Top 5 Streaming Services

Just about everywhere you look in North America, the cost of living has spiraled out of control over the past few years with unchecked government spending resulting in widespread inflation, a hot housing market, and more.  This has resulted in an increasing amount of people dialing back on frivolous spending, and opting for more cost-effective at-home entertainment.  As a result, we have seen the streaming industry grow from essentially two options only a few years ago, to now boasting more options than most know what to do with.  With that being the case, the following is a brief look at which services we feel offer the highest quality programming, and overall user experience.

Honorable Mentions: Hulu, Paramount+

1. Apple TV+ (NASDAQ: AAPL)

Apple Inc. is a giant multinational technology company that is renowned for its innovation. The company designs, manufactures, and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and online services such as Apple TV+. Its most famous products include the iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers.  Beyond hardware, Apple also boasts some of the most intuitive software to be found, with offerings like iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS.  Overall, Apple is a company globally recognized for its suite of polished products boasting best-in-class designs, quality, and user experience.

Log in to Apply TV+, and you will be greeted with a simple and easy-to-navigate interface.  However, much like any Apple device, using the Apple TV+ interface may take a few minutes of getting used to at first for those coming from other operating systems.

Once you’ve figured out how to navigate the platform, you will be greeted with a deep catalog of critically acclaimed content.  While this extends to many genres, Apple+ is particularly strong when it comes to Sci-Fi with originals like Foundation, Invasion, Silo, For All Mankind, Severance, and more.  The bottom line is that this platform arguably boasts the most high-quality programming out of all streaming services.

The only main area that Apply TV+ falls behind is its list of supported devices.  Naturally, being Apple, access is not provided on smartphones and TVs running Android as an operating system.

Although content-specific, Apple TV+ supports up to 4K Ultra HD and High Dynamic Range (HDR).

Cost: $6.99/mth

Market Cap: $3.05T

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E): 33.12

Earnings Per Share (EPS): $5.89

At the time of writing, Apple (AAPL) boasted the above metrics and is listed as a ‘Strong Buy’ among most major investment firms.

2. Max (NASDAQ: WBD)

Warner Bros. is a prominent entertainment company and one of the major players in the global media industry. Founded in 1923, it has been a pioneer in film and television production, known for creating iconic franchises like Harry Potter, DC Comics, and Looney Tunes. With a rich history of blockbuster movies and beloved TV shows, Warner Bros. has built a lasting legacy in popular culture. The company is comprised of various divisions, including Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Continuously adapting to changing trends, Warner Bros. remains a significant influencer in the entertainment landscape, producing a wide range of content that continues to captivate audiences worldwide, shown to audiences through not only the cinema but streaming services like Max.

Max, formerly known as HBO Max, boasts some of the best programming around. Notable content on offer through Max includes shows like The Last of Us, The White Lotus, Mare of Easttown, and more.

Where this platform falls short is its questionable choices surrounding branding which saw it dissociated from HBO earlier this year, and the fact that it is not yet available in Canada.

Like most streaming platforms, Max delivers content up to 4k Ultra HD, depending on the subscription tier.

Cost: $10-16/mth

Market Cap: $1.14T

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E): 236.82

Earnings Per Share (EPS): $1.92

At the time of writing, Warner Bros. (WBD) boasted the above metrics and is listed as a ‘Strong Buy’ among most major investment firms.

3. Prime Video (NASDAQ: AMZN)

Amazon is a multinational technology and e-commerce giant founded by Jeff Bezos. Initially an online bookstore, it has expanded into a diverse range of products, services, and industries. Amazon’s vast e-commerce platform offers an extensive selection of goods, from electronics to household items, coupled with efficient delivery services. The company’s Prime membership grants subscribers access to exclusive benefits, such as streaming movies, TV shows, and music through Prime Video and Prime Music. Additionally, Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides cloud computing solutions for businesses worldwide.

While each streaming service listed has a plethora of content on offer, Prime Video is able to boast multiple of the best documentaries from recent years in One Child Nation, and The Alpinist.  In addition to these, there are also fan favorites like The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, The Peripheral, The Boys, The Grand Tour, and more.

Unfortunately, Prime Video, like Netflix, has shown a tendency to cancel promising shows before providing viewers with closure surrounding storylines and characters.  Examples of this include Outer Range, and Night Sky.

Another area in which Prime Video sets itself apart is through its platform interface.  Where rivals like Netflix and Disney offer simplistic interfaces, Prime Video attempts to provide the user with more information.  Although it may take a bit of time to get used to, this means no longer opening up IMDB to figure out which actor is playing your favorite character, or where something was filmed.

While Prime may lack in quantity compared to certain rivals, it makes up for it in associated benefits through its Prime Shipping program, making the service the best value of the bunch.

Cost: $15/mth or $139/yr 

Market Cap: $1.37T

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E): 317.05

Earnings Per Share (EPS): $0.42

At the time of writing, Amazon (AMZN) boasted the above metrics and is listed as a ‘Strong Buy’ among most major investment firms.

4. Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX)

Netflix is a popular global streaming service that offers a vast library of movies, TV shows, and original content across genres. Subscribers can access content on various devices and enjoy ad-free, on-demand entertainment. With its user-friendly interface and personalized recommendations, Netflix has revolutionized the way people consume entertainment, becoming a dominant force in the streaming industry.

Netflix may be the most popular streaming service when looking at its number of subscribers, but the platform is also the most expensive.  So, while the company offers various high-quality Netflix originals, there simply are not enough examples of this when looking at the cost of the service to rank higher on this list.  Furthermore, Netflix is also one of the more restrictive services, not allowing subscriptions to be utilized by family members.  With regards to platform performance, Netflix does quite well to intelligently adapt/compress its video and audio to function well on any internet connection.

Notable Netflix originals include shows like Stranger Things, Wednesday, Orange Is the New Black, Russian Doll, and more.

Cost: $7-20/mth

Market Cap: $1.93B

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E): 46.4

Earnings Per Share (EPS): $9.39

At the time of writing, Netflix (NFLX) boasted the above metrics and is listed as a ‘Strong Buy’ among most major investment firms.

5. Disney Plus (NASDAQ: DIS)

Disney is a globally renowned entertainment conglomerate that has managed to captivate audiences of all ages through its iconic animated classics, theme parks, and diverse media franchises. As a pioneer in the entertainment industry, Disney has created a rich legacy of beloved characters and stories that continue to resonate with generations. In recent years, Disney has ventured into the digital landscape with Disney Plus, which is marketed as a premium streaming service that offers a vast library of classic films, TV shows, and exclusive original content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. This streaming platform has solidified Disney’s presence in the modern media landscape, allowing subscribers to access a treasure trove of magical entertainment anytime, anywhere.

More than any of the services on this list, Disney is geared toward children and adolescents.  Beyond its intensive catalog of animated classics, Disney also made the strategic decision to purchase both the Star Wars and Marvel universes in recent years.  As a result, there is a clear focus on its platform towards both superhero and fantasy genres.

For those not interested in superheroes and Star Wars, Disney offers integrated access to ‘STAR’.  This ancillary service is integrated well into the Disney platform and offers access to a bevy of content from 21st Century Fox that spans every genre.

Notable programming available on Disney Plus, outside of those from the Star Wars and Marvel Universe, include Only Murders in the Building, The Bear, and Reservation Dogs.

Cost: $8-11/mth or $110/yr

Market Cap: $162.92B

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E): 39.71

Earnings Per Share (EPS): $2.25

At the time of writing, Walt Disney Company (DIS) boasted the above metrics and is listed as a ‘Strong Buy’ among most major investment firms.