With the launch of Paramount+ on August 11 this month in Australia, subscribers to streaming platforms are again be asked to give over their credit card number to increase their entertainment options.
Mediaweek has compiled this list of the major streaming options in the Australian market.
NEW Paramount+ $9
Paramount+ launches with a library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios including Showtime, BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, the Smithsonian Channel and Sony Pictures Television, in addition to its offering of local content.
Local dramas start with season two of the Australian drama, Five Bedrooms. Future local drama content will include Spreadsheet, Last King of The Cross and 6 Festivals.
See also: Paramount+: Beverley McGarvey & Jarrod Villani reveal streaming strategy
See also: How Paramount+ plans to make a big impression with its content on August 11
FREE Streaming platforms
All these free platforms need from their customers is usually an email address. They all offer live channels and big on-demand libraries. The upside is you don’t have to pay for any content. The downside is, you have to sit through pre-rolls, post-rolls and in-episode commercials and promos without the ability to fast forward through them.
iview
7plus
9Now
10play
SBS on demand
YouTube (500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute!)
Tubi
Ad-supported platform with many TV series and movies you possibly wouldn’t want to pay for. For more see here.
Kanopy
Documentaries, classic cinema and indie films are available for free via public and university libraries.
Streaming subscription services
(all prices monthly, prices rounded to nearest dollar)
Foxtel
Subscriptions start from $25 for Foxtel Now with 25 channels.
Foxtel Platinum Plus package is $139.
Other services within the Foxtel Group are Kayo and Binge (see below).
Fetch
Not ranked below in our Top 10 or packages as it’s more an aggregator than streamer. But Fetch is an economical way to get access to a lot of content. Comes bundled with some broadband plans, including Optus. Channel packages start at $6, or $20 if you want the Ultimate collection of 46 channels. Extra charges also for special interest channels. You get a big capacity hard drive in the set top box which allows you to stream and record FTA TV and many of the streaming platforms (separate subscriptions required).
Binge $10 – $18
Simply the best value of the paid platforms in Australia. Be a miracle if the price can remain at $10 for too long though. Much of the content available to Foxtel customers is also available here on this streaming platform. Binge content includes most of the Foxtel drama, some of the movies and much of the reality/lifestyle TV too.
There are also around 25 channels streaming live, but with virtually everything available on-demand, that is the best way to consume the content.
While $10 is great value, it only gets you a standard definition stream. HD (ith two streams allowed) is the basic quality many people would accept and that will cost you $14 monthly.
Netflix’s House Of Cards
Netflix $11 – $20
The global big daddy of streaming platforms. There’s just so much content that by sheer volume alone you feel you need to subscribe. Quality ranges from “why did they think this was a good idea” to “must-see TV” in the true sense of the phrase. House of Cards was the series that gave the brand international traction and more recent successes have included The Crown, Bridgerton, Stranger Things, The Queen’s Gambit and Tiger King. Finding shows can be a challenge and some nights you feel you have spent as much time scrolling through the content as you have watching an episode. You need to spend $16 to get HD quality.
Stan’s Bump: Nathalie Morris (Oly) and Santi (Carlos Sanson Jnr) on set
Stan $10 – $19
In a streaming world dominated by global players spending mega-millions on content, Stan stands out as a great Australian success story. HD option is $14 monthly. While some of the subscription levels have crept higher in price, Stan has maintained its basic plan of $10. With many major studios around the world now linked to streaming platforms, it is getting harder for Stan to secure the biggest TV shows. One key to future success will be local commissions. A big hit last summer was the Stan Original Bump, but there haven’t been too many production announcements so far in 2021.
Stan Sport $10
This is an add on only for an existing Stan subscriber. The portfolio of sport continues to grow and now includes all four Grand Slam tennis events (US Open is next at the end of August), Rugby Union domestic and international, and UEFA football starting this month
Kayo $25
The Foxtel Group’s live and on-demand sports platform has been a massive hit with over 1m subscribers. The sheer volume of sport available has been key to its success. The tech works brilliantly and many people who also have access to Foxtel’s Sports package also like to have the Kayo user experience. While the monthly fee of $25 represents great value, it is not too difficult to find deals to make that cost even smaller. Telstra or News Corp news brands are places to start looking for discounts.
Apple TV+ $8
Or “free” for 12 months if you are a recent owner of an Apple device or computer. The platform hasn’t had any “breakout hits” to make it an essential part of a home entertainment budget, although Ted Lasso is now the show most people know on the service.
Disney+ $12 ($120 annually)
Possibly the most overlooked of the major platforms in Australia. Those who are tempted to subscribe are often blown away by the volume of content available. A more recent addition was the Star brand that sits within Disney+. Star is home to the slightly more adult fare while the Disney+ specialty is family entertainment. The big entertainment brands you can enjoy on Disney+ include Disney, Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic and, of course, Star Wars.
Optus Sport $15 ($99 annually)
If not a qualifying Optus mobile or broadband customer, you will have to $15 monthly. The big drawcard is the Premier League which starts again in August. The platform has been home to the Men’s and Women’s Football World Cups in the past. Optus Sport recently lost rights to UEFA matches to Stan Sport. Best deal we have found is to use Optus as your NBN provider which can give you Fetch and Optus Sport for “free”.
Hayu $7
The place to go if you mainly care about reality TV. Forget it if you’ve had enough Kardashians or Real Housewives.
The Rafters cast meet Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime Video $7
The Prime two-day free delivery from Amazon makes this a sweet deal. Big investments in Australian content are drawing more subscribers as are the marquee movie originals. And Jeremy Clarkson! Look out for deals – recently offered Echo Dot for just $10 for new members.
BritBox $9 (Annually $90)
Labelled “the ultimate collection of British telly” by partners BBC and ITV. The place to indulge your passion for either Vera or Line of Duty. New UK drama Professor T is an August exclusive.
Acorn TV $7 (Annually $70)
Another home to award-winning British TV. A recent original was series two of Ms Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.
YouTube Premium $15
Packaged with music subscription. For people who watch a lot of YouTube, going ad-free is probably as important as the original content. As many as 15m Australians watch YouTube content monthly.
Doc Play $8
Around 700 of the “world’s best” docos, ad-free and in HD.
Crunchyroll $8
Acquired by Sony’s Funimation this week with plans to merge the two platforms. Claims to be the world’s largest destination for anime and manga. Ad-funded plan is free with paid tiers starting at $8.
AnimeLab $8 (Annually $80)
In addition to the premium level, there is an ad-supported free option with limited selection and lower-res broadcast.
Shelter $8
An Australian streaming service offering the best in architecture, home and design. One tree is planted for every subscriber.
Coming Thursday: We rank the 10 best streaming services
Coming Friday: Seven monthly streaming packages – our recommendations to build your streaming library. From our $10 Budget Bargain to the $354 First Class Premium package.