There is a full-blown battle raging between the big paid subscription services like Netflix, Hulu and HBO Max. There are dozens of online streaming services that have come onto the scene, all competing for your attention and your money. There are already signs of subscription fatigue in the marketplace. Whether you have decided to rebel against price increases on your subscription streaming service, or they don’t have what you’re looking for, or you have always been a hardcore fan of r/cordcutters, ranked below are your best options for streaming content in Australia.
Tubi
Tubi has been made available in Australia since September 2020. This generosity comes at the cost of ads approximately every 12-15 minutes of streamed content. As long as you are willing to put up with unabashed consumerist propaganda every quarter of an hour, you can enjoy a diverse selection of content. News channels such as FOX and NBC are available on the platform, as well as content from MGM, Paramount and Lionsgate. Although you may want to clear your web caches from time to time when using this service to keep it running smoothly.
Comet TV
Comet TV boasts a wealth of TV shows in the sci-fi genre. The channel allows you to stream cult classics and find arcane futuristic TV shows and movies. Their website offers a live TV schedule that you can check to plan ahead and scan for interesting picks. Popular shows such as the Flash, Beowulf and Babylon 5, and more are available to watch all year round. Most of the content on Comet TV are movies and shows produced by MGM, who own the site through a subsidiary. Again, you will have to face the ads here, as with all free content.
The Roku Channel
Roku is a hardware company that produce their own TV’s and media devices. However, their online channel features a rotation of free movies and TV shows which are available to stream in most countries. Most of their content are classic movies and popular TV shows, with a considerable amount of reality TV thrown in, and exclusive Roku Originals. The Roku Channel also has a separate games section for live twitch streams, and options for kids with shows such as PBS studios and Curiosity Stream. Like with most free services, you will have to watch a fair share of advertisements to continue watching.
Pluto TV
You’ll still be seeing some ads, but you’ll also be able to access a wealth of TV shows from Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV and some programmes from other services. And while it is sure to satisfy your binge requirements, Pluto has recently partnered with VEVO, the music-video distribution service; which means your favourite artists’ music videos will likely be available on the platform when they drop. Pluto TV also has location specific specials, so local Australian TV shows will be available to watch on the service. Using a VPN will allow you to similarly access local television from other countries, an excellent option to find indie shows and broaden your horizons.
Crackle
Crackle is only available in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and some parts of Latin America. It’s hard to believe this service is truly free. Of course there will be ads run before and in between your content. The site is run by Sony, so you can expect to find a substantial selection of movies and a fair selection of TV shows to browse through. Crackle had been briefly banned in Australia recently, but the service has been up and running again for some time. In most cases, you may circumvent temporary bans by using a VPN to mask your IP address. Most free-to-use VPNs will provide you with a US based address which you can use to view content on Crackle.
