The connected living room is taking shape -- finally -- and commercial content creators are embracing digital media in a big way. Of course now, the problem isn't so much finding a way to get quality commercial content streamed to your TV, smartphone or computer, but deciphering what service is the best.
We're taking a look at five of the the most popular streaming media services to see how they stack up.
Note: Although some of these services do provide access for users outside of the United States, issues related to content licensing and service availability are still largely U.S.-centric. Furthermore, the majority of consumer electronics that support streaming services are focused on North American consumers. We apologize to our international readers and hope we can take a look at more region-agnostic alternatives in the future.
1. Netflix
Netflix completely revolutionized the DVD rental space when it debuted more than a decade ago. Over the last few years, the company has exerted more of its energies and resources into becoming the most visible subscription streaming service.
Featuring one of the largest streaming content libraries and capturing subscribers by the millions, Netflix is one of the big players in the streaming media space.
PC/Mac Access: Yes, using a web browser (requires Microsoft Silverlight), Windows 7 Media Center, Plex, or Boxee.
Mobile Device Support: iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Windows Phone 7. Android is coming soon.
Connected Device Support: Roku, TiVo, the new Apple TV, Google TV, PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and countless HDTV sets, Blu-ray players and other devices.
Price: Streaming only plans start at $7.99 a month
Selection: Netflix has an ever-expanding selection of TV shows and movies and the company has made it clear it isn't afraid to open up its wallet to bring more streaming content to its compatible devices.
Our Take: At this point, one has to make an effort to find a new TV, Blu-ray player or set-top box that doesn't support Netflix. This, coupled with the new low-cost streaming only plan and the ever-increasing content library makes Netflix a winner. HD quality isn't as sharp as on some other services and title availability can change without notice, but for catalog TV titles and a good selection of new and old films, Netflix is a winner.
Amazon first launched its media download service, then known as Amazon Unbox, as a way to compete with iTunes and Microsoft's pre-Zune digital storefront. That service failed, in part because the DRM was annoying, it didn't support connected devices (or Macs) and portable device support was limited.
Amazon Video On Demand has been much more successful, and by shifting from downloading to streaming, the retail giant can offer a better selection of film and television content to rent or own. Taking a cue from Netflix, Amazon has also partnered with a growing list of device makers to include support for its service on television sets, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players and DVRs.
PC/Mac Access: Yes for streaming via the web browser. Offline viewing requires Windows.
Mobile Device Support: Limited. If you have an older Creative Zen or Archos device or select Nokia smartphones, you might be able to play back downloaded Amazon Unbox content. Otherwise, this is a service designed for the web browser or TV set.
Connected Device Support: Roku, Logitech Revue, TiVo, select Sony and Panasonic Blu-ray players, and TVs from Samsung, Panasonic, Vizio and Sony. Amazon maintains this list of supported devices.
Price: Movies and TV shows are available for purchase or rental a la carte. TV episodes are sold for $1.99 each and select shows can also be rented for $1.39 an episode. New release films are $3.99 for a rental and generally $14.99 to own. Amazon offers specials for users who want a season's pass of a TV show, as well as special offers on new releases and catalog titles.
Selection: Amazon has a solid selection of old and new hits for movies and most current U.S. TV shows, including premium cable shows from HBO or Showtime.
Our Take: Amazon Video On Demand is best when viewed as an iTunes alternative that can also be used with a growing list of HDTVs and Blu-ray players. We appreciate that purchases are stored on your Amazon account and can be accessed from other devices. We also like that Amazon frequently runs specials on new releases. The lack of mobile device support does make Amazon more limited than some of the other services, but its flexibility elsewhere makes it a good value.
3. Hulu Plus
When Hulu first hit the scene back in 2007, many scoffed at the idea that streaming TV shows in a web browser could work. If you ask Hulu's backers -- News Corp., NBC Universal, Disney and Providence Equity Partners -- it's possible Hulu has worked too well.
Hulu Plus was conceived as a way to not only monetize Hulu, but also provide a better selection of catalog content and official support for mobile devices, televisions and set-top boxes.
Hulu Plus only officially launched a few months ago, but already the company says it is having a positive impact on its bottom line.
PC/Mac Access: Yes, via Hulu.com and the Hulu Desktop application.
Mobile Device Support: iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Android support for select Android 2.2 devices is coming soon.
Connected Device Support: Roku, PlayStation 3, TiVo Premiere (soon), Xbox 360 (soon) and select HDTV and Blu-ray players from Vizio, LG, Panasonic, Sony, Haier and Samsung.
Price: $7.99 a month.
Selection: Good selection of current TV shows and some movies. Hulu Plus doesn't feature every title from the regular Hulu.com, but it does feature more episodes of certain series, full back catalogs for some classic shows and offers users access to 720p streaming content for compatible programming. Many (but not all) Hulu Plus programs are served ad free.
Our Take: Hulu Plus is a great choice for users who watch a lot of television, especially current shows. There is a significant amount of overlap between the content offered by Hulu Plus and Netflix, but Hulu wins for current episodes of hit TV shows. The iPad and iPhone apps are great and a growing number of devices are gaining Hulu Plus support. It's worth checking out on your PC or Mac and is a good feature to look for when buying a connected TV, Blu-ray player or set-top box.
4. Vudu
Vudu started its life as a set-top box aimed at movie lovers. The big play was to offer Internet-delivered HD movie content to users. That's all fine and dandy today, but in May 2008, it was pretty revolutionary.
The company has since shifted away from making its own box, instead opting to license its service to HDTVs and Blu-ray players. In March, Walmart acquired Vudu, and the company has continued to expand its device support. Last month, Vudu announced that it will begin streaming 3D HDTV content.
PC/Mac Access: Yes, via Boxee. This requires downloading and installing Boxee and then adding the Vudu app.
Mobile Device Support: None. Vudu does offer an iPhone app that lets you browse, search and rent content from an iPhone or iPod touch for playback on a Vudu compatible device.
Connected Device Support: Limited but growing. Vudu is accessible via the PS3, Boxee Box and a growing number of HDTV and Blu-ray players from Vizio, Panasonic, Samsung, LG, Toshiba and more.
Price: A la carte. Vudu offers $2 for 2-day specials on some titles, but most movies are $4.99 for an HD rental and $5.99 for an HDX rental. Most rental windows are 24 hours, but you can watch content on multiple devices.
Selection: More than 17,000 movies and TV shows, Vudu usually gets new releases the same day as the DVD hits stores.
Our Take: From a quality standpoint, Vudu is unmatched. HDX rentals really blow the boundaries of what one expects from a streaming service. That said, Vudu doesn't have the library of some of its counterparts and it can be expensive. If you have a fast Internet connection (and a Wireless-N router), Vudu is a great way to enjoy high quality new releases at home.
5. iTunes
In a little over a decade, iTunes has evolved from music manager to content behemoth. Four years ago, Apple decided to venture into movie and TV purchases, later expanding those offerings to rentals.
Content can be played back on a Mac, PC, iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or Apple TV. The latest Apple TV streams content directly from the server. The iTunes media ecosystem is more limited than some of the other services -- it works in iTunes or on Apple devices, period -- but the ubiquity of iTunes and the variety of content shouldn't be easily dismissed.
PC/Mac Access: Yes, iTunes software required.
Mobile Device Support: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch. Purchases work on older iPod devices too.
Connected Device Support: Apple TV.
Price: TV show rentals are $0.99 and movie rentals start at $2.99 for SD and $3.99 for HD. TV show rentals are 48 hours, movies are 24 hours. Most content can also be purchased.
Selection: iTunes has a solid selection of titles for purchase, including most current TV shows and a good selection of new releases. The rental selection isn't as strong and catalog content lags behind some of the offering from Amazon.
Our Take: iTunes might be the de facto marketplace for music, but for streaming content, the choice is much less clear. The TV rental pricing is solid -- whether you are watching on a computer, Apple TV or iOS device, but for movie content, we're not as convinced. Vudu offers better quality, Amazon often has better pricing and for catalog titles, Netflix and Hulu are both ahead. iTunes is a good last resort for a new release and a great choice for TV show rentals, but unless you live in an Apple-only ecosystem, it's worth exploring other choices.
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