Coronavirus: The Streaming Service’s New Best Friend
Quarantine has created a unique situation for people across the world, where they are stuck inside and looking for fun activities to keep them busy. However, when they eventually run out of canvases to paint or yarn to crochet they wind up right back in front of the television. When they eventually reach the point where they need to take a break from the news, streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO and many others are a welcome change of pace. These streaming applications have been increasing in popularity and have seen a spike in viewership since quarantine was enacted. Each service has a unique selection of movies, TV shows, documentaries and special features that provide a seemingly infinite number of hours of entertainment that would keep even the most dedicated of viewers busy for weeks. With streaming services becoming more popular with audiences of every demographic, they stand a chance of one day phasing out cable boxes as being a necessity for the living room.
Where To Start
Starting with the biggest names in the game is an easy way to find the best services to buy into. Netflix currently stands as a benchmark of the streaming service industry, producing thousands of titles and original content for their viewers. Starting streaming as early as 2007, the creative teams at Netflix have held a tight grip on viewership and has in fact more than doubled it’s numbers during the lockdown period. Netflix hosts every type of genre that one could look for in their list of titles. For those who love the intense and serious there are always shows like Peaky Blinders, Mindhunter, Breaking Bad, or even Stranger Things. Anyone who is looking to sit back and laugh can always turn to shows like Master of None, Sex Education and about a hundred comedy specials from headliners Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Ali Wong and many others. As a streaming service, Netflix is the best choice if trying to avoid buyer’s remorse because of the constant updates to its already impressive library. I often find myself browsing through their options much longer than I do actually watching whatever show I land on. Netflix would certainly be a safe bet for anyone looking to spend some time soaking up their favorite shows and movies, but Netflix has just recently revealed that their steady increase in viewership is slowly leveling out. As people get more acclimated to these unprecedented circumstances, it was suggested that this trend in popularity could drop off in a statement made by the company. If that is the case, then there are more options for streaming services still riding at the top.
The streaming service Hulu also has an immense library of original content for viewers to run through during their time stuck indoors. New and popular shows like Solar Opposites and Dave are a great example of quality content to premiere during quarantine. While browsing through, you could run their selection of new titles like the critically acclaimed Parasite as well as classics like Escape from Alcatraz. Another strong section of the list of viewing options on Hulu is FX on Hulu which offers many of the network’s highest grossing shows like Atlanta, Archer, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. With many more titles coming throughout the rest of the Summer release season, Hulu stands as a great service for anyone looking to add a few extra films to their watchlist. However, I would not recommend solely buying a subscription to Hulu against all others due to the fact that they lack a certain level of variability within their collection. There are tons of choices to love on Hulu, but I found myself looking for just a bit more than what they had to offer. Their parent company, Disney, however also boasts about their profitability during the lockdown period with their own streaming service Disney+.
Disney+ has wasted no time trying to connect with their younger audience through their selection of classic animated Disney titles as well as their acquisition of the rights of both Star Wars and Marvel titles. Disney+ offers a certain level of nostalgia for many of their older viewers that other streaming services can’t, as well as an extensive list of titles for their younger viewers who need something to entertain themselves during lockdown. Disney+ is a relatively new streaming service, but still comes in as a strong contender for placing a subscription. Their increased viewership is a testament to what they have added to their library over the span of the year, which slowly but surely keeps growing. Whether it’s Aladdin or The Avengers there’s a little bit of something for everyone who’s looking for some family friendly entertainment.
How Do You Know What You Like?
Any of the streaming services that are currently on the market for viewers would be worth investing in during quarantine. Choosing which ones to invest in is the tricky part. Personally, I prefer to use Netflix, Hulu and my personal favorite HBO Max. HBO produces some of the world’s most popular content and having access to the amazing shows like The Sopranos, Barry, and only the first six seasons of Game of Thrones is just what I need to get me through the lockdown period. I land on HBO as being the only necessary streaming service that I need because it consistently has the most popular content that I enjoy watching. It has more mature options and, in my opinion, more original character driven stories. For me personally, that is the single most important factor to consider when choosing which service to saddle up with through the rest of this pandemic. What speaks to you the most, where do you find yourself going to more, and what keeps bringing you back? Whatever the answer is to these questions should be the service for you. Trying out the free trials and weighing each option should keep you plenty busy for the rest of the summer. However, on the off chance that you find yourself loving each service and can’t live without having all of them, you’ll have enough content to keep your schedule packed until the end of the year.
