Could all the free streaming options New Zealand had to offer be a suitable replacement?
Streaming is slowly pinching pennies from our wallet, but what about all the free stuff on offer? Photo / 123RF
And are there some hidden gems on these that will stop me craving my nightly HBO or Netflix fix?
So I went hunting for answers. Here’s how my week without using a paid streaming service went.
Monday: Hidden classics
In what was a happy coincidence, streaming apps were down for most of the night anyway because of the major Amazon Web Services outage, impacting everything from Netflix to SkyGo.
While I couldn’t use Spotify for my daily 5km run, streaming YouTube Music for free was actually great because there were plenty of drum and bass – and other alternative music – mixes that I hadn’t come across on paid streaming platforms.
Tomorrow, I’ll give Soundcloud a try, as it has fewer ads and will likely load faster on 5G than YouTube.
Jason Alexander and Jerry Seinfeld on Seinfeld.
When it came to TV, most services were back up and running by the time I sat down to watch, including the free TVNZ+.
Amazingly, my favourite comedy, Seinfeld, currently has its own dedicated channel (it’s no longer available on paid platforms Prime Video or Netflix in New Zealand), so it was a bonus that I could stream it free-to-air.
Despite ads, and having to essentially watch on the half hour to catch a full episode, the quality was fantastic, and great for an easy watch before bed.
TVNZ+ also has plenty of other films and TV series you can’t get (or have to pay for) on other paid streaming services, like Paul Thomas Anderson’s modern cult classic Licorice Pizza and The Office sequel The Paper.
Tuesday: Drive time alternative
Because I reviewed James Blunt at Spark Arena, my streaming time was limited (besides the occasional streaming of tears at the concert, of course). But as someone who doesn’t often listen to podcasts, I thought I’d give that a go in the car on the drive home instead of a playlist. IHeartRadio has some great free podcasts and is free to sign up for.
After my colleague’s recent interview with her, I decided to try Paula Bennett’s Ask Me Anything, which was thoroughly enjoyable, particularly when hearing Bennett speak about her past political tenure in Sir John Key’s Cabinet.
Heather du Plessis-Allan puts Paula Bennett in the hotseat for the 100th episode of Ask Me Anything
I’d also seen The Morning Shift and their antics on TikTok previously, so I gave their podcast a go. This was a great time filler, and good if you want something light and breezy to keep you entertained on a drive home.
Wednesday: Reality TV binge free-for-all
Sick of the constant ads on YouTube, I opted to try out online streaming platform Soundcloud for my evening run.
This was much easier than YouTube Music, and still contained a great selection of up-and-coming artists to try out, despite having a little less mainstream content.
I’d never really listened to Kiwi artist BAYNK, but his driving electronic beats were perfect for my hill climbs.
That night, I had a gander at what was on offer on ThreeNow, and it turns out it was the perfect place to get my reality TV fix.
As a former ‘Blockhead’, it was too hard to resist binging last year’s Phillip Island season of The Block Australia before the latest one starts in a few weeks.
Scott Cam has presented 20 seasons of The Block Australia. Photo / Supplied.
ThreeNow also has some hidden gems when it comes to films. DC Superhero hit The Batman, which is available with a paid subscription via Neon, can be viewed for free (with ads) on ThreeNow, and the cult classic Scooby Doo live-action films, which are on Netflix, are also available.
Thursday: A walk down memory lane
The season finale of The Boys spinoff Gen V was on Prime Video tonight but instead, I took advice from my colleagues on some free alternatives.
One suggested Beamafilm, a free streaming service that anyone with an Auckland Library card can access. While you won’t find the usual recent blockbusters, there are plenty of deep cuts, including Geoffrey Rush’s Oscar-winning film Shine and Jane Campion’s NZ thriller series Top Of The Lake.
The other suggestion was NZ On Screen, a non-profit resource with an incredible archive of Kiwi-made content dating back to the early days of television (when we still had Goodnight Kiwi!).
You can view full episodes of shows, short films, and documentaries, as well as explore helpful biographies and film history write-ups.
From episodes of the Topp Twins’ classic series to Billy T James concerts and the life-and-times of Temuera Morrison, there’s no shortage of nostalgia.
Twins Lynda and Julie Topp have plenty of free to air material on NZ On Screen.
Friday: Free sport? Yes please
I normally watch the A-League and Premier League football games on SkyGo on Fridays, but I opted instead to see what was happening on Fifa+ for my football fix.
The free streaming service taps into both Fifa-officiated friendlies and historic World Cup games, as well as homegrown matches from the Dettol National League.
TVNZ+ also has rights to selected sports events and games streaming for free, and cricket tragics are in luck if they want to watch the Black Caps or White Ferns this season, as their home games are streaming live all summer.
My verdict
Streaming for free has plenty of benefits, particularly when it comes to content that isn’t on many of the other major streaming providers.
The range is wide, but you may run into a bit of trouble when trying to find the likes of HBO content, because of the strong agreements the paid streamers have.
It was also nice to experiment with lesser-known and older films and TV series through the likes of Beafilm and NZ On Screen, making me watch something that I wouldn’t normally watch.
While advertisements were a bit of a pain, many paid subscription services also have them, so in essence, you aren’t any worse off.
Streaming music was a little harder, but you can make it work if you have a good data plan and a good internet service in your area.
If you’re tight on your budget, open to new experiences, and love Kiwi-made content, going subs-free is definitely worth your while.
My picks for the best free streaming services in NZ
TVNZ+ (Exclusive movies, series and live sport)Fifa+ (For all your free football needs)IHeartRadio (Podcasts and more)ThreeNow (Great for reality TV and overseas programming)YouTube (Streaming music)Soundcloud (Streaming music)Beamafilm (Deep cut films and content from Auckland Libraries)NZ On Screen (Great free Kiwi TV and film content)Herald Now (Your daily news fix)
Mitchell Hageman joined the Herald’s entertainment and lifestyle team in 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist for Hawke’s Bay Today.