So it begs the question, which streaming services are still worth committing to for the long-run, and which can we dip in and out of, depending on the hot new releases?
Luke Newton with Nicola Coughlan in Bridgerton, season 3.
Netflix is still the world’s most popular streaming service, with more than 300 million paid subscribers and more than 700 new releases annually. It houses more than 18,000 unique titles.
While it has the likes of Stranger Things, Bridgerton, and Wednesday, its real strength lies in its unique content, docos and specials.
Formula 1: Drive to Survive, Beckham, American Nightmare, and an endless supply of true crime documentaries are available on Netflix, and the industry leader has recently branched into live streaming with events like the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua fight, Skyscaper Live and K-Pop superstars BTS streaming their live reunion concert in March.
Price: $17.99 a month for a basic plan (no HD), $25.99 for standard (HD) or $33.99 for the premium plan (Ultra HD)
Relationship status: Married. We’ve been together for about seven years. It’s seen me at my best (The Crown) and my worst (Tiger King) and even looked the other way during my Walking Dead phase.
Aimee Lou Wood and Walton Goggins starred in season three of the The White Lotus. Supplied / HBO.
While a New Zealand-based streaming service – and a division of Sky Network Television in New Zealand – Neon truly holds its own with big prestige shows and its HBO catalogue.
And the new deal between Sky and Paramount means some new seasons and series previously unavailable to Kiwis will now have an exclusive home on Neon and Sky TV.
Neon is currently home to the Game of Thrones franchise, Succession, Yellowstone and The White Lotus, but for many, it’s their archive shows like The Sopranos and Breaking Bad that bring the value.
The Sky ownership means there’s also local comedy and drama, like Dark City: The Cleaner, The Ridge, the upcoming Tom Sainsbury podcast-turned-series Small Town Scandal and family favourite Moe and Friends.
Price: $14.99 a month for the basic with ads plan, or $23.99 for the standard ad-free plan.
Relationship status: It’s complicated. Neon and I are currently figuring out where we stand – and if the Dexter acquisition as part of the Sky/Paramount deal will lure me in. But others in the Herald entertainment team have told me Neon is their better half. The heart wants what the heart wants.
Moana 2.
The home of a massive IP portfolio of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic content, Disney has a huge, built-in local fanbase.
For parents, the likes of Frozen, Lilo and Stitch, Toy Story, Moana and the Micky Mouse Clubhouse are a big draw card.
Beyond children’s content, the integration with Hulu provides a broader range of general entertainment, including 20th Century Studios with the likes of the Avatar franchise, as well as FX Networks. For sports fans, ESPN is included on Disney+ and hosts the likes of the NBA and UFC.
Price: $16.99 a month for standard (full HD) or $21.99 for premium (4K UHD) and ad-free streaming.
Relationship status: Amicably co-parenting. I look to Disney+ for a safe pair of hands I can trust with my child.
Nick Mohammed and Jason Sudeikis in Ted Lasso. Streaming on Apple TV+.
Home of the awards season darlings, current and past, Apple TV+ delivers award-winning viewing by the truckload.
Think Severance, The Studio, The Morning Show, Ted Lasso, Pluribus and For All Mankind.
Apple’s strength comes in the form of its critically acclaimed dramas as well as its financial ability to bankroll new shows with A-list casts.
Price: $17.99 for a standard plan.
Relationship status: On a break. I’m all caught up with my favourites and awaiting new seasons of others. But when Ted Lasso is back for season four, you best believe I’ll be calling and begging for another chance.
Kiwi actor Anthony Starr as Homelander in the hit show The Boys. Photo/Amazon Prime
Prime Video is biting at the heels of Netflix, hitting the 250 million subscriber mark globally in 2025.
Its strength comes from its low cost and included quality. Prime Video includes 4K UHD streaming on all plans, whereas some competitors charge a higher premium for 4K access.
It also has a rather extensive catalogue of more than 20,000 movies and shows like The Boys, Euphoria, The Lord of the Rings franchise and Clarkson’s Farm.
The acquisition of MGM in 2022 also brought big-hitting franchises like James Bond and Rocky to Prime, which is no small thing.
Price: $10.99 per month for a basic membership with some ads, or remove ads for an $2.99 per month.
Relationship status: Going steady. Ever since I decided to binge every season of Reacher and Fargo, Prime and I have been going strong.