TV Streaming 101: Hardware and Content Options

Do you watch live TV or do you stream your favorite shows using a subscription-based video-on-demand (SVOD) service? Chances are if you’re a millennial, you’re streaming. The latest Nielsen Cross-Platform Report shows TV viewing by 18-24-year-olds dropped by almost 7 hours a week between 2011 and 2014, with the bulk of the decline taking place in the last year.

It makes sense; this is the generation that wants to choose when, where and how they consume content. Companies like Netflix and Amazon are creating original programming like House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and Transparent, and these shows are the buzz of the virtual water cooler. Netflix now accounts for 6% of TV viewership, according to one report.

The TV industry is changing as consumers are becoming more receptive to paying for the premium content they want, rather than pay for hundreds of channels they don’t need. Here are some options to see if this is the right option for you.

Amazon Fire TV

Let’s start with the hardware. Amazon’s Fire TV is a small device you connect to your HDTV, which becomes your ticket to streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Showtime, HBO Go and plenty more. This $99 device has a voice search that makes it easy to just say the name of the show or movie you want to watch, and it will find it for you. If you’re a Prime member ($99/year) you get access to over 200,000 TV episodes and movies, original programing and millions of songs to listen to.

WHAT’S NEW:  X-Ray for Movies and TV Shows powered by IMDb. If you’ve ever watched a movie and wondered, “What else has that actor been in?” and pulled out your tablet to search IMDB, stand down. You can click up on your remote and all that info will now appear on your screen. X-Ray for Amazon Instant Video gives you instant access to actor’s bios, fun facts and more.

Apple TV

Apple TV is one of the older streaming media devices, there are rumors that Apple will be replacing it with a brand new TV streaming service, but until then, this remains a great way to stream movies and TV, as well as anything that’s on your iOS or Mac device. The price has dropped to an affordable $69, making it a close competitor to the Roku devices.

Like the others, it’s very small, similar in size to a hockey puck, plugs into the HDMI port and uses AirPlay to connect to your devices. You can buy or rent content from iTunes, or watch services like Netflix and Hulu Plus to watch movies, TV shows, videos, sports or view your own photos and more in 1080p HD.

WHAT’S NEW:  Fans of Games of Thrones and other HBO shows who may or may not have been borrowing someone’s HBO Go password will be thrilled to learn HBO Now is available on Apple TV for $14.95 a month. No contract, no commitment, no cable or satellite subscription required. Just the way you like it.

Roku 3

Roku was one of the first streaming media devices to let people access content like Netflix and Hulu Plus and it remains one of the most popular thanks to an ever-evolving user interface and updated channels to choose from.

Like the others, it connects to your TV and home Wi-Fi, and provides access to the biggest line-up of streaming free and paid channels, such as Netflix, HBO GO and Sling TV. Roku players range in price from $49.99 to $99.99 for the newly-released Roku 3.

WHAT’S NEW: The new “Roku Feed” is an easy way to find content, even if it’s not available yet. Using the feed you can “follow” a movie you want to watch that’s not yet available for streaming and Roku will notify you when it is and which channel it can be streamed on. Roku 3 also adds voice search capability making it that much easier to search through the 2,000 available channels for content you want.

Sling TV

Now for the content part: Sling TV, which used to require hardware, is now available as a $20-per month service that streams live and on-demand TV shows over the Internet. The basic package offers 16 channels including ESPN, HGTV, Food Network, Cartoon Network and the Disney Channel. For $5 more a month you can add on packages such as sports or kids’ programming.

Sling TV can be watched on Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Xbox One, Mac or iOS devices and some smart TV’s.

NEED TO KNOW: Dish Network’s Sling TV will grow its channel options and add additional streaming devices and smart TVs in the coming months. Keep in mind there are no DVR capabilities and most channels don’t allow you to pause, fast forward or rewind the content. The service requires no contract or commitment.

PlayStation Vue

PlayStation Vue is a brand new streaming service from Sony that is only available in select markets. Customers in Chicago, New York and Philadelphia can access PlayStation Vue content for $50 a month. Channels include most network, the popular cable channels such as Comedy Central, Food Network, MTV, Nickelodeon and more. There is a huge library of on-demand programming and since Vue is cloud-based, you can DVR shows with complete ability to pause, rewind and fast forward the content.

NEED TO KNOW: You can only watch content on a PS3 or PS4. Also, Sony doesn’t yet have a deal in place with ABC which means there’s no access to ABC, ESPN or Disney. Sports fans and those with kids take note.

TWITCH

If you prefer to watch video game play, then head over to Twitch TV. Twitch is a wildly popular live streaming video platform that streams video-game play, broadcasts of e-sports competitions and online video shows like King of the Nerds from major gaming brands. Twitch says its live chat system, TMI, regularly delivers over 1 million messages each second.

NEED TO KNOW: Twitch, now owned by Amazon, seems to be moving beyond just gaming content in an effort to monetize the platform. It’s partnered with brands like Old Spice for social advertising and in a move reminiscent of a Reddit AMA, HBO sent the cast of Silicon Valley to Twitch HQ to answer users’ questions.