What do you subscribe to and why?
Discussion
With so much choice now as organisations have got greedy and decided to make their own bespoke services, rather than licence it all to Netflix, I wondered what do you good people sub to and why?
For us we don't have lots of time to watch lots of TV, so I limit the number of subs. We arguably still have too many, but it works for us at the minute...
1) BBC (TV licence) - Wifey enjoys the choice of live TV and we both like a fair bit of BBC programming.
2) Netflix (cheapest package) - our go-to for on demand, although it's starting to all feel a bit samey now.
3) Now TV entertainment - just for Nikolodean for daughter. Unlikely be kept once she grows out of those shows.
4) Apple Music family sub - for all our music needs.
Occasional sub:
Disney+ - was a permanent fixture but I've just cancelled this ahead of the annual renewal as we've not watched it for months. It's high quality so this will likely return on the future, just not yet as got a backlog of other stuff to watch on the others.
Amazon Prime - only really if we need a temporary sub to prime delivery. Crap interface.
WWE Network - occasionally dip in for any new nostalgic documentaries about the must watch tv of my youth
How about you, what are your subs, and why?
For us we don't have lots of time to watch lots of TV, so I limit the number of subs. We arguably still have too many, but it works for us at the minute...
1) BBC (TV licence) - Wifey enjoys the choice of live TV and we both like a fair bit of BBC programming.
2) Netflix (cheapest package) - our go-to for on demand, although it's starting to all feel a bit samey now.
3) Now TV entertainment - just for Nikolodean for daughter. Unlikely be kept once she grows out of those shows.
4) Apple Music family sub - for all our music needs.
Occasional sub:
Disney+ - was a permanent fixture but I've just cancelled this ahead of the annual renewal as we've not watched it for months. It's high quality so this will likely return on the future, just not yet as got a backlog of other stuff to watch on the others.
Amazon Prime - only really if we need a temporary sub to prime delivery. Crap interface.
WWE Network - occasionally dip in for any new nostalgic documentaries about the must watch tv of my youth
How about you, what are your subs, and why?
1. Amazon Prime. Primarily for the “free” delivery but I also watch the odd movie through it.
2. YouTube Premium. I use the music side of it every day in the car and of an evening often dip into YouTube through my Apple TV. YouTube is unwatchable now with all the ads imo but Premium sorts that and I don’t mind paying. Lots of good stuff on YouTube, I can’t say the same for normal telly, especially the BBC these days so I stick to streaming.
That’s it. Had Disney Plus and Apple TV+ for a year when they were first launched but I didn’t feel there was enough in them to justify paying full price. I do subscribe to Netflix now and then but not currently.
2. YouTube Premium. I use the music side of it every day in the car and of an evening often dip into YouTube through my Apple TV. YouTube is unwatchable now with all the ads imo but Premium sorts that and I don’t mind paying. Lots of good stuff on YouTube, I can’t say the same for normal telly, especially the BBC these days so I stick to streaming.
That’s it. Had Disney Plus and Apple TV+ for a year when they were first launched but I didn’t feel there was enough in them to justify paying full price. I do subscribe to Netflix now and then but not currently.
TBH Netflix was getting too big for its boots; having umpteen competing services isn't good either, but upcharging for 4k in this day and age is just silly.
For us, we don't get much time to sit and veg so having multiple services is a bit of a waste.
Netflix - due to inertia... I never watch it so want to cancel, Mrs D is resisting
D+ - IMO the best of the services... 4k, HDR, Atmos all available if you have the hardware. Decent new material plus a huge back catalogue. Some see "Disney" and think it's going to be cartoons and kids shows, definitely isn't.
Prime - wouldn't have it if it was only a TV streaming service, but Mrs D uses the music and we make use of the delivery. Occasionally watch Grand Tour if my FIL is round.
BBC licence fee - mostly for nostalgic and because I believe in having a broadcaster unswayed by commercial demands, but I fear that's now misplaced trust. Also we like Death In Paradise. But Top Gear - how many people watch it since it lost JC/JM/RH? I've watched a few episodes and thought "meh".
Things I've considered and definitely wouldn't obtain the content through other means:
Paramount - good for Star Trek
Apple+ - For All Mankind and Slow Horses are epic. I hear.
For us, we don't get much time to sit and veg so having multiple services is a bit of a waste.
Netflix - due to inertia... I never watch it so want to cancel, Mrs D is resisting
D+ - IMO the best of the services... 4k, HDR, Atmos all available if you have the hardware. Decent new material plus a huge back catalogue. Some see "Disney" and think it's going to be cartoons and kids shows, definitely isn't.
Prime - wouldn't have it if it was only a TV streaming service, but Mrs D uses the music and we make use of the delivery. Occasionally watch Grand Tour if my FIL is round.
BBC licence fee - mostly for nostalgic and because I believe in having a broadcaster unswayed by commercial demands, but I fear that's now misplaced trust. Also we like Death In Paradise. But Top Gear - how many people watch it since it lost JC/JM/RH? I've watched a few episodes and thought "meh".
Things I've considered and definitely wouldn't obtain the content through other means:
Paramount - good for Star Trek
Apple+ - For All Mankind and Slow Horses are epic. I hear.
I have:
Netflix
Amazon Prime - mainly for the 'free' delivery
Disney+
GCN+ for watching cycling racing.
HBO Portugal (accessed via VPN when I'm here in the UK)
SkyShowTime (accessed via VPN when I'm here in the UK) This one gives me Universal, Paramount, Sky, Showtime & Dreamworks channels. All for 2.49euros / mth for life as one of the first subscribers.
Netflix
Amazon Prime - mainly for the 'free' delivery
Disney+
GCN+ for watching cycling racing.
HBO Portugal (accessed via VPN when I'm here in the UK)
SkyShowTime (accessed via VPN when I'm here in the UK) This one gives me Universal, Paramount, Sky, Showtime & Dreamworks channels. All for 2.49euros / mth for life as one of the first subscribers.
i had:
- a netflix sub for general viewing but its been ages since i have watched something worthwhile and the frequency of doing so is only growing.
- prime, which i have never watched other than half a season of the boys, and amazon were about to start charging me for it.
- motogp subscription. for, erm, watching motogp.
i've either cancelled or not renewed them all in the last few weeks. just left with spotify premium [only £4 a month here] as i listen to a lot of music, plus a dodgy player app for the odd film or when there's sport i want to watch. i'll be getting the iomTT streaming sub for race week also.
- a netflix sub for general viewing but its been ages since i have watched something worthwhile and the frequency of doing so is only growing.
- prime, which i have never watched other than half a season of the boys, and amazon were about to start charging me for it.
- motogp subscription. for, erm, watching motogp.
i've either cancelled or not renewed them all in the last few weeks. just left with spotify premium [only £4 a month here] as i listen to a lot of music, plus a dodgy player app for the odd film or when there's sport i want to watch. i'll be getting the iomTT streaming sub for race week also.
Edited by shirt on Monday 20th March 11:39
Youtube Premium as I don't like ads and it makes up a lot of my viewing (and listening - YT Music instead of Spotify etc)
Amazon as we have Prime anyway.
Disney+ for kids, Star Wars and I'm working my way through the superhero stuff that passed me by.
Netflix, although I'm tempted to rest that for a bit after I've finished Drive to Survive.
GCN+ as mountain bike World Cups aren't free this year, and I quite like having TdF and the other classics live in the background when it's on.
Amazon as we have Prime anyway.
Disney+ for kids, Star Wars and I'm working my way through the superhero stuff that passed me by.
Netflix, although I'm tempted to rest that for a bit after I've finished Drive to Survive.
GCN+ as mountain bike World Cups aren't free this year, and I quite like having TdF and the other classics live in the background when it's on.
Edited by sjg on Monday 20th March 14:45
I'm surprised about the number of replies so far that have mentioned Prime but only having it for delivery. Point about TV for me is that I don't really want *more* of it. I want some stuff I like but quite honestly I'd be better off watching less TV rather than more. I quite like football but here's no way I'm paying to spend hours of my life watching it.
I choose mostly from BBC2, BBC4, a bit of C4, Quest and Yesterday (both freeview). Lots of people would find that boring but it suits me. I've never binge watched anything.
I choose mostly from BBC2, BBC4, a bit of C4, Quest and Yesterday (both freeview). Lots of people would find that boring but it suits me. I've never binge watched anything.
I'm surprised about the number of replies so far that have mentioned Prime but only having it for delivery. Point about TV for me is that I don't really want *more* of it. I want some stuff I like but quite honestly I'd be better off watching less TV rather than more. I quite like football but here's no way I'm paying to spend hours of my life watching it.
I choose mostly from BBC2, BBC4, a bit of C4, Quest and Yesterday (both freeview). Lots of people would find that boring but it suits me. I've never binge watched anything.
I choose mostly from BBC2, BBC4, a bit of C4, Quest and Yesterday (both freeview). Lots of people would find that boring but it suits me. I've never binge watched anything.
We have two at once and rotate whenever one service gets stale. One in one out.
Current pool is
Disney plus
Netflix
Now tv
Prime
Apple TV
Prime is probably the most constant fixture but I’ve noticed I spend much less on tat when I’m not subscribed so recently making more of an effort to rotate it out.
Current pool is
Disney plus
Netflix
Now tv
Prime
Apple TV
Prime is probably the most constant fixture but I’ve noticed I spend much less on tat when I’m not subscribed so recently making more of an effort to rotate it out.
TV license. I never watch TV, and never watch iPlayer, but I still think we'd be worse off without the BBC. Poor value.
Amazon Prime, because it saves on delivery. Occasionally there's something worth watching on Prime Video, but it's not our go-to. Overall good value as it's basically free content with a delivery package.
Netflix, our default for TV. The kids enjoy it, although the average quality of stuff on there is appallingly low. I could happily live without Netflix and maybe dig deeper into iPlayer or Prime instead. In fact, I resent the poor value. It's not cheap, and quality is poor.
Spotify: It's not good value for us, as I'd be happy with radio and free podcasts, but it's convenient and easy to use for the family on a number of devices, works with Alexa, Sonos etc, and there's Spotify Kids which gets rid of all the sweary stuff.
YouTube Premium: The best value content by far. £11.99/month and I can never keep up with the pace of stuff released that's worth learning, plus goodness knows how much I haven't even discovered yet! This would be the last subscription to go.
FIA WEC live tv package. Renewed every year, always with issues, bugs, glitches and annoyances. This year is no exception so far.
We've had a couple of free trials of Disney+ but it's not worth paying for. It's easy to run out of stuff to watch before the trial ends.
I tried Sky when F1 moved to it, but F1 sucked and I couldn't justify the price. I've tried occasional Now TV passes for F1, and whaddya know, F1 still sucked. So I gave up on F1.
Amazon Prime, because it saves on delivery. Occasionally there's something worth watching on Prime Video, but it's not our go-to. Overall good value as it's basically free content with a delivery package.
Netflix, our default for TV. The kids enjoy it, although the average quality of stuff on there is appallingly low. I could happily live without Netflix and maybe dig deeper into iPlayer or Prime instead. In fact, I resent the poor value. It's not cheap, and quality is poor.
Spotify: It's not good value for us, as I'd be happy with radio and free podcasts, but it's convenient and easy to use for the family on a number of devices, works with Alexa, Sonos etc, and there's Spotify Kids which gets rid of all the sweary stuff.
YouTube Premium: The best value content by far. £11.99/month and I can never keep up with the pace of stuff released that's worth learning, plus goodness knows how much I haven't even discovered yet! This would be the last subscription to go.
FIA WEC live tv package. Renewed every year, always with issues, bugs, glitches and annoyances. This year is no exception so far.
We've had a couple of free trials of Disney+ but it's not worth paying for. It's easy to run out of stuff to watch before the trial ends.
I tried Sky when F1 moved to it, but F1 sucked and I couldn't justify the price. I've tried occasional Now TV passes for F1, and whaddya know, F1 still sucked. So I gave up on F1.
TV Licence
Sky basic package, plus sport for the F1
Netflix - basic package. Still te best for bingeable shows IMO, we have many to get through.
Amazon Prime - mainly for delivery. Rarely watch it though, so considering dropping this.
My Mrs pays for Disney+. Again, this may be dropped due to lack of watching
She also has Spotify premium as it's cheaper than buying music all the time. I don't subscribe to any music stuff, only listen to radio in the car.
Sky basic package, plus sport for the F1
Netflix - basic package. Still te best for bingeable shows IMO, we have many to get through.
Amazon Prime - mainly for delivery. Rarely watch it though, so considering dropping this.
My Mrs pays for Disney+. Again, this may be dropped due to lack of watching
She also has Spotify premium as it's cheaper than buying music all the time. I don't subscribe to any music stuff, only listen to radio in the car.
BBC tv licence - still some good stuff around
Sky (whatever the HD pack is called now,) I took it when they included F1
Netflix - but watch very little at the moment
Apple Music and Prime - Full music access plus Clarkson’s Farm and TGT
FIA WEC (ok a one-off payment) - already proved worth it to keep up with Sebring last week
I think, hope that’s it
Sky (whatever the HD pack is called now,) I took it when they included F1
Netflix - but watch very little at the moment
Apple Music and Prime - Full music access plus Clarkson’s Farm and TGT
FIA WEC (ok a one-off payment) - already proved worth it to keep up with Sebring last week
I think, hope that’s it
Edited by generationx on Monday 20th March 15:11
Edited by generationx on Monday 20th March 15:12
Interesting thread. As we are increasingly habituated to renting everything, then it’s easy to let the entertainment subscriptions creep up on you.
BBC licence fee
Sky, incl. movies and sports
Amazon Prime (we have had for delivery for years)
Netflix
Disney+
Apple Music (family)
To be honest, we all spend so much time doing other things (work for us, school and dance for daughter) that having the time to watch anything all the way through is a rarity. On that basis I’m sure why we have all that..!
BBC licence fee
Sky, incl. movies and sports
Amazon Prime (we have had for delivery for years)
Netflix
Disney+
Apple Music (family)
To be honest, we all spend so much time doing other things (work for us, school and dance for daughter) that having the time to watch anything all the way through is a rarity. On that basis I’m sure why we have all that..!
BBC licence - there's quite a lot we watch and enjoy and we use iPlayer and Sounds a lot.
Amazon Prime - we started during lockdown as O/H is classified 'clinically vulnerable' so delivery was invaluable. We've used it ever since for convenience but don't watch much apart from Clarkson's Farm and the occasional film.
Amazon Prime - we started during lockdown as O/H is classified 'clinically vulnerable' so delivery was invaluable. We've used it ever since for convenience but don't watch much apart from Clarkson's Farm and the occasional film.
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