Without a doubt, streaming services are not one-size-fits-all. Before selecting a provider, it's important to compare the overall perks of all services in general, and then examine each service individually to determine their strengths and weaknesses. When you begin to take into consideration all of the perks of a streaming services subscription, giving one a test drive just makes sense, especially if you are tired of the exorbitant cost of cable or satellite TV.
All of the companies have some universal benefits:
- Media content on-demand
- Lower prices than traditional television services
- Ability to stream content to your PC
While the first two points are fine, many of us don't want to crowd around our PC with the family watching TV show or movie. But rest assured, there are several options available to get streamed media onto your television, notebook, or other mobile device. It is not the context of this article, but there are many easily executable options available.
Comparing the first two points is best done by individual provider.
Netflix: With a subscription rate of $7.99 a month, plus a no obligation one-month free trial, you get unlimited streaming 24/7 of major motion picture movies, TV shows and more. There are no contract requirements, and you can cancel any time you want to. Netflix is well-known for its movie offerings. TV offerings are no the thin side compared to Hulu.
Hulu Plus: Same monthly price as Neflix, with no contract required and ability to cancel whenever you wish. Free trial is one week, but students get one month with their .edu email address. Hulu is known for their vast library of TV show episodes, including entire seasons available, from yesteryear and now.
Blockbuster: This streaming service company includes games in their mix, as well as television shows and movies. There are three different plans/pricing available; purchase or rental available. A queue is available for movies you're waiting for. Supported streaming devices are limited compared to Hulu and Netflix.
Zune: This plan is a bit more pricey at $14.99 a month ($12.50 per month if you purchase an entire year up front). However, this provider delivers a different mix of media. They include 15 genres of movies, including new releases. But this plan's big draw is the over 13 million music offerings, including new song releases. Plus, you get to keep 10 songs per month (a $10 value). Great for avid music consumers to try before they buy.
iTunes: Like Vudu, iTunes is pay as you go rental or purchase. The draw for this plan though is that the iTunes player organizes your content, and their iCloud app allows you to store all your purchased media in the clouds. They offer music, television shows, movies, books and much more.
Vudu: The beauty of this plan is there is no subscription. They offer a rent as you go plan, at just $2 for 2 nights. This is a great option for the more casual consumer who doesn’t want to be obligated to a monthly subscription that they may or may not take advantage of.
SuperPass: Superpass is $14.99 a month, but they are definitely in a league of their own. For starters, if you love reality TV shows like Big Brother, Survivor or The Biggest Loser, SuperPass provides live feeds 24/7, giving you the inside scoop on what goes on behind the scenes. They also throw in RealPlayer Plus, which is a media manager on steroids.
Amazon Instant Video: With over 100,000 movies and television shows available to purchase or rent, there is lots of variety without much obligation. Even better - Amazon Prime members ($79 per year) get free unlimited streaming, in addition to all of the other perks of Prime, including free 2-day shipping on anything found on the website.
This gives you a snapshot of what types of benefits you can expect from streaming services. The next step is to conduct an in-depth streaming services comparison to truly understand what each provider offers.
