Why Stream via Platform vs Direct Account?
March 10, 2022 9:46 AM Subscribe
Is there an advantage to getting Netflix, Apple, etc through platforms instead of directly? I created my accounts years back on the web and pay directly to each service. I watch Apple TV, HULU, Netflix & PBS via their channel apps on my Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ (plugged into Samsung UN40KU6300F 4K TV). I also use Apple tablets, phones, and laptops.
It seems four services are also platforms where I could create streaming accounts:
- Apple TV+
- HULU
- Prime Video
- Roku
Is there any advantage to going through a platform for my streaming? Ideally, I’d love to keep one watchlist for all services. I'd also like to try out HBO Max, Acorn, Disney, and Prime Video Prime.
It seems four services are also platforms where I could create streaming accounts:
- Apple TV+
- HULU
- Prime Video
- Roku
Is there any advantage to going through a platform for my streaming? Ideally, I’d love to keep one watchlist for all services. I'd also like to try out HBO Max, Acorn, Disney, and Prime Video Prime.
Yeah, they're all just apps and the plugin devices (and TV built-ins) are just little computers. My impression is to use the one with the fastest menus/selection/controls, or that is arranged in a way that makes it easiest for you to find/access stuff. I've heard that AppleTV is best for searching among multiple services, but that info may be out of date by now.
posted by rhizome at 10:33 AM on March 10, 2022
posted by rhizome at 10:33 AM on March 10, 2022
Best answer: I think your question is, is there a difference between subscribing directly to Hulu vs. doing it through Roku or Apple? Not really, it just limits who has your credit card information. It doesn't change the experience of using each streaming service, it just changes who bills you.
You wouldn't be able to have one watchlist for multiple streaming services or anything like that.
posted by rhymedirective at 10:54 AM on March 10, 2022 [7 favorites]
You wouldn't be able to have one watchlist for multiple streaming services or anything like that.
posted by rhymedirective at 10:54 AM on March 10, 2022 [7 favorites]
Best answer: emelenjr has it. The only thing I'd flag for you is that Amazon Prime offers access to films from other services you subscribe to (ie- you can watch MUBI titles on Amazon Prime with a subscription) but I don't recommend relying on Prime as your centralized streaming spot because if the film on the other service was never made available on Amazon (common with rarer titles), it won't be available even though you are paying to access all the films on the service.
posted by cakelite at 10:55 AM on March 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by cakelite at 10:55 AM on March 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: The distinction is that you can subscribe to Paramount+ through Amazon Prime Video and get all of your Paramount+ content in your Prime Video app directly, while if you subscribe to Paramount+ independently (and use the Paramount+ app), that media is unavailable in Prime Video and you have to go to the Paramount+ app to view it.
There's only three reasons, mainly? One is that occasionally Amazon throws a discount in the direction of a channel stream - a free month of HBO Max here, a free month of Discovery+ there, etc. And the other is sometimes it can be convenient to have all of your media consolidated on one platform like Apple TV+ (the platform, not the channel or the device) does. When a new episode is released on any service (other than Netflix) whether I pay for it through Apple TV or directly, Apple TV+ brings it to the front for me. that's nice so I don't have to bounce through a half dozen apps to see what shows have new episodes.
The third is simple unified billing - if you already have payment information with Amazon or Apple or Hulu, you don't also have to give it to HBO or Paramount+ or whoever.
posted by Kyol at 10:57 AM on March 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
There's only three reasons, mainly? One is that occasionally Amazon throws a discount in the direction of a channel stream - a free month of HBO Max here, a free month of Discovery+ there, etc. And the other is sometimes it can be convenient to have all of your media consolidated on one platform like Apple TV+ (the platform, not the channel or the device) does. When a new episode is released on any service (other than Netflix) whether I pay for it through Apple TV or directly, Apple TV+ brings it to the front for me. that's nice so I don't have to bounce through a half dozen apps to see what shows have new episodes.
The third is simple unified billing - if you already have payment information with Amazon or Apple or Hulu, you don't also have to give it to HBO or Paramount+ or whoever.
posted by Kyol at 10:57 AM on March 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
In the specific case of Paramount+, I hear nothing but complaints about its interface from people who subscribe directly. But subscribed to through Amazon Prime, the interface is the same as other things on Prime.
posted by tomboko at 12:17 PM on March 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by tomboko at 12:17 PM on March 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
Yes, we have done Paramount+ through Amazon Prime rather than directly because the Paramount+ app for the PS4 (our media device of choice) is so terrible that I literally could not watch certain shows on it. It just wouldn't open some shows. Whereas Amazon's app is not stellar, but it is stable and lets me actually watch shows. We've had a similar experience with the HBO app and may try purchasing HBO through a different platform the next time we feel like subscribing to HBO.
posted by hydropsyche at 2:46 PM on March 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by hydropsyche at 2:46 PM on March 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Similar to "the standalone app for this streaming service is terrible" reasons, if you have an older smart TV, you might not be able to get the newer streaming service apps like the aforementioned Paramount+, but the Amazon Prime or whatever streaming app is available for your older smart TV. This is why I set up a couple streaming service subscriptions through Amazon, so that my parents could access them through their older smart TV's Amazon Prime video app. (I've since just gotten them a Fire stick.)
Since you have a streaming stick, this isn't an issue for you, but I'm just pointing it out in case anyone else comes back to this question. It's a decent workaround if you're struggling with software updates for an older but still perfectly functional smart TV, and it won't require you to fork over any additional cash for another device or cord.
posted by yasaman at 3:20 PM on March 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
Since you have a streaming stick, this isn't an issue for you, but I'm just pointing it out in case anyone else comes back to this question. It's a decent workaround if you're struggling with software updates for an older but still perfectly functional smart TV, and it won't require you to fork over any additional cash for another device or cord.
posted by yasaman at 3:20 PM on March 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
Ah, now I understand your question better. One thing I'll add to the discussion of interface differences is that certain innovations that Netflix has tried won't work universally. The "choose-your-own-adventure" style Bandersnatch was not available for us using Netflix through our Apple TV, for example.
posted by emelenjr at 8:26 AM on March 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by emelenjr at 8:26 AM on March 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
Unified billing has benefits, but it also has a major drawback: it is easy to forget about your paid subscriptions.
Example: I just found out that for the last three years I've been paying $2.99/month for a spanish-language network that I got through Amazon. The spouse and I binged one series and then forgot to unsubscribe. The monthly charged just showed up as "Amazon.com" on my credit card bill, so I never realized I was still subscribed.
For this reason, I always make an effort to subscribe directly to each service. That way when I see a charge for "Paramount Plus" on my credit card bill I can say, "Oh, right. I'm done with Picard. I can cancel this." If that credit card charge showed up as Amazon or Apple or something else, I'd never remember.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:58 AM on March 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
Example: I just found out that for the last three years I've been paying $2.99/month for a spanish-language network that I got through Amazon. The spouse and I binged one series and then forgot to unsubscribe. The monthly charged just showed up as "Amazon.com" on my credit card bill, so I never realized I was still subscribed.
For this reason, I always make an effort to subscribe directly to each service. That way when I see a charge for "Paramount Plus" on my credit card bill I can say, "Oh, right. I'm done with Picard. I can cancel this." If that credit card charge showed up as Amazon or Apple or something else, I'd never remember.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:58 AM on March 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
« Older Will high gas prices reduce high car prices? Or... | London recs: small/weird/local fave museums, tours... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by emelenjr at 10:22 AM on March 10, 2022 [5 favorites]