Here’s a look at the new streaming challengers and what you get with each:
NEW PLAYERS
Disney+
Disney’s entertainment service, featuring shows and movies from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic.
Launch date: November 12
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.
Launch date: November 1
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.
Launch date: April 2020
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.
HBO MAX
A souped-up version of HBO from AT&T’s WarnerMedia, with some 10,000 hours of video at launch.
Launch date: May 2020
Price: $15 a month
Promotions: Free for about 10 million existing HBO subscribers – those who get HBO through AT&T distribution platforms such as U-Verse and DirecTV, and those who get the HBO Now streaming service directly from HBO, rather than a cable or online partner such as Amazon. Free for customers of AT&T’s higher-tier wireless and broadband offerings.
Original shows: A ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel called ‘House of the Dragon.’ ”Raised by Wolves,’ a sci-fi series directed by Ridley Scott. ‘Strange Adventures,’ a DC Super Hero anthology series.
Other shows and movies: HBO shows and movies, including theatrical releases that HBO licenses. Programs from the Warner Bros. studio, including ‘Friends,’ ”The Big Bang Theory,’ ”The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ and ‘Pretty Little Liars.’ The animated comedy ‘South Park.’ New CW shows ‘Batwoman’ and ‘Riverdale’ spinoff ‘Katy Keene’ will also be available to stream after the season ends.
Source: The Associated Press
STREAMING VETERANS
Netflix
Launch date: February 2007
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 Video
Launch date: September 2006
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