With Netflix launching its cheapest subscription this Thursday, it opens up a new front in the ongoing battle between rival streaming services.
Disney Plus has already announced plans to bring out an ad-supported tier in December, while Apple last week raised the price of its Apple TV+ platform - potentially as a step towards offering bundle deals for Apple mobile customers.
If you’re a subscriber trying to keep up with all the changes, here are some tips from Nick Baker, streaming and TV expert at Uswitch.com, to make sure you get the most out of your streaming services.
Take a time out: “Services like Netflix and Disney Plus bill you monthly on a rolling contract you can leave at any time. So, if you’ve just finished bingeing your pick of TV shows, or you’re going on holiday, consider cancelling your subscription and restarting when the time is right. ”
HD, steady: “Most streaming services have premium tiers that allow you to view shows or films on multiple devices and stream them in high or ultra-high definition. Yet, if you’re paying extra for this, check how often you stream content in HD or 4K Ultra HD, or if your television is even capable of this. If not, it’s high time you downgraded to a standard package.”
Stream team: “Many consumers who use streaming platforms also subscribe to other pay-TV services. However, Sky now includes a Netflix subscription with many of its standard TV bundles. So if you’re paying for both separately, you may be able to save at least £6.99 on your monthly bills. The new dish-free Sky Stream package, including the Sky Entertainment bundle and Netflix, starts at £26 a month for an 18-month deal. Meanwhile, Virgin Media’s all-in-one streaming TV box, also called Stream, gives you 10% credit towards your monthly bill each time you use it to subscribe to streaming platforms.”
Commercial breakthrough: “Netflix viewers who can handle watching five minutes of ads per hour of content will be able to save by switching over to its £4.99 Basic With Ads package. Bear in mind though that this tier has a reduced line-up of films and TV series and you will only be able to stream on one device at a time with reduced video quality. Another downside is that you won’t be able to download TV and films to your devices.”
Media by trial: “If you’ve not signed up for a particular streaming service before, you could be eligible for a trial giving you free access. While Apple TV+ and Paramount Plus both offer a week to try them out for size, Amazon Prime Video allows newcomers a full month. Football fans who are keen to keep up with the beautiful game over Christmas should consider taking their Prime Video trial out in December when the platform is showing ten games from 26-28 December.”
