.
Binge-watching TV series started on Netflix because for the first time you could watch your shows on your own time and watch as many episodes in a row as you wanted.
No longer did you have to wait for a TV network to air your favorite programs. If they were available on Netflix, you could pause and play as much as you wanted to and watch at any hour of the day.
The other great news about Netflix is that there really is something for everyone! It has a huge library of movies and TV shows, from dramas to comedies, and from documentaries to kids’ shows.
Another cool thing about Netflix is its original content offerings. Over the past few years, they have started making a ton of original shows and movies.
Ever heard of Stranger Things? Orange Is the New Black? Narcos? These are all Netflix original series that are super well-reviewed by critics.
And with a Netflix subscription you know you’ll continue to receive amazing content. In 2018, they’ve committed to spending about $7 billion on creating more original shows and movies.
Hulu :
Cost: $8 a month with ads or $12 a month without ads.
Hulu is the other original streaming service that started the cord-cutting phenomenon. And they’re still going strong today.
Hulu is a great way for cord-cutters to still access broadcast TV shows. So if you’re considering getting rid of cable but don’t want to miss out on new episodes of your favorite shows, Hulu might be for you.
This is because, for as low as $8 a month, you can still watch new episodes of many of TV’s hottest shows. The only thing is that they are available on Hulu the day after they air on broadcast TV. So you do have to wait a day, but it’s incredibly cheaper than a typical cable bill.
Hulu also has a huge library of shows and movies, many of which aren’t available anywhere else thanks to exclusive streaming deals. They’ve also started creating original content in recent years.
Some of their shows, like The Handmaid’s Tale, have even won Emmys and other awards.
Amazon Prime Video :
Cost: $99 per year or $11 per month for Amazon Prime. A video-only plan only costs $9 per month.
If you’re one of the millions of Americans with an Amazon Prime membership, did you know that you have free access to Amazon Prime Video? If not, you’re missing out!
Amazon Prime Video is another one of the big streaming services. Here’s what they have to offer:
- A large catalog of movies from the past 40 years
- A good amount of TV series from broadcast TV
- A growing library of original series as well
You also get access to Prime Music and some free books through Amazon Kindle.
And last but not least, if you’re a Downton Abbey fan, you’re going to want Amazon Prime Video. This is because they have exclusive streaming rights to this popular British series.
Another Streaming Guide Item: ESPN+
Cost: $5 a month or $50 for an entire year. If you want the full NHL seasons or MLB.TV baseball content, that’s an additional $25 a month.
As you might have guessed, ESPN+ is for the sports fans out there. You’ll get all access to a wide range of games. This is especially great for fans who want to add out-of-market hockey or baseball games.
If you have a certain college sport you like to watch that doesn’t get a lot of traditional airtime, you’ll be able to find it here as well. Or perhaps you’re into a niche sport like ice skating or rugby.
ESPN+ is where you’ll find coverage!
The good news is that ESPN+ is now available in the ESPN app which means you can watch it on iOS and Android devices, as well as through Chromecast and Apple TV to watch it on your smart TV.
UGETube :
Cost: Free If you’re a big fan of guns and the gun industry, then UGETube is for you. UGE is short for the Utah Gun Exchange and this site is dedicated to content all about guns.
It’s basically like Youtube but for gun-related content. But because users can upload content, the categories of video have recently been expanding to include music, pets, comedy, and more!
Check out their site for more info.
CBS All Access :
Cost: $6 a month with ads or $10 a month for ad-free.
For only $6 a month, you can access all of CBS’ shows with CBS All Access. This is a cost-effective way to still access your favorite shows without having to pay for an entire cable bill.
You can also live stream CBS content in 124 markets across the country. And guess what? For most of their current series, you can also watch all the previous seasons.
The other perk is that CBS has announced the creation of original content for its CBS All Access users. In the next 12 months, there will be six or seven new series only available through this service.
You can also access Sunday and Thursday night NFL games that air on CBS through CBS All Access.
Final Thoughts :
Now that you’ve gone through our streaming guide, it’s time to make some choices! If you’re considering getting rid of your cable or satellite TV plan, what streaming services will work best for you?
The good news is that many of these services offer free trials so you can test them out before taking the plunge.
Have any questions? Contact us today!
