Netflix and binge: Streaming services compete as the janata get into curfew
Paris: Disney+ is going to expand its streaming service to Europe just as large swathes of the continent are locked down as a result of the coronavirus. It had also begun testing in India on the Hotstar platform.
Here are several of the key streamers competing to entertain the millions in COVID-19 confinement around the world.
Netflix: The American giant, which dominates the streaming market, started out life in 1998 as DVD-by-mail rental company before dipping into video on demand as a perk because of its customers.
It set the template for the monthly subscription model that others were to check out in 2007, and now claims 167 million subscribers in 190 countries.
Netflix has successfully moved into production, with acclaimed films just like the Oscar-winning "Marriage Story" and Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman" increasing its mixture of mostly bought-in top-end series.
"House of Cards", "Money Heist", "Stranger Things" and "The Witcher" are among its biggest hits.
While series and documentaries have been its bread and butter, the streamer is currently getting into game shows, reality TV and light entertainment.
With a basic monthly subscription starting at Rs 199 in India, 7.99 euros in Europe (£8.99 in the UK), viewers have access to a vast library (4,000 films and 47,000 television programmes in america, according to Ampere Analysis).
Amazon Prime Video
As the e-commerce giant launched its first video service in 2006, it wasn't until four years back that it really attacked the international streaming market.
It has since courted a number of the biggest names in Hollywood and is making a one billion-dollar series adaptation of “Lord of the Rings” to bulk up its catalogue of 12,000 films and 50,000 bought-in television set episodes.
Amazon’s hefty archive also contains several daily soaps, that have hugely boosted its numbers.
Now available in 200 countries, it claims to have 150 millions subscribers, with the service free to Amazon Prime customers, which also takes in speedy delivery and music streaming.
The service is available for Rs 129 monthly in India. Non-Amazon Prime customers must pay 5.99 euros per month in Europe and £7.99 in the united kingdom.
Its biggest hits up to now have already been the Emmy-winning “dramedy” (comedy drama) series “Transparent”, “THE PERSON in the High Castle” and “The Grand Tour”, where the petrol-head former presenters of BBC’s “Top Gear” hit the street again.
Apple TV
Launched in November in 100 countries, Apple TV is probably the cheapest at Rs 99 in India, 4.99 euros in Europe and $4.99 in america per month, with a free of charge year’s subscription if you buy an Apple telephone or computer.
But up to now it includes a limited catalogue, with the emphasis instead placed on original programming carried by starry names.
Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell star in “The Morning Show”, its TV news drama, and Oprah Winfrey has also been persuaded up to speed with a fresh programme of her own.
“Sixth Sense” creator M Night Shyamalan has scored a crucial hit for them along with his psychological chiller series “Servant”, and Steven Spielberg has enrolled in a fantasy horror series called “Amazing Stories”.
Disney+ and Hulu
Disney+ has embroiled 29 million subscribers in THE UNITED STATES and Australasia in the five months since its launch in November. Many more will probably follow from Tuesday when it pushes into seven Europe with France to follow on April 7.
At 6.99 euros per month (£5.99 in the united kingdom), it really is aimed squarely at families with a plethora of Disney classics along with the Marvel and “Star Wars” franchises.
Disney also holds a majority stake in streamer Hulu, which scored popular with “The Handmaid’s Tale”.
Already well-anchored in america and Japan-where it has 30 million subscribers-plans are afoot for a European expansion, a Disney executive told AFP.
HBO Max
THE UNITED STATES cable network responsible for many of the most acclaimed tv of the last 20 years-from “The Wire” and “The Sopranos” to “Game of Thrones”-will start streaming in May in America.
HBO Max will cost $14.99 per month in america for a rich catalogue that includes the Warnermedia empire and classic shows like “South Park” and “Friends”.
It will later expand into Europe and Latin America.
Peacock
The arrival of two American entertainment heavyweights, NBCUniversal and WarnerMedia, could change the streaming game in america.
NBCUniversal will commence its roll out of Peacock the following month with 15,000 hours of shows like “Downton Abbey”, “Will & Grace” and “Law & Order” leading its deep series archive that dates back to the 1980s.
With a free of charge and premium version for $5 a month, it will be payed for with advertising, which Peacock said will be limited to five minutes an hour.
Viewers must pay another $5 to go ad-free, with the service experiencing the Sky network’s programmes and films in Europe.
Several free-to-air streamers are also in the mix, led by Tubi-which styles itself as “the Free Netflix”.
It depends on advertising, but Tubi told AFP that advertisings would be limited by three or four minutes an hour since it expands into Europe, Asia and Australia.
