Streaming sites Netflix/Hulu/Amazon Prime

https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/best-on-demand-streaming-services/

Levenson, J. and Waniata, R. (2019) Netflix vs. Hulu vs. Amazon Prime | Streaming Services Compared | Digital Trends, Digital Trends. Available at: https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/best-on-demand-streaming-services/ (Accessed: 5 September 2019).

(Levenson and Waniata, 2019)



Out of the countless on-demand streaming services out there, three stand out: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Netflix. 

Amazon offers two main versions of its Prime subscription, either $119 annually or $13 per month (or $59 annually when you sign up with a valid student email address). Both versions net you the same perks, including two-day shipping — or free, one-day shipping in some cases — discounted prices on select items, cloud storage, and — most importantly for our purposes — on-demand video (and music) streaming. The best part is that 4K Ultra HD content with HDR comes standard at no extra cost. Plus, you can share accounts with friends and family, so everyone can get in on the deals.

 Hulu’s options don’t stop there as it also offers a streaming live-TV package called Hulu+Live TV, which is similar to Sling TV and PlayStation Vue.  and there are also add-on features at an additional fee.

Another point to consider is how each service handles content outside of its own original shows and movies that are currently airing. Hulu, with its ties to major broadcasters, offers current TV episodes from other networks often within 24 hours of their original airtime. Amazon offers the same selection but usually charges a fee for each episode or film. Netflix, on the other hand, is always a season behind what’s currently available from other networks, but you get access to many popular shows a year behind their original air dates.

 We’re giving the nod to Netflix here, however; it just has a more diverse and higher quality library. It might not be the best for keeping up with the latest TV shows from other networks, but that also isn’t what the service was designed for in the first place, and no matter how hard you try, you’ll never run out of shows to watch.

Netflix is basically everywhere. Many devices even feature the Netflix logo directly on their remote. 

Given the ubiquity of Netflix, Hulu, and now Amazon Prime Video, it’s close, but Netflix still beats out its rivals here — it’s even on many cable boxes.  Netflix has great functionality, and it’s relatively easy to find what you want since it curates suggested movies and TV shows through a personalized “top picks” category on the home screen and offers a slick design with intuitive carousels. That said, over the years the company has changed its algorithm, dropping 5-star ratings for a thumbs-up system, and in the process, it seems to find a way to push its own content above all others. On the other hand, we love the fact that its interface is universal regardless of device or brand, including HDTVs, gaming consoles, Rokus, and Blu-ray players, so you won’t have to learn to use a new interface.

 It is constantly improving. 
In addition to offering 1080p streams, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu (as of July 2019), and Netflix all offer 4K Ultra HD resolution and HDR streaming support. Netflix charges extra for the privilege, bumping the monthly subscription fee to a whopping $16, while Amazon and Hulu provide 4K for free.

As for audio quality, Amazon offers surround sound content including Dolby Atmos, though support for both services will vary by device (Amazon’s Fire TV devices are your best bet for that service). Netflix offers select titles in Dolby Atmos, in addition to 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound encoding on select content.

On the flip side, Netflix’s totally ad-free service doesn’t add the latest season of a show until after the new season begins. That time frame ranges from three months up to an entire year based on the agreement between Netflix and the show creators.  Netflix has amassed thousands of hours of original content from multiple countries, 

These are just a few examples of each service’s ever-expanding libraries, which even include resurrected canceled shows from other networks. When it comes to streaming services creating original content, however, Netflix is the clear winner.

If licensed television and movie content, current network shows, and original series aren’t enough to keep your attention,

Of course (like just about every media company these days) Disney also has its own streaming service in the works, Disney+, which is expected to offer a host of TV shows and movies from its Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar properties, among many other options under the mega-mouse umbrella.

In addition, HBO and Showtime both offer standalone apps (without a cable or satellite subscription) for $15 and $12 per month respectively, and can even be added to services like Amazon and Hulu for a reduced price.  If that weren’t enough, 2019 is expected to bring plenty of other new options, including AT&T’s new WarnerMedia streaming service with content from Warner Bros. and HBO, Apple’s new service, a new service from NBCUniversal, and more. 

If we are going to make a single recommendation, Netflix is still the king of the streaming world. That said, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video offer unique benefits. And of course, as mentioned above, there will soon be a crazy number of other services from which to choose. Ideally, we recommend combining multiple services that will provide access to a wide variety of programming, though at some point we’ll all have to make some serious choices about how many we can actually afford. If your resources are limited, these three are still your best bet — for now.