It’s pretty safe to say we’ve all spent numerous rainy (and sunny) days binge-watching our favorite television shows from the comfort of our own home. With the advent of online media streaming services, major television series have become more and more popular and accessible each and every year. The ability to watch commercial-free television whenever you want for as long as you want is an extremely appealing concept to a number of people. Whether you wish to purchase and keep a digital copy of your favorite episodes or simply want to stream them at any time from anywhere, read on to find out for yourself what the best streaming services are for television.
5. iTunes – $2.99/HD episode
Developed by tech giant Apple Inc. in 2001, iTunes has become the premier digital media player and content provider in the world. One of the first services to create a digital storefront for music, iTunes has also built an impressive selection of television content. The price and lack of availability from streaming boxes are the major downsides.
4. Vudu – $2.99/HD episode
Seeing as Walmart is the highest-grossing business in the world, it was inevitable that the retail powerhouse eventually got into the media streaming game. As Walmart’s pay-per-view content store, even though its selection may not be as great as that of iTunes, Vudu is available on any mobile device, game console or streaming box.
3. Hulu Plus – $7.99/month
Created in 2007 between a number of major television networks and studios, Hulu has one of the most impressive selections of shows out there. Hulu Plus’ subscription service provides an up-to-date array of shows, sometimes even posting episodes hours after they air. However, being forced to sit through ads is the site’s biggest downside.
2. Netflix – $7.99/month
I’m sure it’s surprising to see the biggest name in media streaming at number two, but the only thing keeping Netflix from the top spot is the fact that its selection leans more towards feature-length movies than TV shows. However, Netflix’s collection is constantly growing, available on just about any device, and even offers its own productions.
1. Amazon Prime Instant Video – $8.25/month
It’s hard to compete with the Amazon Prime bundle. Not only do you get an ever-expanding library of television content available on most major streaming boxes, gaming consoles, tablets and smartphones with Amazon Instant Video, but you also get the added perks of Amazon Prime. Free two-day shipping, access to the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, and Prime Music are all included in the Amazon Prime bundle for only 25 cents more than Netflix.
Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
