When it comes to pay-TV and streaming services, the UK has a wide range of options. There’s Netflix, Sky Go, Acorn TV, and Prime Video, to name a few. But which one should you choose? In this Buyers Guide, we’ll break it down into two categories: pay-TV services and streaming services.
Amazon Prime Video
In the UK, Amazon Prime Video is the best choice for a wide variety of viewing needs. The service offers the biggest selection of movies and TV shows and has the most competitive pricing. Many Netflix alternatives struggle to keep up with its content. But with new original TV shows and movies added regularly, Amazon Prime Video is on the rise. In addition to its great selection, it also streams live sport. Compared to traditional pay-TV services, Amazon Prime Video offers better value plans, higher-quality video streams, and the option to watch TV shows and movies offline.
Another great feature of Sky TV’s service is that it gives subscribers access to brand-new content. Unlike Netflix, Sky Movies allows subscribers to watch new releases straight from the cinema. The service is also more customizable than Netflix, and it also includes more than 200 original shows. It’s also the only streaming service in the UK to offer a subscription to HBO shows and movies. In addition, Sky has introduced a subscription that does not require satellite dishes.
Netflix
With over 220 million subscribers, Netflix is by far the most popular streaming service in the UK and around the world. The service offers many exclusive films and TV shows. These are usually of high quality and well received by critics. Besides movies, Netflix also has a wide library of stand-up comedy specials and documentaries.
BBC iPlayer
The BBC iPlayer is a free service for TV licence holders. It is the best place to catch up on the best shows on TV. You can watch award-winning series like Fleabag, as well as catch-up TV shows on demand. It also has on-demand access to most of the CBeebies content.
Sky Go
Sky Go is available in a few countries, including Italy and the UK. If you want to enjoy the service in other parts of the world, however, you need to subscribe to a VPN server in a country that supports the service. There are a few ways you can get a VPN and use it to unblock Sky Go.
Thankfully, the UK streaming and pay-TV market has grown in recent years, with a number of premium services available at varying prices. Most of them offer bundle pricing, exclusive content, and long-term contracts. You can choose from broadcast television and the newer streaming live and on-demand download services.
Acorn TV
Acorn TV is a subscription video streaming service that allows subscribers to watch a wide variety of television shows from around the world. The company has been in business since 1994 and has recently expanded to include foreign language programming. Its content includes popular TV shows, movies, documentaries, and more. The service can be used on various devices, including smart TVs and tablets.
While Acorn TV is primarily focused on UK dramas, the service also features popular shows from New Zealand, Australia, and other countries. It also offers a small selection of original shows. However, unlike many other streaming services, Acorn TV doesn’t have kid-friendly programming, and its audience is primarily adults.
Now TV
Now TV is owned by Sky and is a contract-free internet TV service. It offers all the channels on the Sky Network, as well as box sets, live sports, and a variety of other content. In addition, it has access to some of the best movies and TV shows.
The service is easy to use. You can download the app and connect to a UK server. Once you have a VPN connected to your device, you can access Now TV. You can pause and rewind live TV. The service also allows users to watch catch-up content for 30 days.
Unlike Netflix, NOW is slightly curtailed compared to its US counterpart, but its selection of series and movies is vast. Plus, you can watch the UK version of the service on your computer or mobile device if you have a Sky subscription.