Here’s a look at the new streaming challengers and what you get with each:
NEW PLAYERS
Discovery’s merger with AT&T’s WarnerMedia
There is no name yet for the new service that will be launched next year when the deal is complete.
It’s unclear how much it’ll cost a month and where it’ll be available first.
The new service will combine WarnerMedia’s news and entertainment brands like HBO Max and CNN with Discovery’s reality TV empire.
Discovery already has its own streaming service – Discovery+.
That has all of Discovery’s lifestyle brands along with HGTV and international sports rights. It owns Eurosport, the European sports TV network and the GolfTV streaming network.
Disney+
Disney’s entertainment service, featuring shows and movies from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic.
Price: $7 a month or $70 a year. Getting Disney Plus with ESPN Plus and Hulu, both owned by Disney, will cost $13 a month.
Promotions: Seven-day free trial. Free year with all Verizon Wireless unlimited plans and when customers switch to Verizon’s Fios Home Internet or 5G Home Internet.
Original shows: ‘The Mandalorian,’ a live-action ‘Star Wars’ series created by Jon Favreau. A prequel to the ‘Star Wars’ movie ‘Rogue One.’ A series about the Marvel character Loki. A rebooted ‘High School Musical’ series. A documentary series focused on Disney.
Other shows and movies: Animated classics, including ‘Aladdin’ and ‘The Jungle Book,’ will be available at launch; others will be added as streaming deals with other services expire. Movies released in 2019 or later will go to Disney Plus rather than a rival streaming service first. Disney Plus will also house past seasons of ‘The Simpsons,’ which Disney got through its purchase of Fox’s entertainment business.
Apple TV+
Apple’s entry into the streaming business.
Price: $5 a month
Promotions: Seven-day free trial. A year free to buyers of a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod Touch or Mac.
Original shows: A Jason Momoa series called ‘See’ and ‘The Morning Show,’ a comedy starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carrell. The service will launch with nine original shows and movies, with more expected each month.
Other shows and movies: None.
Peacock
The service from Comcast’s NBCUniversal will carry 15,000 hours of video at launch.
Price: Undisclosed
Promotions: Free for many Comcast cable and internet customers.
Original shows: Reboots of ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and ‘Saved by the Bell.’ Comedy series ‘Rutherford Falls,’ from Michael Schur, creator of ‘The Good Place’ and ‘Parks and Recreation.’
Other shows and movies: ’30 Rock, ‘Will & Grace,’ and ‘Cheers,’ though these won’t stream exclusively on Peacock. Peacock will get ‘Parks and Recreation’ and ‘The Office’ once existing deals with Netflix expire. ‘Bridesmaids,’ ”E.T.’ and other movies from Universal Pictures, Focus Features and DreamWorks Animation.
STREAMING VETERANS
Netflix
Price: Netflix’s most basic plan is $8.99 per month, its Standard plan with HD quality – the company’s most popular offering – is $12.99 per month and the Premium plan is $15.99 per month.
Original Shows: Netflix features more than 1,000 original offerings, including Stranger Things, The Crown, Orange Is The New Black, Bojack Horseman and GLOW.
Hulu
Launch date: March 2008
Price: Hulu offers four levels of service: Basic ($5.99 per month), Premium ($11.99 per month), Basic + Live TV ($44.99 per month), and Premium + Live TV ($50.99 per month). Basic has ads, while Premium is ad-free.
Original shows: Hulu offers significantly fewer originals than its competitor Netflix, with 26. Popular series include The Handmaid’s Tale, Castle Rock, PEN15 and The Act.
Amazon Prime
Price: Amazon Video is available to all Amazon Prime members. The Prime membership is $12.99 per month or $119 per year.
Original shows: Amazon has 39 original shows, including The Man in the High Castle, Bosch, Mozart in the Jungle, Patriot, Sneaky Pete and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel