Disney Plus has received a substantial app update, bringing a fan-favourite streaming service from across the pond to the UK and Europe.

The media titan has previously labelled its mature content (such as Shogun, The Bear, and Alien: Earth) under the Star brand outside of America; however, Star has now been replaced with Hulu, which has been a popular subscription service in the United States since its launch in 2008.

All shows that were previously released under the Star banner have seemingly been switched to Hulu, and there is a new Hulu tab on the home screen, which will take users to a content hub exclusively consisting of Hulu programming.

Hulu integration seems to have already been applied to Disney Plus in the UK, as we have verified using a Google TV device; bear in mind that devices using other operating systems could still be awaiting this rollout.

Hulu will also be integrated directly into the Disney Plus app in the US next year, as the two currently separate services will be merging.

Furthermore, Disney appears to be preparing for an update to its user interface with a more modern design to coincide with Hulu's global rollout.

We don't yet know exactly what the streaming service will look like in the UK and Europe. However, early images from the US version of the streaming service depict a new, larger featured content banner at the top that plays snippets of new releases.

A new menu bar at the top of the home screen will allow for quick access to Disney+, ESPN and Hulu content, as well as a For You tab, which is home to your personalised recommendations.

The franchise tabs have been relocated to their own content rail, with Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel and National Geographic content hubs all featured, along with matching animated background art.

There's no word yet on when this redesigned operating system will be rolled out, but we'll continue checking our TVs and streaming devices and report back.

MORE:

Read our full Disney Plus review

As well as our Apple TV+ review

And check out our picks for the best streaming devices

When Molly decides she wants to have more sex, there are two problems: first, she's married. And second, she's dying.

The collision of outrageous sexual exploration with heartwrenching vulnerability and emotion is what makes Dying for Sex such a powerful TV series, earning three Emmy nominations.

Dying for Sex is shortlisted for outstanding limited or anthology series in the 2025 Emmy awards, with star Michelle Williams and the supporting cast also earning acting nominations.

You can watch the series on Hulu in the US and Disney Plus in the UK and Australia. And it's funny to see the series alongside Disney and Pixar cartoons, because it is, shall we say, extremely frank.

Williams plays Molly, who leaves her husband and sets out to find sexual fulfilment while she still can. Although her terminal diagnosis looms over the story, the series is also wickedly funny as it lays bare her sexual misadventures.

Despite the dark subject matter, it's easy to be swept up in Molly's lust for life as her sexual exploration takes her into increasingly ludicrous situations.

This unflinching and non-judgmental look at the absurd messiness of life stops the series from tipping into sentimentality or cliche, instead treating Molly and her desires with respect, curiosity and compassion.

The series is based on a podcast in which the real-life Molly Kochan discussed her sex life, and her experience of terminal cancer, with best friend Nikki Boyer. Kochan died in 2019, before the podcast was released the following year.

In the TV adaptation, Williams plays Molly and Jenny Slate plays Nikki. Slate and Rob Delaney are Emmy-nominated for their supporting roles, while Sissy Spacek delivers a nuanced performance as Molly's mother.

Molly and Nikki’s intimate and often chaotic friendship is the core of the series, full of laughter, disagreement, devotion and heartbreaking vulnerability.

It's a rare TV series that can have you laughing out loud one minute and proper snot-running-down-your-face weeping the next, but that's the spectrum of emotion these close friends experience together.

The inventive and irreverent approach to the painful subject is also mirrored in the visuals.

As Molly's mental and physical state changes, we understand her experience through surreal and sometimes delightfully rude (but never gratuitous) visual flourishes. By the end, Molly reclaims her life, and her death, in a devastatingly emotional finale.

Ultimately, the series is so compelling because it treats not one but two taboo subjects with humour and intelligence.

It's as much about friendship as it is about sex and death, and even in its inevitable conclusion finds joy.

Bold and honest, Dying for Sex tackles the biggest emotions with humour and humanity.

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Cyber Monday isn't all about products. Streaming services like to get in on the fun too. This is the best streaming deal we've seen so far: Hulu and Disney+ bundled together for just $2.99 a month. This is no short term introductory offer either – that's the price you'll pay for a whole year. It's a saving of a staggering 72 per cent.

But hurry. Today is the last day of the deal, and once it's gone it's gone.

Only want Hulu? No problem, you'll pay just $0.99 a month – a saving of 90 per cent. Disney+ usually costs $7.99 a month on its own, or $10.99 with Hulu. You will have to put up with adverts on both services, but that's a small price to pay for the Award-winning Disney+ with Hulu for just $2.99 a month.

Cyber Monday quick deals

• AirPods: nearly $100 off at Best Buy
• AirPods Pro 2: lowest-ever price
• Amazon: up to 66% off Alexa smart speakers
• Beats headphones: up to 52% off
• Best Buy: save $1700 on a Samsung OLED
• Bose: save up to 40% on headphones, speakers
• Crutchfield: save over $1000 on hi-fi separates
• Fire TV Stick 4K: save 45% on streamer
• iPads: now up to $200 off at Target
• LG C3 OLED was $2500 now $1196 (save $52%)
• PS5 console: save $76 on Disc Edition
• Roku Streaming Stick 4K: was $50 now $29
• Sonos: up to $200 off soundbars and speakers
• Sony WH-1000XM4: now $198 (save $150)
• Walmart: $70 off Beats headphones
• World Wide Stereo: up to 60% off AV

When it comes to streaming services, Hulu and Disney+ are among the best in the business. Competing with the likes of Netflix and Paramount Plus, there's content you'll find on Hulu and Disney+ that you just won't find anywhere else. Plus, Netflix historically doesn't offer deals on subscriptions during sales, so if you're in the market to expand your streaming access this year, for $2.99 per month, you can't beat it.

If you're just looking at Hulu's standalone discount of $0.99 per month, you'll get a library full of huge titles spanning a multitude of genres. While there's a selection of different add-ons, aside from Disney+, they're not included in the deal. But, that doesn't mean what you get in return for you $0.99 isn't incredibly good value for money.

Until tonight, you can pick up this streaming deal, which like Hulu and Disney+ is incredibly competitive in the streaming landscape. We've not seen a deal like this since Black Friday last year and we're glad to see it back – even if it's only for a limited time. Buy now, don't delay!

MORE:

Read our full Disney Plus review

As well as all the best Cyber Monday TV deals we've spotted

And our favorite Cyber Monday hi-fi deals as they go live

One of the easiest 21st-century recommendations to give anyone whose TV has a dire streaming offering is to either a) get an all-new smart TV, or b) invest in a separate plug-in video streamer. One guess as to which elicits the more favourable response...

Alongside Apple, Amazon and Google, Roku is one of the most popular video streamer brands. It started life as a manufacturer of Roku streaming sticks that connect to the internet, plug into your TV's HDMI port and give it access to video apps such as Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video through a dedicated Roku operating system – great for updating old 'dumb' TVs with streaming. It also produced a Roku Streambar that is essentially a streaming stick and soundbar in one.

Off the back of the success of Roku's hardware and operating system software, the company decided to go beyond the stick part and build its streaming platform directly into TVs – those from other manufacturers like TCL and Hisense, as well as its own branded sets.

So is Roku TV desirable and will it suit your needs? Read on to find out all you need to know about the streaming platform and the best TVs that integrate it.

How good is the Roku TV OS?

Roku hasn't been able to rub shoulders with powerhouses like Amazon and Google, and become the success it is today, with just mediocre software. Indeed the Roku streaming platform is among the best. 

The platform offers access to several subscription services, including but not limited to – deep breath – Amazon Video, Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, as well as region-specific apps such as, in the US, Hulu, Paramount Plus, Sling TV, CBS All Access and WatchESPN. But bear in mind you'll need to subscribe to each service you want to watch content from; the Roku OS is simply a single-access gateway to all these services.

Roku does offer apps with free content, though, such as YouTube, Crackle, PBS Kids and its own The Roku Channel. There is also access to buying and rental services like Vudu and the Google Play Store, too. The choice is truly impressive and the interface comes with an excellent search function to make finding your next favourite film or TV show very easy indeed.

As we said in our latest Roku streamer review, its interface is a "simple, clean, clear" affair with "only a handful of menu options, the homescreen largely being dedicated to a grid of your chosen apps.

"It’s a more objective approach to Amazon’s Fire TV, which pushes its own content throughout its interface. As the Roku is a neutral party, you’ll get the same experience whichever streaming app you subscribe to.

"Menu options are kept brief, so alongside the standard search and settings options, there is also a ‘Channel Store’ and an option for ‘My Feed’. The [Roku] Channel Store is the place to go for more apps, with thousands to choose from."

If you've got this far, you're likely sold. So what is an actual Roku TV, we hear you ask...

What is a Roku TV?

A Roku TV is a physical television that runs the Roku operating system for streaming apps. 

With it directly embedded into a TV experience, you have immediate access to all Roku has to offer. The interface on each brand of Roku TV may differ slightly – usually just with a different colourway – but the content should be present and correct across them.

Roku TVs were initially made and branded by dedicated, mostly budget-orientated TV manufacturers such as TCL, RCA and Hisense, who decided to power their smart TVs with the Roku system. That list has now grown to include JVC, Sharp and Westinghouse, while Roku-branded TVs have also been added to the mix.

Roku's move into the TV market made a lot of sense since Roku has been working on its service for years and offers some of the widest third-party app functionality there is, plus one of the simplest interfaces to navigate, all while keeping processing demands on the hardware to a minimum.

What Roku TVs are available?

Roku's own TVs, called Roku Select, Roku Plus and Roku Pro, are only available in the US, but expect them to be rolled out wider as demand increases. There are 11 options available to pick from at the time of publishing, with the Pro line yet to go on sale.

The Roku Select panels offer HD resolution in 24-inch and 32-inch models or Full HD in the 40-inch panel. Pricing is super low, from $119 (approx. £98 / AU$174).

The Roku Plus series is more premium, offering 4K QLED panels that support HDR10+, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. These come in 55-, 65- and 75-inch sizes, topping out at $999 (approx. £830 / AU$1463).

Roku has also announced its Roku Pro Series TVs, which promise even higher quality from its 4K QLED panels as they use Mini LED technology and AI processing smarts to create what it says is its best images yet. 

We haven't reviewed any Roku-branded TVs yet due to their fledgling availability, but we do have plenty of experience in testing third-party Roku TVs...

What third-party Roku TVs are good?

Of the many (many) other Roku-powered TVs out there, some of the best options that we have tried and tested include TVs from Hisense and TCL.

First up is the Hisense A7200G range. We named its 50-inch model, called the Hisense R50A7200GTUK in the UK, the 'best 48-50in TV' available in the budget market in that year's What Hi-Fi? Awards.

The Hisense A7200G models are all 4K HDR LED TVs available in 43-inch, 50-inch, 55-inch and 65-inch sizes.

The TCL RP630K range is also worth a look as this is a fantastic example of a Roku TV that offers plenty for your money. It comes recommended by our Australian sister brand Sound+Image, who called the 55-inch model a "triumph" in its TCL 55RP630 4K Roku TV review. Considering we awarded its predecessor, the 55-inch TCL RP620K, a five-star review in 2021, we'd say this range is a winner.

The 4K HDR LED TV series sits firmly in the affordable TV category but is one step closer to mid-range than the Hisense above. It offers a greater bit-depth in terms of colour processing, plus Dolby Vision support too.

This line of Roku TVs is another excellent choice for those after an app-happy and exceedingly user-friendly experience alongside a highly recommendable picture.

Are Roku TVs worth it?

Roku's smart platform is certainly easy to recommend. It's a one-stop shopfront for every subscription service you'd likely sign up for, complemented by free content and a simple, intuitive interface.

The Roku TVs with the streaming platform built-in are all from reputable budget-conscious brands that offer a wide range of TVs at attractive budget prices, and of the many available, we can certainly vouch for the two mentioned above. As for the Roku-branded TVs, we haven't had the chance to go twelve rounds with one yet, so we can't comment on the quality of their picture.

It's worth mentioning that not all Roku TVs will support 4K HDR playback through apps that have such content, like Netflix, so it's always worth checking such details before you buy. While perhaps more obvious, it's also worth noting that budget Roku TVs typically won't offer you the best picture quality offered by higher-priced sets – our best TVs guide will help you on that front.

Still, if big screens, a whole host of streaming options and budget prices satisfy your requirements, you may well wish to welcome a Roku TV into your home with open arms. The Roku TV OS experience is excellent, and excellently performing TVs with it built-in certainly exist.

MORE:

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Roku has announced a slew of updates to help you find what to watch next

Find the best TV shows to watch on Netflix right now

It seems that barely a week goes by without us hearing of a new bid to topple Netflix and Disney Plus from the summit of the streaming pyramid. We recently reported that Apple TV Plus and Paramount Plus could join forces in a bid to take the streaming crown from Netflix, and now a new article from the Wall Street Journal has suggested that Paramount could look to Peacock to take the fight to its key rivals.

According to the WSJ, the two platforms have discussed bundling together both streaming services in a single subscription package. Peacock, a subsidiary of NBCUniversal Media Group, AKA Comcast, has supposedly held talks with Paramount, tabling the idea of merging the content of both respective libraries in a unified package that would be cheaper than subscribing to both simultaneously. With costs rising all the time and subscription fees going up across the board, any whiff of a good deal would be heartily welcomed by financially squeezed consumers. That's the theory, anyway.  

While primarily a US-based service, Peacock TV is currently available in the UK, accessible via a Sky TV package or a Now Entertainment Membership, priced at around £10 per month. Being NBC's main service, it offers sought-after TV series such as SNL, Poker Face, 30 Rock and Modern Family, as well as movies such as Shrek, BlackKkKlansman, and even 2023's Oscar-nominated The Holdovers.  

The idea of content bundles, either between rivals or sister services, is becoming increasingly commonplace. Disney offers the "Disney Bundle", for instance, which gives US users access to Hulu, ESPN Plus and Disney Plus, all for a slightly streamlined fee. For Paramount and Comcast, though, there's a possibility that this won't simply be a bundle option but a full-blown merger, bringing savings to both respective parties that can be passed on to the consumer.

Bear in mind, though, that these are essentially only propositions and rumours at this point, with Paramount clearly assessing its options as it looks to climb the streaming service ladder. Time will tell which, if any, of its ambitious plans comes to fruition, and the form those plans ultimately take.

MORE: 

Read our original Paramount+ review

I'm furious about Amazon Prime Video's new prices, and not because of the ads

I tried Apple TV Plus for three months and now I'm experiencing a streaming dilemma 

6 new Netflix TV shows and movies with stunning 4K and Dolby Atmos

We’ve all been there – faced with shelves and shelves of various branded yoghurt, page after page of food menus, and seemingly never-ending rows of Netflix titles, wishing there were fewer options to choose between. When it comes to streaming services, the paradox of choice has never been so prevalent: every entertainment giant has seemingly thrown its hat into the ring, from Amazon, Apple and Google to Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount, but your Toms, Dicks and Harrys only have the will and budget to subscribe to one or two, at best three.

It’s hard to prevent FOMO (the 'fear of missing out') from creeping in when the hottest TV show in town is on a video service you don't subscribe to, and the anguish when that movie you suddenly think about for the first time in decades and absolutely must watch is too.

Thankfully, the music streaming service sea has somewhat fewer fish, but for many people that monthly tenner will still eat away at their carefully devised monthly entertainment budget like a “small” football bet every weekend. The truth is that the rising prices of music and video subscriptions (and everything else) are putting a squeeze on how many we can juggle at one time.

Unlike with many phone or broadband contracts, you can generally do as you please and nomadically hop from one subscription (or, ahem, free trial) to another to limit a monthly cost to rival your mortgage… if you can be bothered. You can also form allegiances with friends or family to collectively tick off several services and password share amongst yourselves, though with password sharing crackdowns likely to come down hard this year, that honeymoon is nearly over.

Neither option is ideal for the consumer, or the companies who have to accept sign-up churning and, consequentially, volatile subscription bases. It’s high time we were offered bundles, and I'm optimistic they will come.

So what’s the current state of play? Well, in the US, Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ – all under The Walt Disney Family of Companies umbrella – can be bought in a bundle that costs 44 per cent less than the price of the three subscriptions bought separately. Following its purchase of the remaining stake in Hulu from Comcast last year, Disney plans to integrate Disney+ and Hulu for a ‘Bundle’ tier from next month. That’s a pretty decent deal for, I imagine, a lot of people – good for you, Americans – but it obviously doesn’t cover any music service needs.

Amazon and Apple also offer an intra-family bundle (Prime and One, respectively) of their own services – though I wonder how many would agree that a pairing of Amazon Music and Prime Video or Apple Music and TV+ would fully satisfy their entertainment needs? 

A Spotify and Hulu bundle costs just $6… for US students only. At the end of last year, Verizon announced it would offer its US customers a Netflix and (HBO) Max bundle for just $10 – 41 per cent less than the price of the two subscriptions bought separately. Not bad, but you’re tied into telecoms too. Meanwhile, news surfaced that Apple and Paramount Global were in early discussions to join forces and offer Apple TV+ and Paramount+ in a similarly reduced-cost bundle to help boost subscription bases. Better, Apple.

It’s a start, but I hope we see more of this inter-company collaboration across the streaming service market and in more territories. I believe cost-effective access to more entertainment services would be high on many people’s priorities, and for companies it would be advantageous in reducing subscription churning and cancellations. Not that there aren’t any disadvantages for them, of course – we’d have bundles already otherwise!

The political competitiveness, not to mention the difficulties around lower revenue-per-user averages and data control, will probably forever block ideal ‘pick and choose’ mega-bundle opportunities – “I’ll have Tidal, Netflix and MUBI for 30 per cent off, please and thank you” – but I hope more companies manage to navigate down a shared path soon. If recent ripples are anything to go by, I'd say things are starting to look up.

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Apple TV Plus and Paramount Plus could join forces in a bid to take the streaming crown from Netflix, if rumours circulating online are to be believed. According to an article from the Wall Street Journal, the two streaming platforms are seeking to join forces in the near future to create a single, cheaper service that could potentially tempt viewers away from current market leader Netflix.

Per the WSJ, the two platforms have "discussed bundling their streaming services at a discount" to offer the combined forces of their respective content libraries and undercut the dominant streaming service which, like many of its contemporaries, has raised prices in response to the global economic downturn. At the time of writing, Apple TV Plus costs £8.99 a month, while Paramount Plus is a little cheaper with a monthly fee of £6.99. 

It may seem like an odd decision at face value, but let's not forget that Apple currently allows access to some rival services - including Disney Plus - via its mobile interface anyway, so it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility to see it merge with a competitor.

Other services have also done deals with contemporary platforms, or else made bundles of content, in a bid to tempt viewers in. Disney offers the "Disney Bundle", for instance, which grants access to Hulu, ESPN Plus and Disney Plus, although that's only available in the US. 

At a time when prices are going up and competition for the streaming audience has never been fiercer, two of the newer players in this fascinating game may be sensing an opportunity as much as they are feeling the heat. Netflix remains the most popular video streaming service in the world with 232.5 million subscribers (per the Evening Standard), and while Apple TV Plus and Paramount Plus certainly have the quality of content to compete, we've questioned whether they necessarily have the quantity.

A merger between the two expanding platforms, however, may solve that problem, especially if the resultant price undercuts the £7.99 base monthly fee charged by Netflix (£10.99 for Standard, £17.99 for Premium). Apple's current subscriber rates are growing, albeit slowly, while Paramount Plus boasts more than 60 million viewers after picking up traction thanks to its large movie catalogue and TV shows like South Park, Frasier and Yellowstone. 

The proposed merger is currently only in the negotiation phase at this point with nothing even close to finalised, but with changes in the market always possible and fortunes ever-changing (see Disney Plus' rather severe subscriber drop), anything is possible. Could a team-up of Apple and Paramount be enough to topple Netflix? Watch this space.

MORE: 

Read our original Apple TV Plus review 

I tried Apple TV Plus for three months and now I'm experiencing a streaming dilemma 

6 new Netflix TV shows and movies with stunning 4K and Dolby Atmos

Bored of Netflix? Stuck waiting for the next season of Squid Game? Thanks to this superb Black Friday streaming deal, you can add Disney+ and Hulu to your streaming repertoire for up to one year for just $2.99 per month. 

That's because Hulu is just $0.99/month for a year, with the option to add Disney+ for an extra $2/month for a year. The only downside is that both subscriptions are ads-based, but still, as far as streaming deals go it doesn't get much better than this...

• Check out all the latest and best Black Friday deals

Hulu & Disney+ Black Friday deal

When it comes to streaming services, Hulu is Netflix's greatest competitor, offering up an enormous library of content that includes lots of exclusive originals, unique offerings such as a robust anime catalog, and many different add-ons you can take advantage of to expand your selection even further.

If you're a Disney fan, the only place on the internet you can spend just a few dollars a month to access the full Disney catalog is Disney+. If you're looking for your Marvel fix, your Star Wars fix, or just to take a nostalgia trip with an animated classic, Disney+ is the best place to do that.

This Black Friday is a great time to expand your content horizon if you're looking to save money on what feels like an ever-increasing list of streaming services you've got to sign up for. You will have to deal with ads, but for just a few dollars a month, it's tough to feel like you aren't getting your money's worth.

MORE:

Check out all the best Black Friday streaming deals

As well as all the best Black Friday TV deals

And our favorite Black Friday OLED deals

So, you've already found an amazing Cyber Monday TV deal and now you need a top-tier streaming service to start making use of your shiny new set. The good news is that some of the most popular streaming services are currently available for extremely tempting discounts.

Services such as (HBO) Max, Hulu, Disney+ and Paramount+ are on sale thanks to the holiday season, and the deals are still live for Cyber Monday. Read on to see all the best streaming service deals for Cyber Monday.

Hulu Cyber Monday deal

There's a great Cyber Monday Hulu deal on offer. Treat yourself to a full year of Hulu (With Ads) for a stunning 99c/month, saving you 87% over the regular monthly price.

After your 12 months at this sale price, your subscription will auto-renew at the regular $7.99/month price, and you can take advantage of this deal through November 28th. This offer is open to new subscribers as well as returning subscribers who have not had active subscriptions in the past month.

If you're looking for a Disney+ deal, look down below, as you can bundle in Disney+ for an extra $2/month with this 99c/month Hulu deal.

Max Cyber Monday deal

Once known as HBO Max, the freshly rebranded service Max is also on discount for Cyber Monday. Sign up for Max (With ads) at just $3/month for 6 months, saving you 70% from the original $10/month pricing.

Sign up now through November 27th, and with this deal, you also get the Sports Add-On for free, too. That includes NBA, NHL, MLB, and more content. This add-on usually goes for $10/month itself, so getting it free is a nice addition.

This offer is open to both new and returning subscribers, and after your 6 months of deal pricing expires, your subscription will auto-renew at the standard $10/month price. Unless you cancel, of course.

Disney Plus Cyber Monday deal

If you're looking to watch some Disney content, there's no better place to do that than on Disney+. Luckily, you can find an impressive Disney+ deal, thanks to Cyber Monday, bundled in with the Hulu deal above.

Sign up for a year of Hulu (With Ads) for 99c/month and you can add on a year of Disney+ (With Ads) for an extra $2/month, coming in at a grand total of $3 a month for both Disney+'s and Hulu's ad-supported versions.

Like Hulu above, this offer is open to new returning Hulu subscribers; although if you're a current Hulu or Disney+ subscriber you can't just 'upgrade' your current subscription to this Cyber Monday bundle.

Paramount+ Cyber Monday deal

If you're looking for some different streaming content outside the biggest names such as Hulu or Netflix, Paramount+ is worth a look, especially with these Cyber Monday deals. 

For U.S. customers, get Paramount+ Essential for $2/month or Paramount+ with SHOWTIME for $4/month for 3 months. That's a saving of 67%, for both new and returning subscribers. Once your 3 deal months are up, you can expect your subscription to auto-renew at the standard price, unless you decide to cancel at that point.

Starz Cyber Monday deal

Starz, much like HBO, has a slate of interesting original content, such as Outlander, as well as a big catalog of movies, and you can sign up for cheap on Cyber Monday. 

Act fast and get Starz for just $3/month for three full months. After your deal months are up, your subscription will auto-renew at the standard $10/month price. However, you can choose to cancel your subscription at any time.

If you're a Hulu subscriber, or if you sign up for Hulu at its Cyber Monday price of 99c/month, you can add on Starz for an additional 99c/month for 6 months, too. Once those six months are up, your subscription will return to $10/month.

If you're interested in Hulu, Starz is cheaper for longer if you get Starz as an add-on, so definitely consider going through Hulu first.

Peacock Cyber Monday deal

If you want to stream Harry Potter, The Office (US), Poker Face (and many more), Peacock is the right service for you. What also may be right for you is Peacock's Cyber Monday deal where you can sign up for $2/month for 12 months.

If you would rather pay annually, you can also get a full year of Peacock for $20 upfront, too, thanks to this Cyber Monday sale. These offers do exclude current Peacock subscribers, though, and after the deal months expire, you will be back to paying the normal subscription price each month.

It's also worth noting that this offer is for Peacock Premium, which is Peacock's ad-supported subscription, so you will have to deal with the occasional ad. If interested, make sure to sign up before this offer goes away on November 27th.

Cyber Monday deals quick links

• Amazon: 55% off wireless headphones
• B&H Photo: $160 off Sonos
• Best Buy: $50 off Jabra headphones
• Bose: save 50% on headphones & speakers
• Crutchfield: $1000 off Sony TVs
• eBay: 70% off refurbished headphones
• Google: $200 off Pixel 8 Pro
• JBL: up to 70% off speakers & headphones
• Samsung: $1000 off some TVs
• Sonos: 25% off select products
• Sony: save up to $300 on headphones
• Target: $100 off Beats headphones
• Walmart: $250 off some Beats headphones
• World Wide Stereo: $60 off Sonos bundle

120 best Cyber Monday tech deals 2023: TVs, headphones, soundbars and more

The 7 very best Cyber Monday headphones deals

Amazon's Cyber Monday AirPods Pro deal is still under £200, but is it cheaper elsewhere?

Watch Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story

Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story is available to watch now for free on BBC iPlayer in the UK. It originally dropped on Wednesday 15th November, 2023 on Disney Plus worldwide (as well as Hulu in the US).

• Watch Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story for free on BBC iPlayer (UK only)
• Use a NordVPN (save up to 70%) to unblock iPlayer when traveling abroad

Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story synopsis

In the high-octane, big money world of F1, it's almost impossible to imagine a whole team being bought for £1 and then going on to achieve ultimate glory. But that's exactly what happened on the tarmac and in the paddock little more than a decade ago. Read on below for how to watch Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story online with Disney Plus.

When Honda decided to withdraw its participation from Formula 1 in 2008, daring technical director Ross Brawn decided to spend a single pound on buying its team and seeing whether he could take the constructor from the back of the grid to top of the podium.

Over four episodes, Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story recounts how that came to pass and what happened next. It's no spoiler to say that the success Brawn GP experienced went beyond the expectations that even the most prophetic of pundits could have predicted.

Hollywood star Keanu Reeves is on narration and executive producer duties for an unscripted documentary series that goes in to every twist and turn of this chicaning underdog story. In addition to Brawn himself, there are exclusive talking heads from drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, as well as bona fide motor racing royalty like Nick Fry and Christian Horner.

The new Brawn docu-series couldn't have come at a better time, with the FIA making a concerted attempt to increase its US audience. The third and final Formula 1 Grand Prix to take place in the States goes ahead this weekend in the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas. So releasing Brawn now should only help fuel that fandom further.

Read on as we explain below how to watch Brawn online now – including for free on the UK's BBC iPlayer.

US: watch Brawn online

US motorheads can catch Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story on Disney Plus.

There are a number of subscription options available Stateside. Disney Plus is available as a standalone service with ad-supported ($7.99) and ad-free ($13.99) monthly options, or you can save around 16% off the total annual cost of a subscription with the annual plan.

Alternatively, get great value with the Disney Plus bundle packages. Duo Basic combines Disney Plus and Hulu for $9.99 a month with ads or $9.99 without, while Trio Basic (with ads) throws ESPN into the mix at $14.99 a month. Pay $24.99 for the Trio Premium plan, though, and you can ditch the majority of the ads and download select shows to view offline too.

Brawn is also going to be available on the Hulu platform. So if you already have that or would prefer to subscribe to Hulu (also from $7.99 per month), all four episodes drop at the same time and day as on Disney Plus.

Watch Brawn trailer

How to watch Brawn online in Australia

Brawn is available on Disney Plus in Australia, with the four episodes going live on Wednesday 15th November at 7pm AEDT.

Prices are AU$13.99 per month or $113.99 for a whole year of Disney Plus.

How to watch Brawn online in Canada

You'll find Brawn on Disney Plus in Canada, as of Wednesday 15th November.

A subscription will cost from CA$11.99 a month or CA$119.99 for a year’s membership if you don't want adverts. Or get the monthly fee as low as CA$7.99 if you can live with ads.

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CMA Awards 2023 live stream

The 2023 CMA Awards will be broadcast on ABC on Wednesday 8th November, at 8pm ET/PT and 7pm Central time (that's 1am UK time). US viewers can watch all the action on-demand on Hulu. If you're currently outside the US, remember to use a VPN to watch the coverage from anywhere in the world.

• US: CMA Awards live stream on Fubo (free 7-day trial) 
• Watch your chosen stream from overseas with ExpressVPN

CMA Awards 2023: preview

Is 2023 the year that Chris Stapleton or Carrie Underwood get their flowers at the CMA Awards? Despite now being seven- and six-time nominees respectively, neither of the country superstars has ever picked up the ultra-prestigious Entertainer of the Year trophy, and the meteoric success of Luke Combs' cover of Tracy Chapman's timeless '88 hit "Fast Car" suggests they're going to have to keep waiting.

There are numerous country music awards events, but the Country Music Association Awards is the original, and the 57th edition is being staged at the legendary Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning are on hosting duties for the second year running, but Combs would go one better if he's crowned the Entertainer of the Year again. He's already won the top prize twice in a row, and his main competition stands to be Morgan Wallen, who's back on the scene after being filmed drunkenly using a racial slur two years ago.

There are 11 major awards categories besides, but of course, the real highlights of the two-hour ceremony will be the performances, particularly the collaborations, and this year we can look forward to mashups between Jelly Roll and K. Michelle, Tanya Tucker and Little Big Town, Old Dominion and Megan Moroney, and Carly Pearce and Stapleton.

Here's how to watch the CMA Awards wherever you are. We've also listed the nominees and performers below.

US: watch CMA Awards live stream

Watch CMA Awards 2023 without cable in the US

ABC is available from a number of cable providers including Dish, Spectrum, Xfinity, Verizon, and more. 

If you don't have cable, ABC is carried by the excellent OTT streaming service Fubo, which costs $74.99 after a 7-day FREE trial. 

Sling TV is another option – if you live in an area where ABC is part of the Sling Blue package, which costs from $40 a month. Not sure? Fubo might be a better bet for this one. 

Hulu will also stream the 2023 CMA Awards on-demand from Thursday, 9th November. A subscription costs $7.99 a month, or $14.99 a month bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+. You can also get a 7-day free trial.

Watch a CMA Awards 2023 live stream from anywhere

You won't be able to watch your regular CMA Awards live stream while traveling abroad. The streaming service will spot that you're in a foreign country and block you. You can use a VPN (virtual private network) to get around this, though.

It's a straightforward piece of software which sets your device to appear as if it's in the right country, allowing you to watch the 2023 Country Music Association Awards live stream from anywhere in the world.

We rate ExpressVPN as the best VPN. It offers a 30-day guarantee for all your money back if you're not happy with the service.

How to use a VPN for a CMA Awards live stream

1. Install the VPN of your choice. ExpressVPN is the one we recommend.

2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access. For the CMA Awards, you may wish to choose 'US' for the FuboTV free trial.

3. Then head over to Fubo on your browser or device and enjoy the 2023 CMA Awards live stream!

Canada: Watch CMA Awards 2023

UK: Watch CMA Awards 2023

Australia: Watch CMA Awards 2023

2023 CMA Awards performers

• Kenny Chesney
• Mac McAnally
• Alan Jackson
• Zac Brown Band
• Morgan Wallen
• HARDY
• Morgan Wallen
• Post Malone
• Kelsea Ballerini
• Luke Combs
• Dan + Shay
• Jelly Roll
• K. Michelle
• Jordan Davis
• Cody Johnson
• Ashley McBryde
• Old Dominion
• Megan Moroney
• Chris Stapleton
• Carly Pearce
• Chris Stapleton
• Tanya Tucker
• Little Big Town
• Luke Bryan
• The War and Treaty
• Lainey Wilson

2023 CMA Awards nominations

Entertainer of the Year

• Luke Combs
• Chris Stapleton
• Carrie Underwood
• Morgan Wallen
• Lainey Wilson

Album of the Year

• Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville — Ashley McBryde
• Bell Bottom Country — Lainey Wilson
• Gettin' Old — Luke Combs
• One Thing at a Time — Morgan Wallen
• Rolling Up the Welcome Mat — Kelsea Ballerini

Male Vocalist of the Year

• Luke Combs
• Jelly Roll
• Cody Johnson
• Chris Stapleton
• Morgan Wallen

Female Vocalist of the Year

• Kelsea Ballerini
• Miranda Lambert
• Ashley McBryde
• Carly Pearce
• Lainey Wilson

Vocal Group of the Year

• Lady A
• Little Big Town 
• Midland  
• Old Dominion  
• Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo of the Year

• Brooks & Dunn  
• Brothers Osborne  
• Dan + Shay  
• Maddie & Tae
• The War and Treaty

Single of the Year

• "Fast Car" — Luke Combs
• "Heart Like a Truck" — Lainey Wilson
• "Need a Favor" — Jelly Roll
• "Next Thing You Know" — Jordan Davis
• "Wait in the Truck" — HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson)

Song of the Year

• "Fast Car" — Tracy Chapman
• "Heart Like a Truck" — Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson and Lainey Wilson
• "Next Thing You Know" — Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill and Josh Osborne
• "Tennessee Orange" — David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney and Ben Williams
• "Wait in the Truck" — Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps and Jordan Schmidt

New Artist of the Year

• Zach Bryan
• Jelly Roll
• Parker McCollum
• Megan Moroney
• Hailey Whitters

Musician of the Year

• Jenee Fleenor
• Paul Franklin
• Rob McNelley
• Derek Wells
• Charlie Worsham

Music Video of the Year

• "Light On in the Kitchen" — Ashley McBryde
• "Memory Lane" — Old Dominion
• "Need a Favor" — Jelly Roll
• "Next Thing You Know" — Jordan Davis
• "Wait in the Truck" — HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson)

Musical Event of the Year

• "Save Me" — Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson
• "She Had Me at Heads Carolina (Remix)" — Cole Swindell and Jo Dee Messina
• "Thank God" — Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown
• "Wait in the Truck" — HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson)
• "We Don't Fight Anymore" — Carly Pearce (feat. Chris Stapleton)

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Apple is raising subscription prices across a number of its services, including a second increase on Apple TV+ and a first on Apple Arcade. 

Apple TV+ will see its price raised from £6.99 / $6.99 / €6.99 / $9.99AU$ per month to £8.99 / $9.99 / €9.99 / $12.99AU$.

Apple Arcade sees around 40% extra added to its subscription fee, climbing from £4.99 / $4.99 / €4.99 / $7.99AU$ per month to  £6.99 / $6.99 / €6.99 / $9.99AU$. With the core services all seeing prices rise, the Apple One bundles will see increases too across the Individual, Family, and Premier packages (full breakdown below). 

We last saw Apple increase the cost of its services around one year ago when Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, and Apple One all went up in price. The cost of Music, Fitness Plus, or iCloud Plus subscriptions does not appear to be shifting this time around though - some good news, at least. 

These new changes were confirmed by an Apple spokesperson in a conversation with The Verge, with Apple stating that existing subscribers will see their bills increase in around 30 days, on the user's next renewal date.

This year has seen a number of popular streaming services increase their prices aside from Apple’s offerings, including Disney+, Hulu, and Max. How far these consistent hikes in cost can go without negatively impacting subscription numbers remains to be seen, as for now, streaming companies like Netflix continue to report ever-growing revenue figures. 

Here’s the breakdown of the key price changes:

Apple TV+ 

Was £6.99 / $6.99 / €6.99 / $9.99AUD, now £8.99 / $9.99 / €9.99 / $12.99AUD per month.

Apple Arcade 

Was £4.99 / $4.99 / €4.99 / $7.99AUD, now £6.99 / $6.99 / €6.99 / $9.99AUD per month.

Apple One 

Individual: Was £16.95, / $16.95 / €16.95 now £18.95 / $19.95 / €19.95 per month.

Family: Was £22.95 / $22.95 / €22.95, now £24.95 / $25.95 / €25.95 per month.

Premier: Was £32.95 / $32.95 / €31.95, now £36.95 / $37.95 / €34.95 per month

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Watch Only Murders in the Building season 3

Only Murders in the Building season 3 premieres with the first two episodes on Hulu on Tuesday 8th August. In the UK and Australia it's on Disney Plus. 

If you're a subscriber away from home, make sure to use a VPN to watch Only Murders in the Building season 3 from abroad. Full details on the new season of the comedy drama, and how to watch it where you are, below.

• US: Hulu (8th Aug)
• UK: Disney+ (8th Aug)
• AUS: Disney+(8th Aug)
• CAN: Disney+ (9th Aug)
• Watch any stream worldwide with ExpressVPN

Watch Only Murders in the Building season 3: synopsis

Like a canny showman, Only Murders in the Building left its audience wanting more by teasing season 3's mystery – Broadway lead, Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd), keeling over under the spotlight on opening night. It's the perfect excuse for Mabel (Selena Gomez) to get the band back together, but with Grade A douchebag Ben having alienated all of his co-stars, was it the perfect crime?

The standout face from the rogues' gallery of suspects is that of Loretta Durkin (Meryl Streep), a soft-spoken showbiz veteran who for years has harboured grand ambitions that have thus far gone unfulfilled. Ridiculed behind the scenes by Ben, she had more reason than most to want to enact the Hollywood star's demise.

Too obvious? Then perhaps Mabel ought to look closer to home when it comes to Only Murders in the Building season 3. After all, Loretta isn't the only one hankering for a taste of fame and fortune. To complicate matters, Charles (Steve Martin) had an axe of his own to grind with Ben, while Oliver (Martin Short) seemingly shares a romantic connection with one of his cast members.

Then there's Tobert (Jesse Williams), who manages to get suspiciously close to Mabel's investigation, rising star Kimber (Ashley Park), who the gang appears to be wary of, and an as-yet-nameless character played by Matthew Broderick.

Only Murders in the Building season 3 is on Hulu in the US and is a Star Original on Disney Plus internationally. Remember: you can watch Only Murders in the Building season 3 from anywhere using a VPN.

When is Only Murders in the Building season 3 released?

Only Murders in the Building season 3 is a 10-part series. The first two episodes drop on Hulu in the US on Tuesday 8th August. The remaining episodes are released weekly on Tuesdays until the concluding episode on 3rd October.

In Canada, Only Murders in the Building season 3 doesn't arrive on Disney Plus until August 9th. US national stuck in Canada? Use a VPN to watch on 8th August.  

Only Murders in the Building season 3 episodes

• Episode 1: The Show Must... – 8th August, 2023
• Episode 2: The Beat Goes On – 8th August, 2023
• Episode 3: TBC – 15th August, 2023
• Episode 4: TBC – 22nd August, 2023
• Episode 5: TBC – 29th August, 2023
• Episode 6: TBC – 5th September, 2023
• Episode 7: TBC – 12th September, 2023
• Episode 8: TBC – 19th September, 2023
• Episode 9: TBC – 26th September, 2023
• Episode 10: TBC – 3rd October, 2023

US: watch Only Murders in the Building season 3

In the US, Only Murders in the Building season 3 streams on Hulu, which costs $7.99 a month, or $12.99 a month bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+.

Watch Only Murders in the Building season 3 from anywhere

You won't be able to watch Only Murders in the Building season 3 as normal if you're traveling abroad. Your streaming service will spot that you're in a foreign country and block you. You can use a VPN (virtual private network) to get around this, though.

It's a straightforward piece of software which sets your device to appear as if it's in the right country, allowing you to watch Only Murders in the Building from anywhere in the world.

We rate ExpressVPN as the best VPN. It offers a 30-day guarantee for all your money back if you're not happy with the service.

Watch the Only Murders in the Building season 3 trailer

How to watch Only Murders in the Building season 3 in the UK

You can watch Only Murders in the Building season 3 in the UK on Disney Plus, where it's a Star Original. The first two episodes drop on Tuesday 8th August, with subsequent episodes released weekly.

How to watch Only Murders in the Building season 3 in Australia

If you're in Australia, you can watch Only Murders in the Building season 3 on Disney Plus. As elsewhere, it premieres with two episodes on Tuesday, August 8th, with subsequent instalments arriving weekly.

How to watch Only Murders in the Building season 3 in Canada

If you're in Canada, you can watch Only Murders in the Building season 3 on Disney Plus. 

However, you'll have to wait a little longer to catch up with the residents of the Arconia. It premieres with two episodes on Wednesday, August 9th, with subsequent instalments arriving weekly.

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How to watch The Ultimate Fighter season 31

The Ultimate Fighter season 31 is available to watch in the US via ESPN and ESPN+. It is also on BT Sport in the UK, and on Kayo in Australia. Full details on how to watch an Ultimate Fighter season 31 live stream are just below.

• US: ESPN+ / FuboTV
• UK: BT Sport
• AUS: Kayo (7-day free trial)

The Ultimate Fighter season 31: preview

In the entire 18-year history of this show, no season of The Ultimate Fighter has generated as much hype and intrigue as Team McGregor vs Team Chandler. 

In one corner, former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor "Notorious" McGregor, one of the most belligerent characters in modern sport, a guy who'd lose his head if he caught his own reflection looking back at him the wrong way. On the other, three-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael "Iron" Chandler, whose more considered approach is guaranteed to get under the Irishman's skin.

Indeed, while the trailer shows McGregor exploding with rage at his opponent, shoving him in the face at one point, Chandler has said that The Ultimate Fighter has actually humanised McGregor in his eyes. Whether he was doing so with tongue firmly in cheek remains to be seen.

If you're not familiar with the format, McGregor, assisted by John Kavanagh and Owen Roddy, and Chandler, assisted by Ryan Bader, Robert Drysdale, Jason Strout, and Greg Jones, will coach and mentor their own group of up-and-coming lightweight and bantamweight fighters, before facing off in the octagon themselves later this year. Knowing what McGregor's like, Dana White might want to stay alert to a potential coup.

The first three episodes – there are 12 in total – have seen wins for all three of Chandler's fighters with Roosevelt Roberts and Austin Hubbard progressing to the semis of the Lightweight division and Cody Gibson getting through in the Bantamweight class. McGregor's gruelling sparring session approach might need a rethink.

This is a must-watch if you're into combat sports or sports documentaries. Read on as we explain how to watch The Ultimate Fighter season 31.

USA: Watch The Ultimate Fighter season 31 live

In the US, The Ultimate Fighter season 31 is available to watch on ESPN Plus and ESPN.

The Team McGregor vs Team Chandler season premieres at 10 pm ET / 7 pm PT on Tuesday, May 30, with episodes airing at the same team each week.

A subscription to ESPN Plus costs $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year. For the ultimate value, you can get a combined ESPN+, Hulu and Disney Plus bundle for just $12.99 a month, adding great entertainment and family-friendly content to the mix.

If you're not currently a cable customer, both Sling ($40 per month, reduced to $30 for your first month) and FuboTV ($74.99 per month after a 7-day free trial) carry the ESPN channel. 

AUS: Watch The Ultimate Fighter season 31 live

If you're in Australia, you can watch The Ultimate Fighter season 31 on ESPN or via Kayo Sports (7-day free trial). 

The Team McGregor vs Team Chandler season premieres at 12.30 pm AEST on Wednesday, May 31, with episodes airing at the same team each week.

UK: Watch The Ultimate Fighter season 31 live

Rights to The Ultimate Fighter season 31 in the UK belong to BT Sport. The Team McGregor vs Team Chandler season premieres at 10 pm BST on Thursday, June 1, with episodes airing at the same team each week.

You can get BT Sport through BT TV, Sky TV, and Virgin Media as well as through the BT Sport website and apps. 

Don't want to be locked into a contract? You can also opt for a BT Sport Monthly Pass, which costs £30 per month. It's a rolling one-month contract and you can cancel anytime. The pass lets you stream all four BT Sport channels across iOS and Android devices, games consoles, Now TV set-top boxes, Roku players, and Amazon Fire TV devices.

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In its Q1 2023 letter to shareholders yesterday, Netflix announced it is upgrading its ad-supported tier with two features for free: the ability to stream on two devices simultaneously, and a jump from 720p to 1080p video quality.

The 720p resolution is the reason I haven't wanted to go anywhere near Netflix's Basic with Ads plan since it launched in November. We're in 2023, 1080p should be a basic streaming right (isn't that right, Now TV?)

But the two improvements bring the £4.99 / $6.99 / AU$6.99 tier closer to the service's slightly pricier Basic plan above it, which is not ad-supported and allows downloads on one device. Presumably, Netflix will eventually upgrade the image quality (currently 720p) and concurrent streams count (one) of the Basic tier as well, though if it doesn't the Basic with Ads plan could be seen as existing between the Basic and Standard offerings... depending on how much value you put on image quality. 

Basic with Ads is now also in line with the 1080p image quality offered by HBO's Max Ad-Lite and Hulu (With Ads) plans in the US, though Disney+'s ad-supported Basic service does offer 4K viewing.

Both new Netflix with Ads features have already gone live in Spain and Canada, with the other 10 ads markets (which include the UK, US and Australia) due to follow shortly.

"We believe these enhancements will make our offering even more attractive to a broader set of consumers and further strengthen engagement for existing and new subscribers to the ads plan," the letter to investors stated. Netflix noted that in the US, the ads plan now has a greater 'ARM' (Average Revenue per Membership) than its Standard tier through its combined subscription and ad revenue, so this push to attract a broader range of consumers is to further boost the plan's "healthy performance and trajectory".

Indeed, I was sceptical about the Netflix Basic with Ads tier when it arrived earlier this year – disruptive adverts and no download opportunity for only £2 / $3 / AU$4 less per month than the Basic tier's fee didn't seem all that compelling, not least when you factored in that the ads tier would start life with a compromised catalogue compared to the non-ads tiers.

But in my mind, these new features – 1080p streaming, in particular – make it a much more compelling tier of choice for those who cannot afford the £10.99 / $10.99 / AU$16.99 Standard plan (1080p, two concurrent streams, two devices for downloads). Netflix has also shared that it now has 95 per cent of content parity globally with its other plans, too. More bang for your buck is what the Basic with Ads plan needed – and now it has it.

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Record Store Day 2023: dates, full vinyl release list and our top picks

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away (from team What Hi-Fi? based in the UK), a man called Walt Disney founded Walt Disney Studios with his brother and became one of the most renowned motion-picture animators in the world. Fast forward nearly 100 years, over 400 movies and more than 60 Academy Award wins and, thanks to the Disney Plus video streaming service, nearly every Disney title ever committed to celluloid is now available to stream in one place.

Disney Plus (Disney+) is a natural rival to the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+, available in loads of countries and offering a rich catalogue of films and TV shows from Disney and its subsidiaries – Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar and National Geographic, as well as a slate of new Disney+ Originals. Now, Disney Plus subscribers in Europe, Canada, New Zealand and the UK (and even more recently, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea) also have access to Star, a channel that offers "grown-up" content from ABC and 20th Century Fox back-catalogues, plus originals already live on US streaming service Hulu (which Disney has a majority stake in).

Many titles are presented in the best video and audio technologies available today – 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos – and Disney has really gone the distance where device support is concerned. Is it any wonder it's our favourite video streaming service right now?

Now two years old, Disney Plus has attracted more than 116 million subscribers – not far off half of Netflix's headcount, and a figure three million higher than Wall Street analyst predictions. So should Disney Plus be part of your world or should you let it go? Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's off into Disney's service we go...

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Price

When Disney Plus launched, the monthly fee was £5.99 ($6.99, AU$8.99, €6.99), making it a very tempting proposition – and arguably a viable 'second' service for existing subscribers of Netflix or Amazon.

But, partly in light of the arrival of the Star catalogue in several markets, that price has now gone northwards. Since 23rd February 2021, the monthly cost of Disney Plus is £7.99 ($7.99, AU$11.99, €8.99). In the US, the Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus bundle has also had a $1 increase to $13.99 per month. 

Note that an annual subscription works out cheaper – £79.90 ($70, AU$120, €89.90) – if you're willing to pay that upfront sum.

Catalogue

Disney Plus's catalogue comprises over 700 films and more than 400 TV series, from all-time classics to family favourites, including three of the four most profitable films ever made: Avatar, Avengers: Endgame and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

One of the service's biggest selling points is its slate of original shows, such as The Mandalorian, The Only Murders in the Building, Clone Wars, Hawkeye and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (yes, that is its real title). Disney seems willing to splash the cash, announcing it plans to spend $8bn to $9bn on Disney Plus content alone in fiscal 2024, by which it hopes to have attracted over 230 million subscribers.

That title-dropping expands to more than 30 films and 50 series from the Marvel universe, including Black Panther, Avengers: Endgame, Guardians Of The Galaxy, Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D, Loki, WandaVision.

Disney Plus is the only place to see Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Captain Marvel and all future releases from both Lucasfilm and Marvel, and is the exclusive streaming hub for every Disney theatrical release from 2019 and beyond. And yes, the service is also home to The Simpsons, too. Considering Disney is increasingly casting its net further afield (Oscar-winning Nomadland is one such example) and is still making animated gems (Soul, we're looking at you), the future of the service's quality of content is hardly in doubt. What's more, the minimum theatrical run before Disney blockbusters are available to stream is now only 45 days, shortening the traditional gap between theatrical and streaming releases of 70 to 90 days.

The catalogue features plenty of 4K HDR content (some originally mastered, some remastered), which isn't surprising considering Disney has been in the Ultra HD Blu-ray game for years. When we first reviewed the service upon launch, we counted just over 100 titles in 4K HDR – including Frozen, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Lion King (2019), Aladdin (2019), Toy Story 4, Moana and all five of Disney’s new Original movies. But thanks in part to the Star expansion, that figure has grown considerably.

The arrival of Star has indeed matured the service offering, appealing more to adults and sensibly introducing parent controls (which means parents can set limits on access for specific profiles based on content age ratings and introduce PIN locks on profiles with access to mature content). Star arrived in February 2021 as a 270-film, 75-show proposition, including four originals and plans for future premieres. Highlights include – deep breath – Modern Family, The X-Files, Deadpool 2, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Favourite, 24, Lost, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Prison Break, Scrubs, The Killing, How I Met Your Mother and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

4K support isn’t limited to just new titles, though. Toy Story is in 4K HDR, as are the original Beauty And The Beast and The Lion King. Classics such as Alice In Wonderland, Pinocchio, Cinderella, The Jungle Book and Sleeping Beauty are presented in Full HD with 5.1 audio, too.

The fact you can download these titles in their full resolution onto a compatible tablet or smartphone is arguably one of the best-value features of Disney+, considering the cost of individual 4K movies to rent or buy. 

Downloads are unlimited, don't expire, and can be downloaded on up to 10 devices. The same treatment isn't so abundant with TV shows, with 4K HDR material limited to some new Disney Original series.

The service not only has plenty of content in 5.1 audio; it also supports Dolby Atmos, which was probably to be expected, given Disney's commitment to the format – the first-ever theatrical Dolby Atmos release was Disney's Brave, after all.

Atmos content on Disney Plus is prolific – all movies, shorts and the odd Disney Original – including The Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise, The Mandalorian, WALL-E, Thor: Ragnarok, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2, Big Hero 6 and the Captain Americas. Those same titles are also available in Dolby Vision HDR for subscribers who own a Dolby Vision TV.

A new partnership with IMAX and DTS announced in November 2021 has brought IMAX Enhanced to the platform, too, with the first slate of supported content viewable in IMAX’s expanded aspect ratio of 1:90:1 consisting of 13 Marvel films.

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Ease of use

Disney Plus's interface is similar to Netflix's – and just as easy to use. It hasn't tried to reinvent the wheel with its layout, and the result is a service most people will feel comfortable navigating.

A banner of featured content heads up the home page, with titles grouped into categories such as 'Recommended for You', 'Originals', ‘Musicals’ and ‘Mickey Mouse Through The Years’. There is also a 'Nostalgic Movies' tab for those who wish to revisit Bedknobs And Broomsticks, Pete’s Dragon and Herbie Goes Bananas.

Above these categories – sandwiched between the featured content banner and title categories – are six blocks for Disney, National Geographic, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar and Star. These allow subscribers to dive right into the offerings of each of those specific Disney-owned brands.

Disney Plus's 'Collections' group similar content together – for example, films within the Spiderman universe or films featuring princesses. In the ‘Winnie the Pooh Collection’ you'll find everything from The New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh TV series (1988-1991) to 2001’s The Tigger Movie and the recent Christopher Robin feature.

A pull-out sidebar lets you view only movies, only TV series or Disney Originals, search for specific content using the search bar, and access your watchlist (titles you've pinned for easy access at a later date). Up to seven profiles for each family member can be made on one account too. 

A nice touch is that each user can pick a character for their profile, which can be made child-friendly with bolder icons, and a more colourful, less dense interface populated with more kids' content.

The Ultra HD and HDR category on the home page (which was missing from the app at launch in the UK) is a great way to quickly find content in the highest possible quality, and logos for 4K, HDR (HDR10 or Dolby Vision) and Dolby Atmos are neatly flagged within the synopsis, alongside those for age appropriateness, year of release, genre, season count and audio format (note that you will only see these badges if your device supports the technology). Ultra HD and HDR titles, as well as IMAX Enhanced content, can also be accessed through a drop-down menu within the 'Movies' tab.

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Performance

Unsurprisingly, Disney Plus launched with exhaustive hardware support.

The service works across web browsers; iOS (iOS 11.0 and later) and Android (OS 5.0 Lollipop and later) phones and tablets; Google Chromecast, including devices with Chromecast built-in, such as select Sony and Philips Smart TVs; Apple TV (4th gen or later) and Apple TV 4K (running tvOS 11.0 and later) streamers; Xbox One, Series S and Series X consoles; PS4 and PS5; Samsung (2016 and later), LG (2016 and later) and Android-based Sony, Sharp and Philips TVs; a wide range of Roku streaming players; Android TV set-top boxes such as Nvidia Shield TV and Mi Box; all of Amazon's Fire TV streamers, Fire TV Edition smart TVs, and Fire Tablets (Fire OS 5.0 and later); and Sky Q.

Disney Plus’s catalogue can be streamed from an iOS device over AirPlay to Apple TV (including the 3rd- and 4th-generation boxes) as well as any TV compatible with AirPlay 2. So, yes, it's just about accessible everywhere.

Up to four screens can stream simultaneously on one account, too, which is on a par with Netflix’s Premium tier and better than Apple TV+’s and Amazon Prime Video’s three-screen limit.

We find ourselves drawn to the technically wonderful The Lion King live-action remake (a 4K Dolby Vision title) and are met with appropriately lush landscapes, tangible textures of lion fur, baboon skin and bird feathers, and a clean, crisp picture.

In the much darker opening scene of The Mandalorian (also in 4K and Dolby Vision) that crispness reveals itself again, complete with punch to lights and shine off helmets. There is enough gleam and sharpness to do justice to the series' high production values.

Even older titles that have been remastered in Full HD, such as Pete's Dragon (1977) and The Aristocats (1970) display a surprising amount of clarity, coherence and richness on our LG OLED.

Verdict

We are very impressed with the Disney Plus streaming service. This is a polished and personal streaming service that fans of Disney's output, both children and adults, are bound to enjoy.

With its rich and increasingly appealing catalogue, vast support for premium video and audio formats, not to mention wide device support and intuitive usability, Disney Plus has quickly established itself as a serious rival to the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. It doesn't have the gargantuan catalogues of those rivals, so is perhaps still best viewed as a 'second' service in a household (for those who can afford multiple subscriptions), but we wouldn't want to be without it.

Thanks to quality Disney Originals and plenty of exclusive theatrical releases, Disney Plus seems to have found its own particular niche and looks very much set to stay living happily ever after in the competitive video streaming world.

Review published: 2020. Review updated: November 2024.

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Our guide to getting the best VPN for streaming

Hellraiser (2022) is available to stream now exclusively on Hulu in the US but that doesn't mean that you can't watch it from wherever you happen to be. What's more the original Hellraiser film from 1987 is also online and free to watch to anyone. What better time to brush up on your brutal horror before dipping into the reimagined Clive Barker classic? With David Bruckner in the director’s chair, Hellraiser (2022) takes up the essence of the original but in an interesting twist, casts a female Cenobite as the iconic villain Pinhead. Intrigued? You know where that gets you. Here's how to watch Hellraiser (2022) from anywhere in the world, and Hellraiser (1987) too.

Hellraiser (2022) reimagines Clive Barker’s original movie, based on his novel, The Hellbound Heart, in which a man buys a puzzle box in Morocco and accidentally unleashes the Cenobites, a group of sadistic supernatural beings from another dimension, who then go on to wreak havoc and terror on everyone who is unlucky enough to meet them.

Leading the fresh cast in charge of delivering the deliciously dangerous gore is Jamie Clayton (Sense8 and The L Word: Generation Q’s) in the role of the Hell Priest and Odessa A'zion (Fam, Nashville and Grand Army) as Riley, a young woman struggling with addiction who comes into possession of the ancient puzzle box.

Hellraiser (2002) is a Hulu original and it premiered on 7th October on as part of their annual Huluween celebration. Horror fans in the US can watch free with Hulu's 30-day free trial. Follow our guide for how to watch the new Hellraiser free from anywhere in the world.

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Watch Hellraiser (2022) free online with Hulu

The new Hellraiser movie arrived on Hulu at at 12am PT/ 3am ET / 8am BST on Friday, 7th October in the US.

US subscribers currently away from home should use a VPN to watch Hellraiser (2022) on Hulu from abroad.

Subscription to Hulu costs from $6.99 a month but new users get a FREE 1-month trial to catch Hellraiser plus content like Under the Banner of Heaven, The Kardashians, or Only Murders in the Building.

Or, for even more value for money, you can pick up Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ for just $13.99 a month with the Disney Plus bundle subscription, offering you tons of extra film and TV content in addition to live sports.

You can watch Hulu on nearly anything, with the Hulu app available for: Android and iOS devices, Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Echo Show and Fire TV devices, select smart TVs and Android TVs, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Mac, PC and Roku streamers. So, whatever your platform, you can take advantage of that Hulu free trial today.

Watch Hellraiser (1987) for free

In related good news, those in the US and UK can also watch the original film for free. Hellraiser (1987) is available to stream free online on Pluto.TV (US) and Freevee (UK). You don't even need to sign up to anything. Just head on over and get watching!

Watch Hellraiser (2022) from abroad with a VPN

Even if you have subscribed to Hulu, you won't be able to watch Hellraiser (2022) if you're outside the US. The service will know your location based on your IP address, and will automatically block your access.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) helps you get around this obstacle. A VPN creates a private connection between your device and the internet, and can fool streaming services into thinking that you're located somewhere else in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. As a rule, we’d suggest a paid-for service such as ExpressVPN which we feel is the best VPN. It offers a 100 percent risk-free money back guarantee. If you're not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

How to use a VPN for Hellraiser (2022)

Using a VPN to watch Hellraiser (2022) is straightforward.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. ExpressVPN is the one we recommend.

2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access. For The Handmaid's Tale S5, you may wish to choose 'Australia' to access SBS.

3. Then head over to Hulu on your browser or device and enjoy Hellraiser (2022).

If, for whatever reason, you can't get it working, then do remember that you have the comfort of a 30-day money back guarantee with ExpressVPN. You could also try NordVPN, which also comes with a 30-day money back guarantee, and Surfshark which offers 24 hour assistance.

Hellraiser (2022) official trailer

Can I watch Hellraiser (2022) in the UK?

Sadly, there have been no announcements about the premiere of the new Hellraiser movie in the UK.

However, if you're a Hulu subscriber and find yourself away from home and unable to access Hulu due to geo-blocking restrictions in the UK, you can purchase a VPN you to watch this and all your favourite movies and TV shows online, no matter where in the world you are.

Watch Hellraiser (2022) in Australia

Good news for Australians: on Wednesday, 26th October the Hellraiser (2022) arrives on Paramount Plus!

A monthly subscription to Paramount Plus costs AUD$8.99, and offers up TV series like NCIS: Hawaii, horror-thriller Yellowjackets, and Dexter: New Blood, in addition to live sports, Paramount Originals and ViacomCBS content, plus films fresh from cinemas. Even better, new subscribers can enjoy a 7-day FREE trial before paying a single Aussie dollar.

If you're travelling away from Australia at that time, you’ll be relieved to know that a VPN will let you watch Hellraiser online from anywhere in the world.

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The Dropout – the drama based on the true story of tech faker and Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes – premiered on Thursday, 3rd March, and the whole season is available to watch online and on-demand now. Loved Inventing Anna? The Dropout has your name written all over it. Don't miss the 30-day free trial of Hulu if you're in the States. Those elsewhere should subscribe to Disney Plus.

Money, romance, tragedy, deception – The Dropout is the story of Elizabeth Holmes (Amanda Seyfried) and Theranos, an unbelievable tale of Silicon Valley ambition and fame gone horribly wrong. How did the world’s youngest self-made billionaire bluff her way to the top – and then lose it all in the blink of an eye?

The Dropout features an all-star cast including Stephen Fry as Ian Gibbons, a British biochemist who is one of the few people who know that Holmes' pioneering blood testing machine, Edison, doesn't actually work. Naveen Andrews (Lost) plays Sunny Balwani, Holmes' boyfriend and Theranos COO, while William H. Macy is Richard Fuisz, the American inventor who eventually helps to expose the lie.

The Dropout premieres with three episodes on 3rd March. Fans in the US can watch free with Hulu's 30-day free trial. Follow our guide to watch The Dropout free from where you are...

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Watch The Dropout free online with Hulu

The first three episodes of The Dropout will be available to stream on Hulu in the States. The following five episodes will be released weekly.

Subscription to Hulu costs from $6.99 a month but new users get a 30-day free trial. In other words, you can watch most of The Dropout without paying a penny!

Hulu is typically only available in the US. You can also pick it up along with Disney+ and ESPN+ for $13.99 as part of the Disney Bundle subscription.

Watch The Dropout in the UK

The Dropout will stream on the Disney+ Star channel in the UK. The first three episodes will be available from Thursday 3rd March 2022.

Subscription to Disney+ costs £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year. Currently, there is no free trial.

Watch The Dropout in Australia

You can stream The Dropout on Disney+ in Australia, from 3rd March 2022. Subscription costs from AU$11.99 a month or $119.99 a year. That gets you access to a host of hit TV shows including Pam & Tommy.

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The Dropout episode guide & release dates

Episode 1: I’m in a Hurry — March 3rd 2022

Episode 2: Satori — March 3rd 2022

Episode 3: Green Juice — March 3rd 2022

Episode 4: Old White Men — March 10th 2022

Episode 5: Flower of Life — March 17th 2022

Episode 6: Iron Sisters — March 24th 2022

Episode 7: Heroes — March 31st 2022

Episode 8: Lizzy – April 7th 2022

The Dropout official trailer

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Amazon produces some of the most affordable and, in our testing experience, most effective streaming devices on the market. The Product of the Year-winning Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2nd Generation is proof of this, and there are many other streaming sticks in the range to choose from.

While they're generally some of the most affordable AV products that find their way into our testing room, you can still find savings to get an even better deal on these affordable streaming devices.

We've rounded up the best deals on each member of the Amazon Fire TV Stick family, and we've even added the flagship Fire TV Cube 3rd Generation for good measure, too.

You'll find the best savings here, with discounts often running year-round, meaning you won't have to wait for Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day to roll around to get the best price.

• Should you buy an Amazon Fire TV?

Amazon Fire TV Stick HD (3rd Generation)

Launch price: £40 / $35 / not available in Australia

Likely the best streamer for most people, Amazon has refined its Fire TV Stick lineup by merging the Fire TV Stick Lite and previous generation Fire TV Stick into this: the 2024 Fire TV Stick HD.

It now includes the latest Alexa Voice Remote in the box, allowing you to interact with the voice assistant to find movies and TV shows easily. As the name suggests, the Fire TV Stick HD streams in 1080p, though HDR is supported in the HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG formats.

You also have Dolby Audio on board, though not the Atmos immersive variety, unfortunately. This streamer should suffice for most, though, and it supports all of the major streaming apps on Fire OS.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select

Launch price: £50 / $40 / AU$89

The newest addition to Amazon's Fire TV lineup, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, is the least expensive 4K-capable streamer in the brand's lineup. As expected, sacrifices have been made to reach this cheaper price point.

It drops support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, though HDR10+ partially compensates for the former, and the latter is replaced with Dolby-encoded audio via HDMI pass-through.

As it sits below the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus (the Plus suffix was added with the introduction of the Select), it also features Wi-Fi 5 rather than Wi-Fi 6, and a few features, such as picture-in-picture, have been dropped.

Finally, this is the first model in Amazon's lineup to use its new Vega OS software system. It functions almost identically to Fire OS, however, it was built to be a more secure platform and limit the ability to side-load apps from outside the Amazon App Marketplace.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus (2nd Generation)

Launch price: £60 / $50 / AU$79

If you have a 4K TV, then 2023’s second generation of Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device could be worth a look.

We haven’t tested this latest generation of Fire TV Stick 4K out, but we gave the previous 2021 model an Award and a five-star review, calling it the benchmark for streaming sticks at the time.

The Alexa Voice Remote has a range of convenient voice control capabilities, plus the device comes with support for Wi-Fi 6, Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos for immersive audio.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation)

Launch price: £70 / $60 / AU$119

The latest second generation of Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the most powerful Fire TV Stick to date, featuring and support for Wi-Fi 6E for faster 4K streaming than other Fire TV Sticks.

With 16Gb, it also offers the most storage of any Fire TV Stick, and there’s also a new, faster 850MHz GPU. Packed with the stick comes the Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced, for convenient control over your TV, soundbar, and receiver.

The remote features a dedicated channel and preset buttons for hassle-free surfing and shortcuts. Alongside all of this, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max also supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ capabilities.

Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Generation)

Launch price: £140 / $140 / AU$219

Moving on from Sticks to the Cube. Amazon labels this as its “fastest-ever streaming media player”.

Featuring an octa-core processor, it is said to be twice as powerful as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. As such, this is Amazon's most serious piece of streaming hardware, and it's designed to act as a large-scale entertainment hub as a result.

It supports a range of HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. It also supports Wi-Fi 6E for faster, smoother streaming, should your router allow for it.

In our full review, we deemed it a bit of a disappointment compared to the competition, namely the Apple TV 4K (2022), when it comes to picture and sound performance, though we can't fault its featureset.

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Prey – the new Predator sequel set in the Comanche Nation in 1719 and starring Amber Midthunder – is now available to watch online and on TV. The nail-biting sci-fi action flick, based on the original Predator movie, streams on Hulu in the US (use this free 30-day trial) and on Disney Plus elsewhere. Follow this guide to watch Prey online from wherever you are.

The fifth installment of the Predator franchise winds the clock back 300 years, to a time when the Comanche rule the forests and prairies. The movie follows skilled female warrior/badass Naru, played by actress Amber Midthunder (herself a member of the Fort Peck Sioux Tribe), as she fights to protect her tribe against an high-tech alien and smash the patriarchy.

Prey compares very favourably to John McTiernan’s 1987 film. The Telegraph says that the film offers up "the most thrilling opponent the Predator's had since Arnold Schwarzenegger" and raves about Midthunder's "thunderously bloody" performance as Naru. The Independent is similarly smitten, adding that Prey is a "brutal, pulse-quickening Predator prequel" that "succeeds by ditching the nostalgia". 

If you like intense, axe-based action Prey could be perfect weekend viewing. Better yet, viewers in the US can watch Prey free with Hulu's 30-day trial. Here's how to watch Hulu from wherever you are.

Watch Prey free online with a 30-day trial

In the US, Prey is exclusive to streaming service Hulu. The movie will be available from Friday 5th August. 

Subscription to Hulu costs from $6.99 a month and new users get a 30-day free trial.

Love a bargain? The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ bundle gets you all three streaming services for just $13.99 a month – that's a tidy saving of 36% on the typical monthly price. You don't, however, get a free trial.

Watch Prey on Disney Plus in the UK and Australia

In the UK and Australia, Prey is exclusive to Disney Plus. The movie is now available as of Friday 5th August.

Subscription to Disney Plus costs from £7.99/AU$11.99 a month. Want a better deal? You can get 12 months for the price of 10 when you sign up for an annual subscription.

Prey official trailer

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Student life is hard, financially speaking, but there are plenty of discounts on streaming services to help you along. Given how much music, TV and movie content they offer, at these reduced fees (sometimes as much as 75 per cent off), they're a bargain.

Amazon, Tidal, Apple, Spotify... everyone's after a slice of the student dollar. Take advantage of these deals, and you can save a packet every month on all your entertainment needs...

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Am I eligible for a student discount?

In general, you're going to need a .edu email address to qualify for a student subscription price, so if your school doesn't offer one of those, you might be out of luck. More and more, though, services offering student discounts are using third-party verification services which, upon you entering your details, 'verifies' that you're a student.

For more information to see if you are eligible for a student discount, just follow the links below and check out support pages as necessary. And even if you end up being one of the unlucky few students that can't apply, many universities have deals with companies to offer products and services to students for cheap or free, so make sure to investigate the resources your university provides.

Not every student discount out there is especially generous, but anything is always better than nothing, so make sure to find out if you can get verified as a student, because more money in your pocket each month adds up fast.

In no particular order, here are the very best student discounts around you can use to save money while you're at university...

How to get a Spotify student discount

Spotify's student bundle packs in Spotify Premium and Hulu (with ads) for $6 a month. With both music and TV content covered, it's a bit of a no-brainer.

Anyone over the age of 18 who is enrolled at a US Title IV accredited college or university is eligible. You can get access up to 12 months from the date you subscribed, and to remain subscribed after that (you can get the student price for a maximum of three years), you'll need to re-verify their eligibility.

To sign up, though, you don't just need an .edu address; you'll need to get verified as a student through a service called SheerID.

How to get an Apple Music (and Apple TV+) student discount

Apple offers up not just Apple Music with a student discount but bundles in Apple TV+ too, for a total of $6 a month for the two services combined, giving you your ultimate fill of Apple music and video content. This is a saving of $14 a month, which quickly adds up.

You can sign up for this student discount from Apple for Apple Music for up to 48 months (four years), while Apple TV+ is included for a limited time. Each year, you'll have to reverify your student status with Apple, and to apply you've got be a student studying for a bachelor's degree, post-graduate degree, or be pursuing an equivalent Higher Education course at a college.

Signing up also requires more than just a .edu email address, with Apple relying on SheerID to verify student status.

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How to get an Amazon Prime student discount

Amazon has a great student package called Prime Student. This is basically Amazon Prime, which includes shipping deals, Prime Video, Prime Music, Amazon Photos, and more. When you sign up, you'll get Prime Student for free for six months, and then you'll get a hefty 50 per cent off discount, with an annual cost of $69 ($5.75 a month).

Amazon has one of the less restrictive student verification programs, simply requiring a .edu email address you'll use to verify your student status. Amazon also doesn't require you to reverify student status on a routine schedule, and you'll easily be able to enjoy Prime Student for the duration of your undergraduate life and maybe beyond.

How to get a Tidal student discount

Tidal's student discount offers students higher-quality music streaming than Spotify for just $5 per month.

The Student tier is currently $4.99 a month, but will go up to $5.49 on 19th August. It's the equivalent of the Tidal HiFi tier, which gives you CD-quality tracks, so long as you're a high school or college student over 16 years of age. Plus, you'll also get a free 30-day trial when you sign up.

You'll need to reverify your student status every year, and Tidal verifies student status through SheerID. Though, of course, depending on whether you're a high school or college student, your verification requirements will vary. Tidal is one of the few major streaming services that extends its student discount to high schoolers, which can then be extended throughout college, which is a fantastic way to experience Tidal for cheap.

How to get a Hulu student discount

The best way to get a Hulu student discount is to sign up for a student discount on Spotify Premium, which will nab you Hulu (with ads) alongside Spotify Premium for $6 a month. Though you can also sign up for a student discount on Hulu (with ads) directly through Hulu for $2 a month. That saves you $6 a month over a normal subscription.

Students enrolled in graduate or advanced degree programs at Title IV accredited colleges in the U.S. are eligible for the Hulu student discount, and you'll have to apply to be verified as a student through the now-familiar SheerID service, much like other student discounts.

Does Netflix have a student discount?

No! It doesn't. Netflix doesn't even offer free trials. Netflix might have the very best original streaming content out there, but the service is going to cost you. Plus thanks to its much-publicised crackdown on account sharing, students can't even watch their parents' account away from home.

Though, this could always change. Free trials, discounts, sales, and the like aren't hard and fast policies that never change, so could be that Netflix does eventually introduce a student discount, but you'll have to keep your eyes peeled. Rest assured, if the service does add a discount, we'll update this page.

As it stands today, you'll have to sign up for a traditional Netflix account at the starting price of $6.99 a month to stream with adverts.

Does Disney+ have a student discount?

Nope! Not at all. However, Disney+ has run student discount promotions in the past through the UNiDAYS site, so it's possible that you'll be able to one day get a student discount there again. Plus, since Hulu fully supports student discounts, and since Hulu is owned by Disney, there's some precedence for Disney streaming services getting student discounts.

Disney+ isn't as expensive or stingy as Netflix can be, so there's probably a decent chance that if you wait long enough you'll be able to grab Disney+ at a student discount.

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Pistol – Danny Boyle's minisieres biopic on the rise and fall of the Sex Pistols – is available to watch now. The six-part TV show follows the journey of the band as based on the recent autobiography of Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones. The miniseries is available in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, as well as Latin America. Here's how to watch Pistol wherever you happen to be.

Pistol stars Toby Wallace, Anson Boon, Louis Partridge, Jacob Slater and Christian Lees as the Sex Pistols themselves while the story also brings in cast of actors playing the likes of Nancy Spungen, Siouxsie Sioux, Chrissie Hynde, Malcolm McLaren, Billy Idol and even Richard Branson.

Sex Pistols leader singer John Lydon has not been impressed branding the miniseries as "the most disrespectful [insert expletive here] I've ever had to endure" and went so far as to start legal action to make sure that none of the group's music could be used in the show. He lost, and that's our gain as we get to hear tracks from the Sex Pistols' one and only studio album throughout, plus many more besides.

All six episodes of Pistol dropped at once on 31st May. From 8am BST (3.01am ET / 2.01am PT / 5pm AEST) the lot became available to can binge in one go. Fans in the US can watch Pistol free with Hulu's 30-day free trial. For everyone else it's on Disney Plus. Follow our guide for the full details of how to watch Pistol from where you are.

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Watch Pistol free online with Hulu

All six episodes of Pistol are available to stream on Hulu in the States now.

Subscription to Hulu costs from $6.99 a month but new users get a 30-day free trial. In other words, you can watch all of Pistol without paying a penny. Just cancel after the trial if you want

If you're serious about keeping Hulu, though, the better deal is to get Hulu as part of the Disney Bundle which includes both Disney+ and ESPN+ too for $13.99 per month

Watch Pistol in the UK

Pistol streams on the Disney+ Star channel in the UK. All six episodes became available on Tuesday 31st May 2022 at 8am.

Subscription to Disney+ costs £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year. Currently, there is no free trial.

Watch Pistol in Australia 

You can stream Pistol on Disney+ in Australia, from 31st May 2022. Subscription costs from AU$11.99 a month or $119.99 a year. That gets you access to a host of hit TV shows including Pam & Tommy.

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Pistol official trailer

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Conversations with Friends – the hit Gen Z drama from the makers of Normal People – is available now on BBC iPlayer. All 12 episodes are free to watch in the UK. Away this week? Follow our guide to watch a free Conversations with Friends live stream from abroad with a VPN.

Conversations with Friends, the TV adaption of Sally Rooney's bestselling novel, follows observant Frances and her outspoken ex-girlfriend Bobbi (Sasha Lane) as they perform spoken word poetry in Dublin. It’s at one of their shows that they meet Melissa (Jemima Kirke), an older writer, and her actor husband, Nick (Joe Alwyn), who will come to weave a tangled web of infidelity and lies.

If you like the idea of a millennial, Normal People-style take on Jane Austen's Emma, helmed by an Oscar-nominated director, Conversations with Friends is for you. It's not short on emerging talent, either; namely Sasha Lane (American Honey, The Miseducation Of Cameron Post) and Jemima Kirke (Sex Education, Girls).

Every episode of Conversations with Friends is out now and free to watch on BBC iPlayer. Make sure you know how to watch a Conversations with Friends live stream from where you are.

Watch Conversations with Friends free online now

In the UK, all 12 episodes of Conversations with Friends are free to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Simply sign up for a BBC account with an email address and a UK postcode (e.g. W1A 1AA). Done? You're good to go!

Of course, BBC iPlayer is only available within the UK (and with a valid TV licence).

Outside the UK? Simply use a VPN to access BBC iPlayer from overseas. Using a VPN is easy – simply follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Watch Conversations with Friends from abroad using a VPN

Even if you have a BBC account, you won't be able to access Conversations with Friends when outside the UK. The service will know your location based on your IP address, and will automatically block your access.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) helps you get around this obstacle. It creates a private connection between your device and the internet. There are lots of VPNs to choose from, but we think ExpressVPN is one of the very best...

How to use a VPN for Conversations with Friends

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. ExpressVPN is the one we recommend.

2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access. For Conversations with Friends, you may wish to choose 'UK' for BBC iPlayer.

3. Then head over to BBC iPlayer on your browser or device and enjoy Conversations with Friends live stream free of charge.

If, for whatever reason, you can't get it working, do remember that you have the comfort of a 30-day money back guarantee with ExpressVPN. You could also try NordVPN, which also comes with a 30-day money back guarantee, and Surfshark which offers 24 hour assistance.

US: Conversations with Friends live stream

In the US, all 12 episodes of Conversations with Friends are available on Hulu. The show debuted on 12th May, the same day it aired in the UK.

Subscription to Hulu costs from $6.99 a month but new users get a 30-day free trial. You can also subscribe to Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ for $13.99, as part of the Disney Bundle subscription.

Don't forget: UK nationals who are outside the UK can watch Conversations with Friends free of charge on BBC iPlayer using a VPN. Instructions just above.

Australia: Conversations with Friends live stream

In Australia, Amazon Prime Video will stream Conversations with Friends from Monday 16th May 2022.

New subscribers get a 30-day free trial. After that, Prime Video costs AU$6.99 a month or AU$59 a year.

Don't forget: UK nationals who are outside the UK can watch Conversations with Friends free of charge on BBC iPlayer using a VPN. Instructions just above.

Canada: Conversations with Friends live stream

In Canada, Amazon Prime Video stream Conversations with Friends from Monday 16th May 2022.

New subscribers get a 30-day free trial. After that, Prime Video costs $9.99 CAD a month (Quebec residents receive an initial 2-month membership for CDN$ 9.99, instead of a free trial).

Don't forget: UK nationals who are outside the UK can watch Conversations with Friends free of charge on BBC iPlayer using a VPN. Instructions just above.

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Conversations with Friends official trailer

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It's not always possible to head to the cinema with friends or go round to a pal's place to enjoy some TV together. That's why Netflix Party was invented; although, the service has since rebranded to Teleparty.

If you didn't try it out during lockdown, Teleparty is a way of watching Netflix together while staying apart, all from the comfort of your respective homes.

The reason for the name change is that the service has since expanded to support YouTube, Hulu, Disney+, Max, and Prime Video, while even more services are supported if you sign up for Teleparty's premium service.

Here we'll show you what Teleparty can do, how it works, and how to use it.

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What is Teleparty?

Teleparty is an extension for the Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Opera browsers – and there's a free version as well as an Android app.

Install it, then head to the web versions of Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Disney+, Max, or Prime Video to sync your streaming with friends so that the film or TV show you've all chosen starts at the same time for all of you. 

On the app, once you've signed into your streaming service of choice, it's just a couple of taps between you and your friends watching something.

Once it begins, you can all watch the same thing together as well as chat with Teleparty's text chat feature. If you're looking for even more features, you can sign up for Teleparty's premium subscription.

This will run you $3.99/month or $47.88 annually, and you'll get support for additional streaming services, like Apple TV, Crunchyroll, Paramount+, Peacock, ESPN+, Hotstar, and Star+. But that's not all that comes with premium.

You also get voice and video chat, chat badges, nickname customization, and additional reactions you can use while chatting. Teleparty also adds new features to its premium service over time, so keep an eye out if you sign up.

What can you do with Teleparty?

Teleparty lets you all watch at the same time through your individual accounts. It also includes a way to chat with your friends while watching.

You can type to chat with your friends – comment on the film/TV show, ask them how they are, talk about the weather, send hugs, or say whatever you like. Naturally, you can send GIFs, emoji, and screengrabs, too. Voice and video options are available with the premium version of Teleparty.

There is a limit to the number of people that one Teleparty can hold, but it's a whopping 1000! Good luck organising that and do send us the pics. You can Teleparty with anyone across the globe, but do bear in mind that the same TV show or film might not be available in every country.

Also, those conscious of privacy will be pleased to know that Teleparty does not store messages or chat histories of its users.

What devices does Teleparty work on?

The Teleparty extension works on laptop and desktop computers, both Macs and PCs. There's also an Android app, which you can download from the Google Play Store. According to Teleparty, support for other devices, like iPhones and iPads, is coming soon, so stay tuned.

When it comes to video quality, Teleparty supports streaming in HD; however, Teleparty supports up to 4K streaming on the Microsoft Edge browser.

How do you use Teleparty?

It's easy. On your computer, install the free Teleparty extension from the Google Chrome Store, the Teleparty extension on the Edge Web Store, or on Opera. 

Then, open up Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Disney+, Max, or Prime Video, and start watching a video. It can be a film, show, documentary, or anything else.

The Teleparty extension icon next to the address bar in your browser window should have changed from grey to red. Click it, then follow the instructions in the pop-up window to start a Teleparty. Then, send the link to your friends.

On Android, download the Teleparty app from the Google Play Store. Once installed, you'll need to sign into your streaming service of choice within the app. After signing in, you'll be in a party and can tap 'invite' to add friends.

You can either take total control over the video playback or leave it open to anyone in the party. It's like leaving the remote control on the table for anyone to use. You'll be assigned an icon to represent yourself, sort of like an avatar. You can change this if you like, along with your nickname.

Those invited to join will also need to install the Teleparty extension or app. 

And there you go. Happy watching!

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Disney Plus now has almost 130 million customers, the company has announced. It finished 2021 with 129.8 million paying subscribers, up 11.8 million on the previous quarter.

When Disney Plus launched at the end of 2019, Disney said it hoped to reach between 60 and 90 million customers within four years. Now it has more than doubled the lower part of that estimate in a little over two years.

While it still lags behind Netflix's 222 million subscribers, it's certainly catching up fast. Especially considering Netflix has been in operation for 24 years, and has been offering content to stream since 2007.

In Disney's latest financial report, CEO Bob Chapek said: "This marks the final year of The Walt Disney Company’s first century, and performance like this coupled with our unmatched collection of assets and platforms, creative capabilities, and unique place in the culture give me great confidence we will continue to define entertainment for the next 100 years."

Disney also announced some new content on the horizon. The Star Wars series Obi-Wan Kenobi, which sees Ewan McGregor reprise his role as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi, debuts on Disney Plus on 25th May. The series also sees Hayden Christensen return as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, alongside series newcomers Moses Ingram (The Queen's Gambit) and Kumali Nanjiani (Silicon Valley).

It's also bringing back Futurama. The sci-fi animation – created by Matt Groening of The Simpsons fame – will come to Hulu in the US in 2023 and Disney Plus Star internationally.

Before then, subscribers can look forward to Steven Spielberg's West Side Story, which launches on Disney Plus on 2nd March. The film was recently nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.

This week the Disney-owned Pixar released the first trailer for Lightyear, the origin story of the human space ranger who inspired Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear toy. It launches in cinemas on 17th June, but Disney hasn't yet said whether it's an exclusive theatrical release.

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Critics are calling Pam & Tommy, the steamy eight-part drama starring Lily James and Sebastian Stan, "the first must-watch show of 2022". The series documents the crazy romance between Baywatch star Pamela Anderson and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, during which time their sex tape was leaked to the world. 

The first three episodes of Pam & Tommy premiered on Hulu in the US and Disney Plus in the UK on 2nd February 2022. New Hulu users get a 30-day free trial. Here's how to watch Pam & Tommy from anywhere.

Set in the 'Wild West' early days of the internet, Pam & Tommy follows the story of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee's relationship, going back to their whirlwind romance that started with them marrying after only knowing each other for 96 hours in 1995.

Voyeuristic, lurid and surprisingly funny (it was written by Knocked Up's Seth Rogan, among others), Pam & Tommy reveals the incredible true story of how a petty dispute over a maintenance issue at the rock star's mansion led to the unauthorised release of a sex tape recorded privately during the couple's honeymoon.

Fun fact #1: Tommy Lee gave producers his approval to make the show, Pamela Anderson did not. Fun fact #2: Pam & Tommy is rated 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, so you're in for a rollicking ride.

The first three episodes of Pam & Tommy launched on Hulu in the US and Disney+ in the UK on 2nd February. Subsequent episodes will be released weekly. Episode 4 is out on 9th February. New Hulu users get a 30-day free trial, so make sure you know how to watch a free Pam & Tommy live stream from anywhere.

How to watch Pam & Tommy online for free

In the US, all eight episodes of Pam & Tommy will stream on Hulu. Subscriptions start at $6.99 a month, but new users get a generous 30-day free trial.

Hulu also offers a 'no ads' plan for $13.99 a month, and Hulu/Disney+/ESPN bundle for $79.99. As ever, new users get a 30-day free trial.

Pam & Tommy trailer

How to watch Pam & Tommy in the UK

Pam and Tommy will be available in the UK on Disney+, under the Star section, on Wednesday 2nd February 2022.

Subscription to Disney+ costs £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year. Currently, there is no free trial.

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How to watch Pam & Tommy in Australia

Pam and Tommy airs on Disney+ in Australia. The series premieres on Wednesday 2nd February 2022.

Subscription to Disney+ costs AU$11.99 a month or $119.99 a year. That includes access to Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, Disney and National Geographic content.

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Pam & Tommy full episode guide

Episode 1: "Drilling and Pounding" — Wednesday, 2nd February 2022

Episode 2: "I Love You, Tommy" — Wednesday, 2nd February 2022

Episode 3: "Jane Fonda" — Wednesday, 2nd February 2022

Episode 4: TBC — Wednesday, 9th February 2022

Episode 5: TBC — Wednesday, 16th February 2022

Episode 6: TBC — Wednesday, 23rd February 2022

Episode 7: TBC — Wednesday, 2nd March 2022

Episode 8: TBC — Wednesday, 9th March 2022

• Fancy an upgrade? Here are the best TVs
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Roku sticks and streamers are an easy way to add missing apps and video streaming services to your TV, or add a smart platform to an otherwise non-internet-enabled television.

Roku has been in the media streamer game for longer than most and the US-based company is still in it for some very good reasons. Not only does Roku OS offer a virtually complete set of TV apps, it also happens to be one of the most straightforward and easy to use TV interfaces out there.

While you can buy the Roku system already integrated into a Roku TV, you can add the Roku OS to any set by plugging a Roku stick or streamer into an HDMI socket. It really is that simple.

Read on for our complete guide to what the Roku streaming platform offers and, if you're ready to take the plunge, where to find the best Roku stick deals.

What is Roku?

Roku is one of the most popular streaming platforms alongside Apple TV, Fire TV and Google TV.

Roku offers access to almost all the major subscription services, including, but not limited to – deep breath – Prime Video, Netflix, Apple TV, Disney+, Now, Hulu, Showtime, Sling TV, HBO Go/Now, CBS All Access and ESPN, and, in the UK, all of the terrestrial catch-up services, Sky Store, BT Sport and Britbox.

Of course you'll need to subscribe to any premium services you want to watch, as Roku – much like Amazon Fire and Apple TV – is simply a gateway to these streaming services. But the choice is impressive.

Roku does also offer apps with free content, such as YouTube (for the time being), Crackle, PBS Kids and its own The Roku Channel. You also get PAYG and rental services such as FandangoNOW, Vudu and Google Play.

Beyond those, there are thousands of more niche services and channels that are great to discover. Golf, skateboarding, board games, kung-fu films – name your interest and you'll find something on Roku dedicated to just that. If there's anything you can't find you can always cast content from your tablet or mobile over AirPlay and mirror from Android too.

Beyond the content, the other great joy of Roku OS is that it's fabulously easy to use, with one of the best universal search facilities you'll find on a smart TV platform.

We also really like the Private Listen feature. Attach a set of headphones to a device with the Roku app on it (i.e. your phone or tablet) and you have all your TV's audio come through your cans instead of your TV. It's perfect for late night viewing and just the ticket if your TV is short of a headphones socket.

The only issue to bear in mind with Roku is, hopefully, a temporary one. Google and Roku have come to blows and the former is making moves to remove the YouTube apps from Roku OS, which is something of a pain. Whether or not this will actually materialise is another thing. Just make sure that you have an alternative way of getting YouTube on your screen just in case.

Sold? OK then. So which Roku streamer or Roku TV is best for you?

Should you buy a Roku stick?

There are various Roku sticks and streamers: there's the Roku Express, Roku Express 4K, Roku Streaming Stick+ and Roku Streaming Stick 4K to name just a few. There's also the Roku Streambar, which integrates the Roku streaming platform into a (small) soundbar-like speaker.

While all of these Roku sticks offer the same app and smart platform access, what differs is the video and audio quality that each one produces. While we haven't reviewed every Roku device, we can certainly still offer a guide to the general pros and cons of each.

Should you buy the Roku Express?

The Roku Express is the most affordable of the Roku streamers and it looks like something of a bargain. You get 1080p access to almost all the apps and video streaming services you could need as well as a load of those that you probably don't.

It can pass through both Dolby Audio and DTS sound to a compatible device and it, of course, still comes with the Roku remote control and full access to the mirroring technologies of Apple and Google.

Should you buy a Roku Express?

While prices are low, and when it's cheaper than the equivalent low-end Amazon Fire TV stick, there are few reasons not to. The only considerable caveat is that there are current threats from Google to pull the YouTube app from Roku OS, which would be a bit irritating if your TV does not already have YouTube access.

Should you buy a Roku LE (US-only)

At the time of writing, the Roku LE is available for just $15 at Walmart. It looks virtually identical to the Express apart from a different finish. At that price it appears to be a bargain.

Should you buy the Roku Express 4K? (UK-only)

One step up the range and about £10 more expensive (at full price) is the Roku Express 4K which, as the name suggests, brings 4K resolution to the Roku Express experience. That means 4K HDR (in the form of HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG) support for Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and a bunch of the Roku's other apps.

It can pass through Dolby Audio and DTS, as before, but there is also Night Mode and Volume Levelling, which will reduce the dynamics at given volumes and ensure you don't wake the neighbours while watching late night action flicks. You can also use the USB port on the Roku Express 4K for local file playback from a hard drive or USB stick.

Should you buy a Roku Express 4K?

Again, this one's going to come down to price comparison and whether or not you're bothered by the threat of the removal of YouTube. The prices to look at are between the Express 4K and the likes of the Amazon Fire Stick 4K and Chromecast with Google TV. Both of these other two devices – and the more expensive Roku sticks below – also support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. You should only be buying the Express 4K if it's cheaper than those.

Should you buy a Roku Express 4K+ (US-only)

The Roku Express 4K+ is not available in the UK but US shoppers get the option to buy what actually looks like a slightly better device than the one above.

It's largely the same as above – HDR support, 4K content, USB playback – but this time it also comes with a Roku voice remote. That means you can search by speaking into the remote control. That may not sound like a big deal but the more we use media streamers, the more we've come to rely on the speedier search that voice interaction offers.

Should you buy a Roku Express 4K+?

In short, yes, but, as above, you'll need to compare the price to the Amazon Fire Stick 4K and Chromecast with Google TV first.

Should you buy a Roku Streaming Stick+?

The Roku Streaming Stick+ will allow you to watch 4K HDR material and that includes HDR10+ content but not Dolby Vision. Unlike the standard Roku Express 4K, you get a handy voice remote too but this time there's no USB port available for local file playback. The audio codec support is the same.

Should you buy the Roku Streaming Stick+?

The shape is different and there's no USB but we'd say that the addition of voice control is worth the small extra spend over the Roku Express 4K. Again, though, YouTube support is currently in the balance and do make sure that the better Amazon Fire TV 4K and Chromecast devices aren't available at the same price (or for less).

Should you buy a Roku Streaming Stick 4K?

This is the current pinnacle of Roku sticks in the UK and it looks like it could be a good one. Spec-wise, it's the best of all the other Roku streamers, with the addition of Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos passthrough of particular appeal. It also comes with a Roku voice remote.

Should you buy the Roku Streaming Stick 4K?

As much as we like the Roku platform, it's difficult recommend the Streaming Stick 4K over the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K or Chromecast with Google TV at the moment because the prices are so similar and because you can guarantee YouTube access with the others. Of course, as we haven't yet tested it, we can't tell you how it compares to those others in terms of audio and video performance. It certainly could be the winner there, but we'd approach with a touch of caution – unless it gets a bigger discount than the others, of course.

Should you buy a Roku Streaming Stick 4K+? (US-only)

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ is a US-only edition of the Roku stick family. According to Roku, it's the same device as the Roku Streaming Stick 4K but with a better voice remote control.

How is it better? It's rechargeable, rather than disposable battery-operated. So, as long as you remember to charge it up every now and then, it's a greener, cleaner solution. But you won't, will you.

Should you buy a Roku Streaming Stick 4K+?

At the time of writing, the plain old Roku Streaming Stick 4K is way cheaper than this model with the rechargeable remote. If that's the case when you're looking to buy, then it seems obvious to go with the cheaper version. If prices are similar, then this would likely be the better choice.

Should you buy a Roku Ultra? (US-only)

The Roku Ultra is the top streamer for the States. It's listed in the US as the only one of the collection that can handle Dolby Atmos streams as well as providing Dolby Vision HDR support.

It comes with a voice remote, a premium HDMI cable included in the box and there's also a headphones socket onboard in case you'd like to plug in direct.

Should you buy a Roku Ultra?

If, indeed, as the marketing suggests, this is the only Atmos-enabled Roku streamer available in the States, then that's certainly a decent reason to choose it, provided you have a speaker that can put that Atmos content to use.

With the current price of the Ultra seriously reduced, the only competition here would be from Amazon or Google but there's little to separate these devices on paper.

Should you buy a Roku Streambar?

The Roku Streambar is the option for those who want a soundbar with the Roku smart platform built in. That means just one HDMI connection to your TV will give you an external speaker as well as access to all of the Roku apps and services.

The system comes with four 1.9-inch full-range drivers for sound – two forward and two side-facing. There's no Dolby Vision support nor any upward-facing drivers for Dolby Atmos sound. You can stream audio to it over Bluetooth as well as AirPlay and there's a USB for local playback as well. There is also an optical input. 

The voice remote is included with the UK but not US version.

Should you buy the Roku Streambar?

We gave the Roku Streambar a score of four stars at its full £130 so, should you find it cheaper, it would seem like very good value.

The feature set is obviously excellent and there's plenty of volume for a bigger audio performance than the one offered by the average TV. There are more cinematic-sounding bars, though.

Should you buy a Roku Streambar Pro? (US-only)

Those in the US can step the audio up a little with the Roku Streambar Pro. It's not a device we've had in for review but it certainly looks worthy of consideration.

The main bump over the standard Streambar is that this one is bigger, and that means bigger drive units with, one would expect, bigger and better sound.

The arrangement of those four drivers is similar but they're 2.5-inches across and there's some DSP (digital signal processing) inside to try to create a virtualised surround effect. There are also wireless surrounds and a subwoofer that can be added if you want to take things to the next level.

Should you buy the Roku Streambar Pro?

This is not one we've reviewed but bigger drive units and a voice remote are certainly welcome additions. The extra $30 or so seems, on paper, like money well spent.

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Roku TVs: Hisense and TCL

Of course, the other way to go with Roku is to buy a TV with the Roku platform built in. There's no stick required.

Generally speaking, these Roku TVs – made by TCL and Hisense – offer excellent value. Take a look to see if you should buy a Roku TV instead.

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Disney Plus and Netflix are battling it out for your eyeballs and your wallet, so before you dip into the latter, it's worth spending some time working out which streaming service is best for you. Join us as we compare the pros and cons of Disney Plus and Netflix.

Netflix launched in 1998, offering DVD rentals before switching to digital movie streaming in 2007. Since then, it has amassed a record-breaking 200 million subscribers, won a string of Emmys for original shows such as The Crown and – surely the icing on the cake – picked up a 2020 What Hi-Fi? Award.

Disney Plus entered the streaming wars in 2019 and has signed up over 100 million customers. The app provides content from the Disney 'family', which includes 20th Century Fox, Marvel, Pixar, National Geographic and Lucasfilm (home to everything Star Wars). 

Both offer impressive CVs, but what about picture and sound quality? And which offers the best original content? And the best interface? Which is better value for money? Read on for the answers...

Disney Plus vs Netflix: price

Assuming you want to stream shows in at least HD quality, Disney Plus is the cheaper service. The House of Mouse keeps things simple with a single subscription plan priced at £7.99 / $7.99 / AU$11.99 a month, or £79.90 / $79.99 / AU$119.99 a year. This includes access to HD, 4K and HDR content on up to four screens at once.  

Netflix offers users a choice of three plans. Netflix Standard, which includes HD viewing on up to two screens, costs £9.99 / $13.99 / AU$15.99 per month. Netflix Premium, which includes 4K viewing on up to four screens and is therefore the most comparable to Disney Plus's single tier, costs £13.99 / $17.99 / AU$19.99 a month. Not bothered about HD or 4K? Netflix Basic, which streams in only standard definition to just one screen, can be yours for £5.99 / $8.99 / AU$10.99 a month.

Disney Plus offers US customers the option to save money with the Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus bundle. It gets you access to all three Disney-owned streaming services for the bargain price of $13.99 per month.

*Winner* Disney Plus

Disney Plus vs Netflix: availability

You can stream Netflix and Disney Plus through almost any web browser, but most users opt to use the apps, both of which we rate highly. 

The Netflix app is so ubiquitous that some TVs' remote controls even have a dedicated Netflix button. The app is available on PCs and Macs, Google Chromecast, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV devices, Roku streamers, smart TVs, Sky Q, Xbox, PlayStation and Blu-ray players, in addition to most tablets and smartphones (whether Android or iOS). 

You can find the Disney Plus app on a similarly-exhaustive range of devices. Compatible devices include all of the above, apart from the odd Windows device. Up to four screens can stream simultaneously on one account, too, which is on a par with Netflix’s pricier Premium tier and better than Apple TV+’s and Amazon Prime Video’s three-screen limit.

That said, there's no doubt that Netflix is the most world's most widely-adopted streaming service. It's now available in over 190 countries, compared with Disney Plus' 36. 

*Winner* Netflix

Disney Plus vs Netflix: catalogue

Netflix delivers quality and quantity thanks to its vast library of over 6000 movies and TV shows – five times as many as Disney Plus. It's best known for true-crime originals such as The Jinx and Tiger King (season two of which is out on 17th November 2021, so get your mullet wig ready).

Netflix is also home to a ton of top TV franchises including (depending on where you live) The Office, Arrested Development, Stranger Things, Parks And Recreation, Line Of Duty, Bridgerton, Prison Break, Peaky Blinders, Community and The Queen's Gambit. The service dishes up a great selection of Oscar-winning movies, too, including The Iron Lady, 1917, The Social Network and The Departed. 

Disney Plus' catalogue might be five times smaller, but it's incredibly rich. It contains stellar titles from Disney and its subsidiaries – Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar and National Geographic – that includes everything from The Simpsons to Star Wars, as well as childhood favourites such as The Jungle Book. Its movie selection includes three of the four most profitable films ever made: Avatar, Avengers: Endgame and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. 

Disney Plus subscribers in Europe, Canada, New Zealand and the UK also get access to Star, a supplemental channel that offers "grown up" content from the ABC, FX and 20th Century Fox back-catalogues, plus originals such as the hotly-anticipated Dopesick, starring Michael Keaton and Rosario Dawson.

In the end, there's a good chance you'll be swayed by the exclusive content of one app or the other. Die-hard Star Wars fans on the hunt for a Skywalker fix will find Disney Plus hard to resist. Those who are desperate to watch Elizabeth Debicki play Princess Di in The Crown, or catch up with Tiger King Joe Exotic, will be attracted to Netflix.

*Winner* Draw 

Disney Plus vs Netflix: 4K HDR content

Want a high-quality picture to match your favourite high-quality drama or docu-series? Of course you do.

Disney Plus offers plenty of 4K HDR content (some originally mastered, some remastered). Titles in 4K HDR include Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Lion King (2019), Aladdin (2019) and Frozen. Indeed, even classics such as The Jungle Book are presented in Full HD with 5.1 audio. 

Netflix delivers a huge stack of 4K content – everything from The Crown to Snowpiercer. Type 'HDR' into the search box and you'll also find a list of HDR content such as Ricky Gervais' After Life. You'll see an HDR logo (or Dolby Vision logo, if your TV supports it) on relevant content. 

As for sound, Dolby Atmos is also available on a good portion of both Disney Plus and Netflix content.

*Winner* Draw

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Disney Plus vs Netflix: ease of use

The Netflix interface is simple and sprightly. You'll find it easy to browse, create a shortlist and enjoy Netflix’s more-hit-than-miss recommendations based on your previous viewing habits. You can establish multiple user profiles too, with parental locks available in order to prevent kids stumbling onto the latest gangster flick.

Disney Plus's interface is similar to Netflix's – and just as easy to use. Channels such as 'Recommended for You', 'Originals', ‘Marvel’, 'Star Wars' and ‘Mickey Mouse Through The Years’ make it fast to find something you want to watch. There's even a handy 'HDR' category (Netflix doesn't have a dedicated HDR section in the app, so that's one-up to Disney).

Both apps offer the facility to watch offline, making it easier to binge-watch shows on the go. Netflix users can have up to 100 downloads at a time; Disney Plus users can supposedly download an "unlimited number" of titles on the mobile app. It's not something we've tried, but we'll take the company's word for it.

*Winner* Draw

Disney Plus vs Netflix: verdict

What is there left to say about Netflix? It has a huge selection of original content, it's a doddle to use and its available on almost any device (including streaming sticks, smart TVs and games consoles). You're not left wanting when it comes to picture quality, either, as there's no shortage of things to watch in 4K and HDR.  There are, in short, plenty of reasons to cosy up on the couch with this 2020 What Hi-Fi? Award winner.

The Disney Plus catalogue doesn't have the same depth of content as Netflix, but it's heaving with an extraordinary bounty that ranges from The Simpsons to Star Wars, Frozen to Finding Nemo. It's significantly cheaper than Netflix (on the basis of HD and 4K viewing), a doddle to use and appeals to both adults and children. If Disney Plus can establish itself as a serious contender just two years after launching, the sky's the limit for this polished streaming service.

In the end, it's Disney Plus that takes the overall win – but only by a mouse's whisker.

*Overall winner* Disney Plus

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