Let's just get this out of the way from the start: there are too many streaming TV services right now. Far, far too many.
Unfortunately, that does not mean there isn't also a case to be made for almost all of them.
The arcane and bizarre nature of streaming media deals and contracts means that virtually every service has something specific going for it, whether it's a certain TV show only appearing on their servers, or compatibility with a unique or particularly desirable streaming box.
It also goes without saying that we don't have space to cover them all - and we can't we objectively comprehensive in the way of some other sites.
Instead, we wanted to give you our take on the state of the industry, point out the services we think you should sign up for right away, and highlight those glaring instances where you might want to double up.
Best Streaming TV And Film Services
iPlayer, 4oD, ITV Player(01 of11)
Before we get into the paid services, we have to point out of course that there is an enormous amount of free-to-watch content in the UK when it comes to streaming TV and movies. You almost certainly use these on a near-daily basis anyway, but iPlayer, Demand5, 4oD and ITV Player all have a constantly updated selection of original TV, sports and movies that you can watch on almost any device for absolutely nothing. Even if you never paid another penny you could keep yourself in streaming media until the day you die. Keep that in mind. (credit:Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
iTunes(02 of11)
One of the old titans of the pre-Netflix world iTunes was one of the first places to offer a truly mainstream selection of streaming movies and TV to watch. You can still do so - for fairly standard one-off-purchase prices, starting at around £3.49 for current run movie rentals in HD. The problem? The service really hasn't progressed much since it first launched. Of course you can watch any TV or movie purchase on any Apple device, but that's really it. In a pinch it's fine for rentals, but we don't recommend building up a giant library of purchased movies on there unless you're REALLY sure you're not switching to Android.
Google Play(03 of11)
Essentially the same as iTunes, you can buy and rent movies and TV shows at standard prices. But outside of the occasional deal, and the handy Chromecast/Android integration, it's not spectacular.
BFI Player(04 of11)
In content terms, this is a truly exceptional service. Offering everything from free-to-view vintage sci-fi films to many of the latest indie blockbusters, classic cinematic masterpieces and everything in between, the BFI's new streaming site is a wonderful place to explore cinema. It's pay-per-view only, and can be expensive, but if you're watching something that can only be found there you likely won't care. Alas it's also not available on consoles - you can play it through Apple TV on iPad or on Chromecast, but without the right cable or box you might struggle to get it onto your TV right now.
Blinkbox(05 of11)
This is a solid but unspectacular place to watch movies and TV on an a-la-carte basis, notably mainly for being part of Tesco and as such heavily trailed on its Hudl tablets and as part of its Clubcard deals. It's not available on PS4 yet, and can be pricey based on what you watch, but features some films and shows not available elsewhere (it was first to get Game of Thrones) and so is worth considering.
Now TV(06 of11)
This is the best of Sky for a cheap monthly payment, and that means it's a must during Game of Thrones and Mad Men season. Outside of that you get live TV from Sky's original programming channels, plus streaming 'box set' access to big Sky shows (including the unique joys of Sky Arts) and some good American comedy when it's on (like Veep or Girls). You pay extra (and through the nose, really) for daily or weekly Sky Sports packages, and the Sky Movies monthly deal is more expensive than Netflix. However the latter has a wealth of huge movies, appearing about 10-12 months after they play in cinemas (currently including Gravity and The Wolf of Wall Street). It's a well-designed, generous service but one only really applicable for non Sky subscribers. Which brings us to…
Sky Go(07 of11)
Mainly pitched at existing Sky subscribers, Sky Go allows you to watch live and catch-up TV from mobile devices and browsers. It's free with Sky TV packages, and can also be bought separately for up to £40 a month for the complete package of Sky Sports, Entertainment and Movies. So about the same as Sky TV then. It's not easy to get onto your TV (that's sort of the point) and so is more of a nice-to-have than a service to consider separately.
Amazon Prime Instant Video(08 of11)
Amazon Prime Instant Video is part of the delivery-reading-movies-whatnot selection box you get for £79 per year at Amazon, or can be obtained for £5.99 a month as part of a separate, cheaper deal. Like Netflix it has a large amount of original video (Vikings, Ripper Street…) and established big name content from Channel 4 shows like Toast of London, to American sitcoms like Frasier. It too runs on loads of devices, an is especially good for users of Amazon tablets and the Fire TV. It lacks the ability to set separate profiles for family members, which is a shame, and it's not clear when you're going to have to pay for something extra until you click on it.
Netflix(09 of11)
Netflix is the biggest name in streaming, for good reason. For just £6.99 a month (for two simultaneous streams) or £8.99 (for four) you can watch a vast amount of original (House of Cards, Arrested Development and Orange is the New Black) or big-name content (including recent-addition Adventure Time) on essentially every device around. It has a separate service for kids, offers 4K for certain shows and has numerous other benefits. The downside is that it lacks a big enough number of truly great movies, filling its archives with old films and not current run titles. It has been known to pull content without warning - meaning you might be left up the creak mid-season. (credit:Pascal Le Segretain via Getty Images)
PS4(10 of11)
As with the Xbox, the Playstation movie and TV store is really a last resort or a convenient first stop rather than a media destination. You can rent decent films and buy shows for normal prices, but you're not getting all that much more. (credit:YOSHIKAZU TSUNO via Getty Images)
Xbox One(11 of11)
As a machine the Xbox One is great for streaming. As a service it's somewhat lacklustre. It offers current and back catalogue movies at normal prices (14 day rental period, 48 hours to view) as well as TV shows. It offers a browser player and works on Windows PCs and Windows Phone, as well as Xbox 360 and Xbox One. But outside of convenience (you're on your Xbox and it's right there…) there's no overwhelming reason to use it.