Netflix just announced its prices are rising soon, and for many, that will be the final straw. The other two big streaming services – Amazon and Hulu – among some other streaming applications, offer some great curated and original content, but what if that’s still not quite what you’re looking for? Here are some of the other streaming services offering more niche content, often for a better price:
For Anglophiles: Acorn and Britbox
Americans love England, despite our history. We really love British TV, but it can be hard to find. With an Acorn TV subscription plan, however, you can get content from all over the United Kingdom, as well as Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Shows include Agatha Christie’s The Witness for the Prosecution, which has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, Line of Duty starring Thandie Newton, and more. Acorn also has its own original programming, including an exclusive new season of Foyle’s War, a series that originally ran from 2002 to 2015.
BritBox is another popular on-demand option. It’s currently the only official streaming source for classic episodes of Doctor Who, and they’ll frequently restore old shows like Yes, Prime Minister. In addition to mysteries like classic Miss Marple and Prime Suspect, you’ll find comedies like QI and Absolutely Fabulous.
For anime fans: Crunchyroll
Japanese anime enjoys a huge global following, and there’s no better place to find it than on Crunchyroll. It first launched in 2006, and during its thirteen years of existence, it’s amassed a huge collection with shows like Dragon Ball Super and Attack on Titan. This year, they’ll release their first original show titled High Guardian Spice, which features four girls studying sorcery and learning life lessons.
For horror aficionados: Shudder
In recent years, horror has become a more respected genre, though the big streaming services haven’t quite caught up yet. To get on the cutting-edge, consider Shudder, an AMC-owned streaming service dedicated to horror and supernatural thrillers. In addition to their library of older films like Resident Evil, The Faculty, and The Changeling. They’re the place to see Syfy’s highly-rated Channel Zero and Revenge, a Shudder original with a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. The service will also host upcoming shows and films like Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories and a reboot of Creepshow.
If you’re sick of junk science documentaries and shows like Ancient Aliens, head over to CuriosityStream, a streaming service created by the founder of the Discovery Channel.
For science nerds: CuriosityStream
If you’re sick of junk science documentaries and shows like Ancient Aliens, head over to CuriosityStream, a streaming service created by the founder of the Discovery Channel. Right now, it has over 1,500 films on everything science, from colonizing Mars to nutrition to computer hacking. You can also find original content like Miniverse, a film hosted by a former ISS commander that scales down the Solar System to the size of the continental United States. Currently, you can get a year of CuriosityStream for just $19.99 a year.
For lovers of the quirky: Shout! Factory
Founded way back in 2002 as Retropolis Entertainment, Shout! Factory now manages a free streaming service. It curates a wide range of quirky content and cult classics. In 2015, they bought the rights to old Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes and launched a Kickstarter to bring the show back. It did come back, eventually, though it’s on Netflix. The original episodes can be found on Shout! Factory, along with Mr. Bean, The Boys From Brazil, classic WWE matches, and more. Basically, if you love B, C, and even D-movies, this is the place to go.
Netflix has been behind a few of the most expensive TV shows ever made. What other shows have cost more than a pretty penny, and what upcoming epic produced by Amazon will earn first place?
