Squaring up on-demand services

Digital options have taken television by storm. But choosing from the three big video-on-demand services now available can be tricky. Which one is the best for you (and your internet connection) and what does it cost? We break it down for you.The game-changerNetflix is the oldest and best known of the on-demand video streaming or internet TV service. So ubiquitous and popular is this service internationally that, much like Google, Netflix as a verb has entered the lexicon.In 2016, Netflix added 130 new countries to its footprint, including Namibia. Without the need for proxy workarounds, Namibians could finally legitimately access the service, including Netflix original content and a fairly extensive library of titles. In Namibia, it offers about 1 400 titles.If you want the latest blockbusters, you're more likely to find them on iTunes (this goes for all these on-demand options), but the vintage movies and original series selection is fantastic.Price: From US$7.99 (N$107.41) per month for the basic (standard definition or SD) optionHighly recommended: The Marvel titles (including Luke Cage and Daredevil), Stranger Things, Narcos and the recent Amanda Knox doccie.The local contenderNaspers-owned ShowMax launched to much fanfare prior to Netflix SA. It offers about 1 000 titles, and its big differentiator is local content, including Afrikaans movies, local stand-up comedy and several locally produced series.ShowMax offers downloads too. Its month-to-month billing at a fixed dollar and value is great too, as is its data-capping tool, so you can manage your usage for streamed content. What this means is that tablet or smartphone users, for example, or those accessing the service via 3G data, can limit the resolution they receive.If you fell behind on some big series, such as Game of Thrones, Big Bang Theory or Elementary, ShowMax lets you catch up from episode one. The BBC productions bouquet (at no extra charge) is also packed with old favourites, such as Little Britain, Absolutely Fabulous and 'Allo 'Allo.The movie selection here is like that of Netflix, not the best and brightest, but it does feature a couple of entertaining titles (The Birdcage, King Kong, The Aviator, the Mission Impossible collection) in among Air Buddies-type kids movies.Price: N$R99 per month.Highly recommended: Mr Robot, Silicon Valley, Golden Globes darling Veep and David Attenborough Meets President Obama.Prime timeIn December, Amazon's Prime Video service announced a wide international expansion to more than 200 countries, including Namibia. It's competing aggressively with Netflix, it seems, with a bargain-basement price of just US$2.99 (N$40.19) per month for the first six months and US$5.99 (N$80.52) per month thereafter.Not only that, but it has HD as standard, is capable of ultra-HD, and supports three simultaneous streams on the basic price.Where it has less of an advantage and this is probably temporary is the number of titles on offer. There are just 255 titles for Amazon Prime locally but there are some goodies there, both in original series (like Transparent) and big-name films (No Country for Old Men, American Beauty).You can access Prime Video via smartphone and tablet apps, a Web browser (primevideo.com) and certain smart TVs. There is no Apple TV app, but you can work around this by airplaying content from the Prime Video app on your iPhone to your Apple TV.Even if you have an Amazon account, you'll want to sign up via the primevideo.com link to access the introductory deal.Highly recommended: The Night Manager, Hand of God, Transparent, Mozart in the Jungle and if you still miss the old white men of Top Gear and their antics in The Grand Tour.FINANCIAL MAIL

Squaring up on-demand services

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-06

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Squaring up on-demand services

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-06

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