Greetings! The streaming wars continue and the landscape is constantly changing. I feel very differently about the selection of streaming services this year compared to the past. We’re seeing an increase in merging and bundling, such as the Warner Bros. and Discovery acquisition, which directly impacts streaming options. A number of services are losing their rights to specific shows or movie franchises while newer competitors are taking them. Right now, it’s a chaotic situation with never ending changes. I’m sure 2022 will look significantly different than 2021. Which streaming services are worth your money in terms of value and content? You came to the right place because I’ll give my top recommendations for streaming services in 2021.
1) Netflix All hail the king! Despite losing a lot of content, Netflix is still the best streaming service for people who want a good variety of movies and tv shows on a budget. They’re investing in a huge array of original films and shows to compete with competitors. In fact, I would say Netflix releases new original content almost every week. This service has a diverse library with a number of genres that showcase both recent and older entertainment. If you don’t like a particular film or show, it’s not a problem because Netflix offers a ton of options. Don’t cancel your Netflix subscription yet. Most streaming services still need to catch up. 2) Disney+ I’m officially hooked. Disney+ is absolutely the best recent streaming service on the market. It’s economical and the first streaming service to include a bundle; specifically with Hulu and ESPN+. Disney+ includes virtually everything in the Disney library, including their animated fairy tales, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and a whole lot more. They even have some content from 20th Century, courtesy of the acquisition in 202o. It’s a great way to keep both kids and adults entertained. Keep your eyes open for upcoming original shows, particularly from Marvel and Star Wars. If you’re thinking about adding Disney+ to your subscriptions, go ahead and sign up. You won’t regret it. 3) Discovery+ This niche service is another impressive newcomer to the market. At a mere $4.99 per month, Discovery+ has an enormous amount of content for a ridiculously low price. Basically, this streaming service includes everything from Discovery’s family of networks, including Food Network, TLC, the ID Channel, HGTV, Animal Planet, the Travel Channel, etc. Discovery+ might not be the right streaming service for every consumer, but it’s the perfect choice for viewers who enjoy documentaries and anything in the Discovery library. We might see it in a future bundle with HBO Max because Warner Bros. and Discovery merged earlier this year. Hopefully, we can subscribe to both Discovery+ and HBO Max at a discounted price in the near future. I’m crossing my fingers. 4) HBO Max People don’t seem to appreciate HBO Max, which is really sad because it’s one of the better streaming services. It has a big library with content from Warner Bros., HBO, TNT, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, and more. Warner Bros. made a bold and controversial decision to stream their entire 2021 movie slate on HBO Max simultaneously with theaters. Yeah, it angered directors, screen writers, and actors, but who cares? It’s more content for us during the pandemic! During its launch in 2020, many viewers thought HBO Max was overpriced. However, other streaming services raised their prices in 2021, so we’re not looking at a noticeable difference anymore. HBO Max needs more original shows and movies, but I’m sure it will catch up over time. 5)Hulu I’m calling Hulu the most improved streaming service of 2021. Honestly, I only kept a subscription because it was part of the Disney+ bundle. Hulu continued to add more content throughout the entire year and now it’s surprisingly competitive. The majority of its content is syndication from other networks, but the quality is pretty good and they’re adding more original shows. Unlike many streaming services, Hulu’s library is getting a lot bigger. I believe it benefited from the Disney and 20th Century acquisition. For example, the FX networks and Hulu are under the Disney umbrella now, so we’re seeing a number of new shows with the FX on Hulu label. The acquisition gave Hulu the perfect opportunity to add more content. Honorable Mention Xbox Game Pass It’s the gold standard for gamers. I’m primarily writing this post for movies and tv shows, but Xbox Game Pass is an excellent subscription with a huge library of games. You can download these games directly to an Xbox console or PC. Many games are also available through the cloud on your cell phone or tablet. Think of it like Netflix for video games. You can play more than a hundred games for $14.99 a month. It’s a great way to save money while enjoying a ton of high quality releases. Many titles have their opening debut on Xbox Game Pass, which means you can play a lot of games from the beginning without buying them. Why spend $60 on a video game when you can just play it on Game Pass? The math seems straight forward to me. The streaming market also includes Peacock, Apple TV+, Paramount+, and AMC+, but they lack enough content to stay relevant. Some of the older competitors, such as Amazon Prime, are also struggling to retain content. I used to love Amazon Prime, but they hardly offer anything now. I’m sure my top five streaming services of 2022 will be an entirely different lineup. What are your favorite streaming services this year? Have you recently dropped any subscriptions? Leave a comment. Keep watching for more content in the near future. Take care of yourselves and I’ll post another topic next week. Good night!
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May 2019
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