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TV streaming services in the UK
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Can’t decide between all the different streaming services that are on offer? At Finder, we’ve done the hard work for you when it comes to price, content, compatible devices and more.
No single streaming service offers the same deal, and it’s likely that one of the services below is better suited to your lifestyle than others. So sit back and relax as we guide you through the treacherous landscape of sneaky data charges, exorbitant pricing, and inferior libraries, to find the right option for you.
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TV streaming ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Finder scores, in blue, are based on our expert analysis. We also show reviews from users, where we've received more than 10, with a score in yellow. We gather more reviews from customers every year in Finder's customer satisfaction survey.
To find out more, read our full methodology.
What is a catch-up service?
Many UK channels, like the BBC and Channel 4, offer online catch-up services where you can watch recently aired programmes you may have missed. Here are just a few examples of catch-up services available in the UK:
- BBC iPlayer. This service is aimed directly at the BBC’s biggest fans. Didn’t make it home in time for the latest Eastenders? No need to be a Beale about it, just catch up at a later time on just about any device. Seriously, from Linux to Windows Phones, from Roku to Amazon Fire TV, you’d be stretched to find a device that BBC iPlayer doesn’t stream on.
- ITV Player. Catch up with the latest ITV content, like Good Morning Britain, This Morning and The X Factor, on itv.com. As well as offering its service on PC and Mac, ITV also offers an app for PlayStation 3,iOS, Android, Windows Phone 8 (and above), selected Smart TVs, set-top boxes and streaming media players.
- 4Seven. Created after many Brits complained they were constantly missing out on Channel 4 content because of scheduling conflicts, 4Seven offers content from Channel 4 and its related channels the day after they’ve aired. You can access 4Seven through the Freeview website.
- Demand 5. Make sure you’re all caught up with the soapies from Down Under, like Neighbours and Home & Away, with Channel 5’s catch-up service, Demand 5. The Channel 5 family offers a diverse range of channels and content, from guilty pleasures like Big Brother to gritty dramas like Sons of Anarchy – and they can all be viewed for free on selected smartphones, tablets, smart TVs and other devices.
What content do Brits stream most regularly?
In December 2020, Finder carried out a survey of 2,000 Brits to find out what content streamers were watching. The bar chart below shows 50% of those surveyed stream via Netflix, with Amazon Prime coming in at second (38%).
Our survey also showed that some Brits continue to stream illegally – 5% watched illegal films in 2020 and 4% streamed Premier League football and TV shows without paying.
What should you consider when choosing an internet or pay TV service provider?
The price variations amongst the providers are indicative of a number of features that you should investigate and consider before making a choice:
- Shows offered. Sure, Game of Thrones is exciting and all, and Breaking Bad is addictive as hell, but does your streaming service offer national treasures like Corrie or EastEnders? These are the important questions we have to ask ourselves when choosing an Internet TV service.
- Compatible devices. Most providers will offer their services on PC and Mac. But most of the time, Roku and Linux users are left for dead. If you possess a collection of odd and unusual gadgets, there’s likely to be a service out there that caters to you.
- Portable device capability. The same above can be said for portable devices. Did you know that some streaming services allow you to stream from your Nintendo 2DS and 3DS? Knowing what devices under your roof can be used for streaming helps you make the most of one service or another.
- Quality. Quality is often subjective and which service offers “better” movies is very much up for debate. Some services, like MUBI, focus solely on revered cinematic gems and cinema culture, whereas others, like Sky, offer the bulk standard. But one aspect that’s not up for debate is image quality. Does your service offer high definition, or just standard definition? Do you know if your service offers 4K streaming? Can your television even play something so crisp? If quality matters to you, check out our guide above.
Which providers are Brits most likely to sign up to?
In December 2020, Finder surveyed 2,000 Brits to find out which streaming providers people were thinking about signing up to over the next 12 months. Our research found that while 42% of respondents said they weren’t planning to sign up to any service, 20% admitted thinking about paying for Netflix. While 17% selected the next most-popular service – Amazon Prime Video.
Which shows are most popular with Brits?
Finder partnered with social listening tool BrandsEye to find out which shows got Brits talking the most in 2020. Watch our video below to find out which made the top 5!
Lockdown and chill: How streaming won 2020
Finder published a paper with social media analytics specialist BrandsEye in December 2020 on how TV viewing habits have changed in 2020. The report reveals the shows that set Twitter alight, and features expert predictions for TV streaming in 2021. Our paper includes original research, and insights from experts including Catherine Johnson, professor in media and communication at the University of Huddersfield, TV critic on Indiewire's Very Good TV Podcast Ben Travers, Liz Shannon Miller, senior TV editor at Collider and Aaron McAllister, global TV publisher at Finder.
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