It feels like now a days, we’ve never had more direct access to TV shows and movies, and every company is vying to be the top dog. Long past are the days of paying for cable, and companies keep coming out with more content for consumers to view. With everyone trying to differentiate themselves, how do we actually know which platform really deserves praise? Let’s rank them for fun!
RANKINGS:
Netflix (5/10): Netflix is one of the most controversial streaming services, with repeated news stories covering both their content selection and their streaming subscriptions. Neither of these things have been eliciting joy in the average consumer, apart from their notable Netflix originals, Netflix has not been getting a lot of good press. Netflix’s recent switch to banning profile logins if it’s not at the registered IP address has a lot of people upset and distressed at Netflix’s call, especially since they charge $15.49 a month for no ads and 22.99 a month for premium. Many consumers are not happy, and while I personally don’t have Netflix, I can imagine why.
Disney+ (6.5/10): Despite being one of the newer streaming platforms, it has quickly gained popularity amongst Disney fans. Disney has enough corporate power to effectively keep its content off of other streaming platforms, with very few exceptions. The platform has also had wild success with their original TV shows, and they seem to be continuing this trend with their latest Percy Jackson and the Olympians show. For what the platform offers, users seem fairly content with their subscription, despite being $13.99 a month for no ads.
Hulu (7/10): Hulu offers some great variety, and their deal with Spotify premium was revolutionary when it first came out. Thousands of college students have taken advantage of this great bundle, and I give Hulu’s strategy team a lot of credit for being able to meet the needs of their demographic so completely. For just $4.99 a month for students, college students can get both Spotify Premium and Hulu with ads. With that being said, the amount of ads Hulu places on its content appears to be even more than the average streaming platform. For a 20-minute episode, you’ll have anywhere from 5 or 6 ad breaks, each about 2 and a half minutes each. It certainly takes you out of the TV show, but the pricing is hard to beat.
Max (7.5/10): Formally known as HBO Max, this streaming platform is a solid, albeit expensive choice for your streaming needs. While we’re lucky enough to get an account for free through Bentley, but if you’re paying out of pocket, its $10 month for ads, and $16 month without ads. Despite its pricey nature, many people enjoy the extensive TV show variety that Max offers. Max claims home to some of the most highly rated TV shows, including all network breaking shows that have been produced by HBO in the past. Whether or not it is a worthwhile investment depends on whether you enjoy TV shows or movies more, as TV shows is clearly Max’s focus and strength.
Amazon Prime Video (8.5/10): Prime video is arguably one of the best streaming services out there, though many people don’t know about it or don’t use it. What makes Prime Video unique is that even if the movie or TV show you want to see is not offered for “free” by their platform, you have the option to rent a movie or purchase a TV show. This is very unique, and to my knowledge, not offered by any other service. Amazon excels at its movie offers, and if you ever can’t find something, a safe bet is to check Prime video. They offer less shows for free, and you generally can’t rent the others, but the ones they do offer are fairly well received by consumers. At $8.49 a month, Prime video is a worthwhile investment.
Peacock (9/10): Now I bet you didn’t see my top choice coming, but this streaming platform is genuinely one of the best. Despite not having the greatest degree of attention, although it’s gaining, Peacock’s offering for the price makes it one of the best deals on the market. For Peacock Premium for students, they offer $1.99 a month for an entire year, with an eventual charge of $5.99 a month once the year is up. Peacock offers some famous TV shows and sitcoms, such as Parks and Rec and The Office, both exceedingly popular. Not enough people take advantage of such a great deal, but it’s worth investing in if you’re looking to add a streaming service to your rotation.