The Best Media Streaming Services (in our opinion)

One consequence of the ongoing lockdown has been a rapid rise in the popularity of media streaming services. With cinemas closed and social events prohibited, it’s a blessing that we’re living through a golden age of television. And while the BBC, ITV and Sky are still releasing quality content of their own, media streaming services are engaged in a fierce battle for subscribers, with exclusive programming serving as their main weapon. These are the best media streaming services available in the UK, starting with the undisputed market leader…

Netflix

Having evolved from a DVD rental service, Netflix has funded a wealth of original content. It specialises in documentaries (Making A Murderer, Fyre Festival), dramas (Better Call Saul, Ozark) and comedies (Living with Yourself, After Life). The latter is a relatively rare example of original British content, with a second series arriving soon. Netflix’s film archive isn’t the most comprehensive, but its interface and recommendation engine (highlighting shows you might like) is impressive.

Amazon Prime TV

Although Amazon Prime TV mirrors Netflix in many ways, there are some key differences. Firstly, you can buy or rent movies, many of which are recent cinematic releases. Secondly, an annual subscription also includes free next-day delivery on many items from Amazon’s ecommerce website. And thirdly, its film offerings are arguably better than Netflix’s. However, Amazon hasn’t funded as much original content, while the app’s unintuitive and sluggish interface is prone to freezing.

Disney+

Having quietly withdrawn its content from other streaming media services, Disney+ is now the only place to find Disney’s vast movie archive. It also holds exclusive rights over Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar films – great for entertaining children during the lockdown. There’s a dedicated app for most platforms, and four people can stream content simultaneously via one account. However, Disney’s family-friendly brand values mean certain categories of movies (war films, thrillers, horrors, action films) are very thin on the ground.

Britbox

Launched in America in 2017, it’s hard to see Britbox replicating its transatlantic success given the fact most of its content has already been broadcast in this country. There’s also scepticism among consumers about paying for content originally produced using the licence fee. However, Britbox does host a wealth of quality programming, from Humans and Happy Valley to Fawlty Towers and Top Gear. It’s also refreshingly British, given the dominance of American content on most competitor platforms.

NOW TV

In many respects, NOW TV provides Sky programming for people unable or unwilling to install a satellite dish or sign an annual contract. Sky has recently produced a string of high-quality British mini-series including Chernobyl, Breeders, Brassic and Save Me. It also broadcasts iconic dramas like Westworld, Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. NOW TV hosts Sky Arts music programmes, documentaries from Discovery, and FOX box sets. There are also subscription bolt-ons focused on kids programming, movies and sports.

Apple TV+

Apple had big plans for its exclusively original-content platform, but a lack of programming at last November’s launch has been compounded by the Covid-19 outbreak and the suspension of all recording and production. For a platform which doesn’t include a back catalogue or cinematic releases, that’s a major problem. Currently available content includes several dramas (The Morning Show, See, For All Mankind) and various children’s shows (Helpsters, Ghostwriter, Snoopy in Space).

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