In 2024, streaming fans will have more options than ever, including NBC/Comcast’s Peacock, AT&T’s HBO Max, Apple TV Plus, and Disney Plus. While Peacock is a little different in that it has live news, the other services don’t have traditional live channels — instead focusing on back catalogs and new original programming — they can still eat into your entertainment budget.
netflix, Netflix is so popular that it has become a generic term for streaming, just like “magic markers” or “coke” in the South. Then there’s the ever-popular “Netflix and chill.” Ad-supported plans now start at $7 a month, and the service offers thousands of TV shows and movies, including original TV series like Black Mirror and Stranger Things (be aware that you may have to change to a $15.50 plan to watch some content). Then there are Netflix original movies including Oscar winners Roma and The Power of the Dog.
Prime Video: The “other” major streaming service, included as part of the $139 annual Prime membership, or on its own for $9 per month. The interface isn’t as user-friendly as Netflix, but the service also offers shows not available on its rival, including original content like The Rings of Power, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and The Expanse. Amazon Prime also has Ability to add premium channels (HBO and Showtime and more), making it a potential one-stop shop.
Disney Plus: One of the biggest streaming services to launch in some time, Disney has assembled a mix of movies, TV shows and exclusive content, including Loki, Andor and She-Hulk, for a starting price of $8 per month. Read our Disney Plus review here.
Peacock, Peacock is NBC’s answer to Paramount Plus. Its main claim to fame is that its basic tier, which has 7,500 hours of content, is free. Peacock Premium unlocks more content for $6 a month — including exclusive shows like Poker Face and Mrs. Davis — while an ad-lite version called Peacock Premium Plus is $12 monthly.
Paramount Plus: Paramount Plus costs $6 per month or $12 monthly for ad-free streaming. The service offers live TV, sports and on-demand content from CBS, MTV, BET, Nickelodeon and Paramount Network for premium subscribers, as well as its Paramount Pictures movie studio. Paramount Plus also offers exclusive originals such as Yellowjackets, 1923 and Picard.
Vudu and Movies Anywhere: Digital libraries (or lockers) that include older UltraViolet content and streaming movies and TV that are only available for purchase, such as new releases.
It’s also worth checking out free, ad-supported services like the Roku Channel, Amazon FreeTV, Tubi, Pluto and Crackle, which offer a wealth of content. Read about CNET’s free TV services here.
