Battles lines have been drawn; the cavalry has been called in and terrestrial has been left in the dust, as several digital giants scrap for subscribers. Here is my guide to not getting caught in the crossfire.
This is all about the main contenders. In the savage and cruel warzone created online, only a few hold genuine power. These are the services which I’ve fondly nicknamed THE BIG FOUR: Netflix, Disney +, Amazon Video and YouTube Movies; a group constantly struggling to regain the high ground over each other. This conflict has been building for years, like a tidal wave but with award winning dramas and new original series. It peaked last year with the country stuck at home during the pandemic, with nothing to do but watch TV. Bear with me as I evaluate each one to reach a verdict on the ultimate provider of home entertainment.
Netflix
The veteran, going strong since 1997, featuring over 15,000 movies and shows to flick through and binge, Netflix really do know the rules of the game. They have produced some critically acclaimed originals such as “Stranger Things” and “Bird Box” and have many other brilliant pieces of amusement from less recent years like “Friends” and “The Matrix” trilogy. However, it doesn’t have everything, and a surprising amount of its 15,000 titles are just obscure, bad taste kids’ shows, sitcoms and action movies, with it not having a surprising number of fantastic blockbusters that you would assume you would find there. That said, it is always a viable option for your screens. 8/10
Amazon Video
What was once a cheap money grab from an already wealthy company has grown into a thing of its own. Amazon now has a lot of stuff under its technological belt, including streaming content. With over 26,000 shows and movies, the Prime subscription has almost everything and an improved experience for its intensely popular online shopping center, it seems to already have its competitors in a metaphorical headlock. There is a catch though. Most of its properties you must pay for, which is very annoying, when you have already paid to subscribe. Despite this, its dominance in other areas might give it the edge. 7/10
YouTube Movies
Once going by the alias Google Play, YouTube Movies is where the search giant offers a vast range of content. The catch is, you don’t access it through a subscription. Instead, you must pay, one title at a time. Will Google produce a streaming option of its own? With all its other priorities, does it even have the time? 4/10
Disney +
A pandemic baby, Disney + went live just as the world went into lockdown. Talk about good timing. With a small but perfectly formed range of high-quality original series and movies, the original cartoon kings cleverly focused on fan favorites, such as The Clone Wars and Baby Yoda. The service extended its reach by carefully choosing non-Disney content to buy up, acquiring Fox and, along with it, hits like The Simpsons and Family Guy. 9/10
To conclude my page-long search for the best media supplier, my verdict is that your favourite depends on what you like to view. If you enjoy action-packed blockbusters and shows you can watch over and over and over and over again (I’m looking at you “Friends”) then you will go for Netflix. Adapt to your own taste which is why Disney will win this bloodthirsty war thanks to the sheer amount of Marvel fans.
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