Page 23 - atoday

TECHNOLOGY A23
Streaming TV services: What they cost, what you get
The Associated Press
Cable or satellite packag-
es, excluding promotions,
can easily run $70 to $100
a month. That gets you
hundreds of diverse chan-
nels — ESPN for sports lov-
ers, premium channels like
HBO and Showtime, the
major networks and niche
options. But maybe you
can find more cost-effec-
tive options online.
Netflix is raising the monthly On demand: Day-after
price for its most popular
plan by $1, to $10, for new
customers (and eventu-
ally all customers). Online
services, individually, are
still cheaper. Depending
on what you like to watch,
however, you may need to
subscribe to several. And
not all of them can play at
the same time for several
family members.
A sampling of services for
different tastes:
GOOD FOR SPORTS
DISH’S SLING TV
Price: Starts at $20 a month.
Live offering: About 20
channels, including ESPN,
ABC Family, AMC and
Food Network. No broad-
cast channels like CBS or
NBC, although Univision is
available in add-on pack-
ages. Add-on packages
for sports, movies, kids,
lifestyles and world news
available for $5 each, and
HBO for $15.
On demand: No record-
ing of channels, though
some offer older episodes,
including HBO. Access to
WatchESPN on-demand
app.
Restrictions: Can watch
only one stream at a time,
so members of households
will need multiple subscrip-
tions, although HBO con-
tent can be streamed on
3 devices at a time. DVR
controls, such as pause
and rewind, aren’t avail-
able for many channels.
NFL blackouts on mobile
devices.
MLB.TV
Price: $110 for a full sea-
son; the price goes down
throughout the season. An
extra $5 for some postsea-
son games with alterna-
tive camera angles — not
what’s shown on TV.
Live offering: All Major
League Baseball games,
Tuesday 13 October 2015

subject to hometown HULU tend to be past seasons, streaming TV devices.
blackouts. Price: $8 a month for Plus, plus movies. Next-day ac- NETFLIX
On demand: All games. though many shows are cess to shows for $2 or $3 Price: The most popular
Restrictions: Lots of black- free on Windows and Mac an episode. plan will now cost $10 a
outs. Extra $20 for season computers. $12 a month Restrictions: Requires a month for new customers.
to watch on mobile and for a version with no com- one-year commitment. Live offering: None
streaming TV devices. mercials. HBO NOW On demand: Apart from
THIS SEASON’S TV Live offering: None Price: About $15 a month original shows such as
_ On demand: Next-day ac- Live offering: New episodes “House of Cards,” offerings
CBS ALL ACCESS cess to shows from ABC, are available through apps tend to be past seasons,
Monthly price: $6. NBC, Fox and CW, along about the same time they plus movies.
Live offering: More than with some cable channels. are shown on TV. Restrictions: For the most
100 markets. Some movies and original On demand: Current and popular plan, you can
shows. past seasons of most HBO watch on only 2 screens at
access to shows on mo- Restrictions: Fox and CW shows, including “Games a time.
bile devices (on traditional shows restricted to cable of Thrones,” ‘’Girls” and _
computers, it’s free with- subscribers for first week. “The Sopranos.” Hundreds FOR KIDS
out a subscription). Full ABC requires cable or Hulu of movies. NETFLIX
seasons for many shows, Plus subscription during Restrictions: You must sub- Price: The most popular
not just past five episodes. that time. Plus also needed scribe through a partner plan will now cost $10 a
his March 20, 2012 file photo shows Netfilx headquarters in Los Gatos, Calif. Netflix is raising the monthly price for its most popular
plan by $1, to $10, for new customers (and eventually all customers). Associated Press
Past seasons for a handful for viewing on mobile and like Apple, Amazon or An- month for new customers.
of shows, including “The streaming TV devices. droid. Cablevision and Ve- Live offering: None
Good Wife,” ‘’Survivor,” ITUNES rizon also offer HBO Now. On demand: Apart from
‘’The Amazing Race” and Price: Next-day access to HULU original shows such as
“60 Minutes.” shows for $2 or $3 an epi- Price: $8 a month for Plus, “House of Cards,” offerings
Restrictions: Some sports sode. though many shows are tend to be past seasons,
blackouts. Live offering: None, except free on Windows and Mac plus movies.
HBO NOW for special events such as computers. $12 a month Restrictions: For the most
Price: About $15 a month iTunes music festival. for a version with no com- popular plan, you can
Live offering: New episodes Restrictions: No Android mercials. watch on only 2 screens at
are available through apps devices. Apple TV is only Live offering: None a time.
about the same time they streaming device support- On demand: Next-day ac- NICKELODEON’S NOGGIN
are shown on TV. ed. cess to shows from ABC, Monthly price: $6
On demand: Current and ___ NBC, Fox and CW, along Live offering: None
past seasons of most HBO BINGE-WATCHING TV & with some cable channels. On demand: Games and
shows, including “Games MOVIES Some movies and original activities created for ser-
of Thrones,” ‘’Girls” and AMAZON shows. vice alongside archives of
“The Sopranos.” Hundreds Price: $8.25 a month (only Restrictions: Fox and CW shows no longer on any of
of movies. through $99-a-year Ama- shows restricted to cable Nickelodeon’s TV chan-
Restrictions: You must sub- zon Prime subscription) subscribers for first week. nels. Aimed at preschool-
scribe through a partner Live offering: None ABC requires cable or Hulu ers.
like Apple, Amazon or An- On demand: Apart from Plus subscription during Restrictions: Available on
droid. Cablevision and Ve- original shows such as that time. Plus also needed Apple mobile devices
rizon also offer HBO Now. “Transparent,” offerings for viewing on mobile and only.q