National Streaming Day:most popular streaming services Netflix Disney+
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Tomorrow, May 20, is National Streaming Day, a day entirely devoted to celebrating the evolution of video consumption and the ease that streaming has brought to our lives. After all, we’re a long way from waiting in line to check out movies at Blockbuster. Now, you can just use a convenient streaming device to launch your favorite movie and you’ll be watching it within seconds. In honor of the Roku-founded holiday, some brands are even offering special deals to celebrate the age of streaming.
That said, you have to subscribe to streaming services in order to access their many offerings. With so many to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide which one is right for you. To help you make your pick, these are the most popular streaming services out there, in order of subscribers, and some of their top offerings. Happy streaming!
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1. Netflix
With over 232 million subscribers to its name as of the first quarter of 2023, Netflix remains the most popular streaming service. One of the keys to Netflix’s success has been time. The company got its start in 1998 as a DVD delivery service (a service which is coming to an end later this year) before hitting its stride as a streaming service in 2007. Since then, the platform has curated countless popular titles such as Squid Games, You and Stranger Things.
2. Prime Video
Amazon Prime offers fast shipping on any product you can think of, music streaming, a quality audiobook service, exclusive deals... it only makes sense that they would offer video streaming, too. Perhaps its many benefits are what has garnered Prime Video over 200 million subscribers as of September 2022. That, and hit shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Good Omens and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
3. Disney+
Disney Plus is one of the newer streaming services on the block, launching in November of 2019, yet it has already amassed a huge user base of over 157.8 million subscribers and it’s not hard to see why. Out the gate, subscribers could watch the company’s massive media catalog, be it classic animated films, Marvel movies or even Star Wars. The streaming service would further prove its value by regularly launching new hit shows such as The Mandalorian and exclusive movies like the recent Peter Pan & Wendy. Timing also played a factor in Disney Plus’s meteoric rise—it was the platform that many turned to while cooped up during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. HBO Max
HBO Max and Discovery+ have merged to create the ultimate streaming service called ‘Max’ which will debut officially on Tuesday, May 23. The two platforms are currently separate until the official launch but have amassed over 96.1 million subscribers between the two as of the end of 2022, according to Warner Bros. Discovery. It’s not very surprising as HBO Max is home to smashing successes such as the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, The White Lotus,Succession and Euphoria.
5. Paramount+
Paramount+ has been around for longer than you might realize. The streamer made its debut in 2014 under the name 'CBS All Access' but would eventually go on to become Paramount+ in 2021. Since then, the brand has announced a merger with the longtime cable network and app 'Showtime', which will happen sometime in 2023 and bring even more content to the streaming platform. While not as recognized as Netflix or Hulu, Paramount+ has made a name for itself all the same thanks to its varied mix of programming and original shows— from Star Trek: Picard to Yellowjackets and more, bringing its total subscriber count to over 77 million worldwide by the end of 2022.
6. Hulu
Hulu is another streaming service that’s been around for a while. Launching in 2007, it’s about the same age as Netflix’s streaming service. Hulu has continued to be a household name thanks to its roster of exclusive and syndicated shows such as Abbott Elementary and The Bachelor. Plus, the brand offers the option of Live TV, too. As of the second quarter of 2023, it was reported that Hulu had 48.2 million paid subscribers.
More:Get Hulu for just $2 per month for three months with this National Streaming Day deal
7. Apple TV+
Apple aims to be at the forefront of all things tech and video streaming is no exception. That's why the brand has its very own streaming service called Apple TV+. The streaming platform sets itself apart from its competitors with its original programming from Shrinking to the worldwide sensation that is Ted Lasso. It’s no wonder the popular streaming platform has landed over 25 million paid subscribers as of March 2022.
8. Starz
Premium cable network Starz made the jump to streaming in 2008 in a partnership with Netflix at the time, then later as its own standalone app. In June of 2022, the streamer had around 27.3 million paid subscribers. Via streaming, Starz continues to offer the quality programming that put it on the map such as Outlander, Party Down and Power.
9. ESPN+
ESPN has long been the one-stop-shop for sports fans across the country and that has remained true since the network stepped into streaming in April of 2018. Sports continues to be one of America’s favorite pastimes in the streaming era, with ESPN+ boasting 25.3 million paid subscribers by the end of Q2 in 2023. Whether your passion is basketball or football, collegiate or professional, your favorite sport has a home on ESPN+, which you can purchase for less when bundled with Hulu and Disney+.
10. Peacock
From news to movies to live sports, NBC’s Peacock has a little bit of everything. The streamer began in 2020 and has since accumulated over 21 million subscribers as of the end of Q1 in 2023. It's not hard to see why it's grown in popularity, what with its inexpensive pricing and variety of hot shows to stream such as Vanderpump Rules, the national sensation Yellowstone or the beloved NBC show The Office.
Sling TV
While it doesn’t make the top 10 most popular streaming services list in number of subscribers, Sling TV is certainly a “10” in our hearts. According to stats, Sling TV had 2.3 million subscribers to its name by the end of 2022 thanks to the many channels it offers. Each tier of Sling TV offers over 50 hours of DVR and over 30 channels to enjoy such as ESPN. You can check out Sling TV’s new ‘Freestream’ service to watch quality movies and shows without paying a dime, both to supplement your existing streaming services or to see if you’d like to become a paid Sling TV subscriber.
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