{"id":65679,"date":"2015-11-25T19:43:12","date_gmt":"2015-11-26T01:43:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=65679"},"modified":"2015-11-25T19:43:12","modified_gmt":"2015-11-26T01:43:12","slug":"we-like-to-watch-streaming-subscriptions-offer-something-for-nearly-all-on-your-gift-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2015\/11\/25\/we-like-to-watch-streaming-subscriptions-offer-something-for-nearly-all-on-your-gift-list\/","title":{"rendered":"We like to watch: Streaming subscriptions offer something for nearly all on your gift list"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Pexels Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

LOS ANGELES\u2014Looking for a holiday present that’s a perfect fit, procrastinator-friendly and a constant reminder of your generosity? Consider a gift subscription to one of the abundance of streaming choices that range from mainstream to niche.<\/p>\n

Some, such as this year’s new HBO Now or CBS All Access, may be welcomed by a cord-cutter whose New Year’s resolution is to abandon traditional TV delivery. Others are alternatives to what’s on cable or satellite.<\/p>\n

Compatibility may be an issue in some cases. Although most major subscription-based offerings can be watched on any platform or device, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, iPhones or iPads, there are some exceptions\u2014and surprises.<\/p>\n

With SlingTV, for example, you won’t be able to watch ESPN’s \u201cMonday Night Football\u201d on a phone or tablet: Verizon has locked up NFL mobile streaming rights.<\/p>\n

And you can watch PlayStation Vue, which delivers live TV, movies and sports starting at $49.99 monthly, on devices other than a PlayStation, including Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV stick, and iPhone and iPad.<\/p>\n

Some platforms are particularly expansive in what they include. Roku, along with offering many broad-based sites, also has the anime-focused Crunchyroll ($6.95 per month) and Korean drama site DramaFever (starting at 99 cents monthly).<\/p>\n

Here are some other contenders to ponder:<\/p>\n

Big box channels<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sling TV, with a starting $20 monthly fee for live TV that includes ESPN, AMC, A&E and TNT, offers add-on packages such as for Spanish-language networks including Univision ($5).<\/p>\n

Hulu ($7.99 monthly with commercials, $11.99 without) carries current and past episodes of ABC, Fox and NBC network shows, originals such as \u201cThe Mindy Project\u201d and cable fare from FX, AMC, Bravo, Comedy Central and others.<\/p>\n

Netflix (starting at $7.99 monthly), has become known for original series including \u201cHouse of Cards\u201d and \u201cOrange is the New Black,\u201d but also has a deep library of movies and TV shows.<\/p>\n

Amazon Prime ($99 annually) has also added original series including \u201cTransparent\u201d and \u201cThe Man in the High Castle\u201d to its thousands of movie and TV shows.<\/p>\n

Drama kings and queens<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s not TV, it’s HBO Now ($14.99) and Showtime streaming ($10.99), both introduced this year and delivering new series and other programming in tandem with their cable debuts, as well as complete past seasons.<\/p>\n

CBS All Access ($5.99) offers current season episodes (one day after airing), local live CBS feeds from most major TV markets and will be home to a 2017 \u201cStar Trek\u201d reboot.<\/p>\n

Home stadium<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every sport is king, depending on the channel. The offerings include \u201cNFL Sunday Ticket\u201d from DirecTV ($199 at the start of the season, now $99); MLB.TV Premium ($129.99 annually) for regular season games; NHL GameCenter ($159 annually) with live out-of-market regular season games; and DishWorld Sports ($10) for European football and other global sports.<\/p>\n

Multiplex theatre<\/strong><\/p>\n

Feeln ($3.99 monthly) combines Hallmark Hall of Fame movies featuring stories of love and family with other Hollywood movies and TV series, including children’s shows, and original projects.<\/p>\n

Shudder ($4.99 monthly) from AMC lives up to its name with horror films grouped under categories including \u201cMonster Mash,\u201d \u201cPsychos and Madmen\u201d and, for a diversion, \u201cAlien Intruders.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the kitchen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tastemade ($4.99 a month for the ad-free version) is a food-and-travel channel that visits cultures and cuisines around the world and offers tips from expert chefs. And while a number of cooking channels are available free, a former TV star is taking the subscription route with her Paula Deen Channel, $4.99 monthly for cooking and lifestyle videos.<\/p>\n

Anglophile<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acorn TV ($4.99 monthly) bills itself as the best of British television with an array of dramas, comedies and mysteries including \u201cBrideshead Revisited,\u201d \u201cAgatha Christie’s Poirot,\u201d \u201cMiss Fisher\u2019s Murder Mysteries,\u201d \u201cFoyle’s War\u201d and \u201cJeeves & Wooster.\u201d<\/p>\n

Healthy mind, body<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gaia ($7.95 monthly) streams yoga, meditation and other \u201cmind-expanding\u201d programs for a more conscious life, while The Gymbox ($10 monthly) promises a variety of workouts, updated weekly, including kickboxing, Pilates, step aerobics and cycling.<\/p>\n

Planet hugger<\/strong><\/p>\n

Newly launched Smithsonian Earth ($3.99 monthly) streams nature and wildlife documentaries and series planned as separate from Smithsonian Channel content and available in an ultra-high-definition format on compatible devices.<\/p>\n

Kids, or the kid within<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sesame Street GO (some free content, $3.99 monthly, $29.99 annually for full access) houses full-length episodes of “Sesame Street” along with educational music videos from Sesame Workshop.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AP Business Writer Ryan Nakashima contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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