Netflix has raised its US prices once again. This is the second price rise in 14 months, with the last one happening in January 2025.

The price rise only applies to the US for now. The new prices are as follows.

• Standard with Ads: $8.99 (was $7.99)
• Standard: $19.99 (was $17.99)
• Premium: $26.99 (was $24.99)

The prices apply to new customers immediately, while existing subscribers will pay the new prices from their next billing cycle. Existing customers will be notified a month ahead of time before the new charges apply.

It's a bold move by Netflix. Competition in the streaming space has never been fiercer, with Disney+ going great guns and HBO Max coming to more countries recently (including the UK).

Presumably Netflix has crunched the numbers and is confident that any loss in subscribers will be more than offset by the extra revenue the higher prices bring.

Netflix says these higher prices will allow it to invest in the service more. "Our approach remains the same: we continue offering a range of prices and plans to meet a variety of needs, and as we deliver more value to our members we are updating our prices to enable us to reinvest in quality entertainment and improve their experience," it told Variety in a statement.

Netflix recently walked away from a deal to buy Warner Bros Discovery. As Netflix CFO Spence Neumann recently pointed out at an investor conference, that leaves the streaming giant with "$2.8 billion in our pocket that we didn’t have a few weeks ago".

Cynics might say that should be more than enough to enable the company to invest in the service without raising prices for subscribers.

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HBO Max has now launched in the UK, and is free to Sky subscribers. It's also dropped the first trailer for its much-anticipated Harry Potter TV series, which you can watch below.

If you watched to the end you'll have seen a nice little surprise – the show will premiere on Christmas Day this year. Previously it was flagged as coming in 2027, so this should be a nice little treat for Potter fans.

And they include my son. Thank you, HBO Max. It should buy me a few hours' peace for a post-Christmas-lunch slumber.

It's not been announced whether the entire first series will drop on Christmas Day, or just the first episode. Please the former please the former please the former.

Each season of the new series will focus on one book, giving much greater scope than the Harry Potter films of the early 20th century. The first in the series is Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone.

Of course, there's a lot more to HBO Max than pubescent wizards. The network is know for its big-budget series like Game Of Thrones (and the spinoff House Of The Dragon), The Wire, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Boardwalk Empire.

HBO Max Basic with Ads is free to Sky Q customers, and those with Sky Glass or Sky Stream who have the Ultimate TV package. This HBO Max tier is limited to Full HD picture quality, lets you stream on two devices at once and doesn't include movies that stream on HBO Max following a cinema release.

Here's a full recap of the HBO Max tiers (plus TNT Sports).

• Basic with Ads (£4.99 per month): stream on two devices at once, limited to Full HD resolution. Doesn't include those movies that stream on HBO Max following a cinema release
• Standard with Ads (£5.99 per month): the same as Basic with Ads, but includes "all the best HBO Max shows and movies" and gives you 30 downloads a month for offline viewing
• Standard (£9.99 per month): the same as Standard with Ads but without the adverts
• Premium (£14.99 per month): this ups the quality to 4K with Dolby Atmos (where available), lets you stream on four devices at once and gives you 100 downloads a month
• TNT Sports (£30.99 per month): this brings all manner of live sports like 185 UEFA Champions League matches and every game in the Europa League and Conference League, plus some Premier League matches and tennis. This is in 4K and Dolby Atmos, and lets you stream on two devices at once

Sky customers can upgrade to a superior HBO Max tier if they wish, but it'll cost you. And those without Sky can take out a standalone subscription to HBO Max – the first time HBO shows have been available to non-Sky customers in the UK.

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As streaming services have surged in popularity over the last decade, we have also seen prices soar and additional tiers used as a way to ramp up subscription costs.

And Amazon Prime Video is the latest service to up its prices, with its ad-free tier going up from $2.99 to $4.99 in the US, starting from 10th April. This tier is also being rebranded as Amazon Prime Video Ultra.

Paying for this tier removes advertisements and gives you access to 4K content. You also get more offline downloads (100 rather than 25), the option of more concurrent streams (five instead of three), and Dolby Atmos audio.

However, this change does mean that 4K UHD content is now locked behind a paywall and no longer available through the 'free' package included with a Prime membership.

The tech giant says, “this structure aligns with other major streaming services while ensuring customers have the flexibility to choose how they want to watch”.

It’s certainly true that Amazon is far from the first company to remove 4K content from the basic tier, with Disney+ and Netflix both limiting 4K video to more expensive package options.

The price increase is only in the US for now but we'd be surprised if it didn't come across the pond to the UK at some point soon.

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Disney+ has started offering Dolby Vision once again in the UK and Europe after it dropped the HDR format last month. Subscribers to Disney+'s Premium tier in those regions can now watch shows and films in the format.

3D Disney+ content has also been restored to the Disney+ app on the Apple Vision Pro headset, as these are available in Dolby Vision.

Disney originally dropped Dolby Vision following a German patent dispute with US firm InterDigital.

Disney confirmed the news to FlatpanelsHD.

"Dolby Vision and 3D support have now been restored on Disney+," it said in a statement. "As a result of a lawsuit at a German patent court, we were forced to make changes to the availability of certain advanced video formats in Germany and other markets.

"We are disappointed that this was necessary, and we share our customers' frustration. We have worked as quickly as possible to implement solutions that ensure viewers the best possible experience on their devices and subscriptions."

In order to watch content in Dolby Vision, you will need to update your Disney+ app to the latest version.

Disney+ has three tiers: Standard and Standard with Ads only offer Full HD picture quality, while Premium has 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos audio.

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Disney+ prices are going up again – that's another reason to ditch streaming and embrace 4K Blu-ray

I do my best to stick to 4K Blu-rays where I can, but streaming now takes up the majority of my casual viewing.

There are plenty of reasons for this; quite a lot of the shows I'm watching right now, such as the so-far excellent third season of Shrinking on Apple TV and the hilarious HBO show I Love LA which is exclusive to Sky currently, aren't available anywhere else, and I could risk serious spoilers waiting for a physical release that may never come to fruition.

Furthermore, my schedule often revolves around sporadic trips around the globe to see the latest TV, home cinema and AV releases, meaning I'm far away from my Sony A80L OLED TV and UBP-X700 4K Blu-ray player. Here is where I revert to downloading shows to my iPhone 16 Pro or iPad Air 5th Generation.

Editor's note: Please forgive our senior staff writer's humblebrag...

As mentioned in a prior Adventure in AV that I wrote back in December of last year, I've dropped Netflix Premium in favour of Apple TV, and I haven't looked back since. Since then, I've continued to dig into Apple's excellent content library, and truthfully, I've barely touched Netflix.

Apple TV has become a close ally of mine on my travels, and I've been using it a lot at home as well, which has led me to a realisation that I hadn't considered before. Simply put, Apple TV just looks fantastic regardless of what screen I'm watching on.

I've watched the likes of F1, The Studio, Shrinking, The Morning Show, Slow Horses and Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars on various screens, from my iPhone's 6.3-inch display to my TV's 65-inch screen, and many other displays (OLED and LCD) in between, and the content has looked consistently great regardless.

This likely has something to do with Apple TV's higher bitrate capabilities. Whereas Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video average between about 10 and 25 Mbps, Apple TV averages around 25 to 40 Mbps; and with more available data, we get better quality video and sound.

Better still, downloading Apple TV content to watch offline with the high-quality download setting applied is a treat. Based on experience, content doesn't appear to be as compressed compared to the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime, which once again results in a much better picture experience.

Now, I should address the elephant in the room (or in my instance, the plane cabin). I predominantly use the Apple TV app on an Apple iPhone; therefore, I'd expect the optimisation between the software and hardware capabilities of my iPhone 16 Pro to be top-notch.

Streaming on an Android device may yield slightly different results, though I have streamed Apple TV content to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra (review coming soon) and didn't notice any sort of noticeable image downgrade during my viewing.

If you're jumping between screens at the same frequency as I am, then I'd once again recommend Apple TV for the best picture quality. Apple's content library has also caught up in recent years, so you'll find plenty of good shows and movies to watch as well.

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HBO Max hits the UK and Ireland next month, and we can think of plenty of reasons to subscribe. The White Lotus, Succession, The Pitt, Sinners, One Battle After Another... and then there's the Harry Potter series coming next year, which has been hailed the televisual event of the decade.

HBO Max will also be the new home of TNT Sports. Remember, this was previously BT Sport before the merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

And therein lies the issue. The world of streaming is so complicated, with mergers and acquisitions happening all the time, prompting name changes and constantly moving goal posts leading to multiple subscription options. HBO Max isn't helping, with another subscription to pay for and more decisions to make.

Here's everything you need to know.

What is HBO Max?

It's the streaming home of HBO, the US channel known for its marquee TV content such as Game Of Thrones, The Sopranos, Succession, Boardwalk Empire and so on.

HBO is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, and so screens films from Warner Bros Studios and DC Entertainment – the likes of Sinners, One Battle After Another, The Batman and Joker.

Isn't it just called Max?

Not any more. That was a rebranding exercise that didn't last.

What are the subscription options for HBO Max?

This is where it gets complicated. HBO Max offers five different options (four if you don't count TNT Sports). Here they are.

• Basic with Ads (£4.99 per month): stream on two devices at once, limited to Full HD resolution. Doesn't include those movies that stream on HBO Max following a cinema release
• Standard with Ads (£5.99 per month): the same as Basic with Ads, but includes “all the best HBO Max shows and movies” and gives you 30 downloads a month for offline viewing
• Standard (£9.99 per month): the same as Standard with Ads but without the adverts
• Premium (£14.99 per month): this ups the quality to 4K with Dolby Atmos (where available), lets you stream on four devices at once and gives you 100 downloads a month
• TNT Sports (£30.99 per month): this brings all manner of live sports such as 185 UEFA Champions League matches and every game in the Europa League and Conference League, plus some Premier League matches and tennis. This is in 4K and Dolby Atmos, and lets you stream on two devices at once

That's a lot to take in. As with Netflix and Prime Video, the cheapest tiers come with ads; but with HBO Max, the very cheapest tier doesn't even have all the content. The Basic with Ads tier omits movies that make it to the cinema before streaming on HBO Max. Which would include the big hitters from Warner Bros. and the DC universe.

The next tier up does include that content, but still has ads, and doesn't include 4K. To get rid of ads, you need the third tier up.

But if you want 4K visuals and Dolby Atmos audio (and you're reading this on whathifi.com, so it's quite likely that you do) you have to pony up £15 a month – that's £10 more than the cheapest tier. Which seems a bit of a cheek in this day and age. We long for the day when 4K/Atmos comes as standard.

So beware. Read the tiers carefully to make sure you know what you’re paying for. Otherwise you could be left without the movie you wanted, watching ads, and only in HD. And no one wants that.

Isn't there a simpler option?

There is. Sky is upgrading its Ultimate package to include HBO Max, Disney Plus and Hayu (alongside the existing Netflix and Sky content). That means you can get a lot of streaming options for one monthly payment, rather than juggling lots of separate subscriptions.

Sky Ultimate will cost £24 a month. Considering you would pay just shy of £23 for the various streaming services excluding the Sky content, that's not a bad deal. But again, there's a downside.

On this plan, the Netflix, Disney Plus and HBO Max subscriptions are the base, ad-supported tiers. So as well as suffering adverts, you'll have to forego 4K, HDR and Dolby Atmos.

What's happening to HBO content on Sky?

Sky's announcement gets it out of a tricky fix. If you take Sky but don't subscribe to HBO Max, you'll still be able to watch existing HBO content that's already available on Sky, as well as any new series of said content – so the fourth series of The White Lotus should be available to Sky customers, for example.

But you won't get any new HBO series that launch, such as the Harry Potter epic that's due to start in 2027. You'll also miss out on the films that come to HBO Max. For those, you will need a subscription to HBO Max.

See? We told you it was complicated.

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HBO Max finally has a launch date for the UK and Ireland. Viewers in those countries will be able to watch from 26th March – that's just a few weeks away.

It will bring HBO's roster of top tier content including shows like Succession, The Pitt, Friends and House Of The Dragon as well as films like the Oscar-nominated Sinners and One Battle After Another.

Next year will see the launch of the lavish new Harry Potter series.

So far, so good. But one element could prove confusing for viewers already overwhelmed by choice: the subscription options. HBO has announced no fewer than five separate options – that's two more than Netflix offers, two more than Disney Plus, and four more than Apple TV.

Here they are.

• Basic with Ads (£4.99 per month): stream on two devices at once, limited to Full HD resolution. Doesn't include those movies that stream on HBO Max following a cinema release
• Standard with Ads (£5.99 per month): the same as Basic with Ads, but includes "all the best HBO Max shows and movies" and gives you 30 downloads a month for offline viewing
• Standard (£9.99 per month): the same as Standard with Ads but without the adverts
• Premium (£14.99 per month): this ups the quality to 4K with Dolby Atmos (where available), lets you stream on four devices at once and gives you 100 downloads a month
• TNT Sports (£30.99 per month): this brings all manner of live sports like 185 UEFA Champions League matches and every game in the Europa League and Conference League, plus some Premier League matches and tennis. This is in 4K and Dolby Atmos, and lets you stream on two devices at once

That's a lot of options. Too many, some might say.

You'll be able to access HBO Max on all manner of smart TVs and streaming devices, and it will be available to purchase through Prime Video.

Netflix is in the process of taking over HBO Max's parent company Warner Bros Discovery. But HBO's boss has insisted that the streaming giant won't close the service.

JB Perrette, president of global streaming at Warner Bros Discovery, told The Times: "Netflix has an enormous amount of apreciation and respect for the HBO brand as something that s distinct, premium and must-watch. They want the brand to be vibrant, dynamic and visible."

HBO shows have been available in the UK on Sky, and while Sky customers will continue to be able to watch existing HBO shows, new launches such as the Harry Potter series will be available only through HBO Max.

HBO is renowned for its high calibre of content, so it seems to be pursuing a strategy of quality over quantity. As well it might: it has around 3000 films and shows in its library, compared with Netflix's 17,000 and Prime Video's 21,000. Less is more, according to HBO. Except where subscription options are concerned.

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You can't deny the convenience of video streaming, but what about the quality?

While the best video streaming services support 4K and HDR, can they match the picture quality of physical media? Or are you better off reaching for a 4K Blu-ray every time?

Let's dive into the detail.

Bitrate

The big one. 4K Blu-rays come in a range of capacities, each with different bitrates: 50GB has either 72Mbps or 92Mbps, while the 66GB and 100GB capacities have 92Mbps, 123Mbps or 144Mbps.

The bitrate refers to the number of 'bits' of data that are transmitted in a unit of time, in this case how many megabits are transferred per second. The higher the bitrate, the more data can be transferred per second, and hence the higher the picture quality.

Most streaming services (such as Netflix and Prime Video) have around 15-25Mbps. Apple TV has 40Mbps, while Sony Pictures Core tops the list with up to 80Mbps. But that's still a fair way behind what's possible with 4K Blu-ray.

Hence a 4K Blu-ray will usually give you a far more detailed picture.

In order to achieve the best picture quality on streaming, you'll also need an internet connection capable of delivering the requisite speed (Netflix recommends a 25Mbps connection per device to watch in 4K, while a 115Mbps connection will give you the best experience with Sony Pictures Core).

Even if you have a sufficiently speedy connection, it will still be impacted by other internet activity – if someone else starts gaming in another room, for example, the streaming viewer will suffer.

For the best experience, you'll need an uninterrupted connection – hence the 25Mbps connection 'per device' that Netflix recommends.

Compression

Streaming loses out here, too.

Because the information is being delivered over the internet rather than from a locally running disc, it has to be compressed to ensure consistently smooth playback.

Streamers have to prioritise smooth running over picture quality, as otherwise the movie would keep stopping (or 'buffering') in order for sufficient information to arrive to render the picture in the requisite detail.

For example, the AV1 codec is now used in 30 per cent of all Netflix streaming, making it the service's second most-used codec. While AV1 might be more efficient than rival codecs, it still compromises the picture to prioritise smooth playback.

Compression is also variable, with the service sending more information for more dynamic scenes, like action, and less information for static scenes. This can result in an uneven look, with occasional blocky 'artefacts' especially during dark scenes.

4K Blu-rays do use compression but to a much lesser extent than streaming, allowing for the higher bitrates and richer 10-bit colours with virtually no banding.

HDR

Again, HDR is significantly better on a 4K Blu-ray disc than on streaming, thanks to the disc's higher bit depth and less compression.

With HDR able to reach its full potential, you'll get a greater difference between the light and dark parts of the picture, meaning brighter highlights, blacker blacks, and more detail visible both within these extremes and across the image as a whole.

Lossless audio

While most streaming services support advanced audio formats, such as Dolby Atmos, a 4K Blu-ray will still sound far better.

That's because streaming services compress the audio in order to make it a smaller file to transmit, losing detail in the process. Whereas a physical disc's greater capacity allows for lossless audio, meaning more detail, greater expression and a more immersive and cinematic experience.

A streaming service's sound quality may vary depending on your internet connection too, making it less consistent throughout the duration of a film.

Other advantages of discs

4K Blu-rays have other advantages besides the superior picture and sound quality. Each disc is a one-off cost, whereas streaming's monthly fee means you're paying each month.

Once you've bought a 4K Blu-ray, it's yours to keep. Whereas streaming rights are constantly changing, meaning each service's library can vary month to month – annoying when something on your watchlist goes walkies to a rival service.

Conclusion

There's no question that 4K Blu-rays can offer better picture and sound quality than movie streaming services.

But you can't deny the convenience of streaming – no physical discs to store, instant delivery, thousands of titles all at your fingertips... It also works out much cheaper if you watch a lot of films (and shows), and there's a growing library of titles that are exclusive to streaming.

The technology is also improving. As internet speeds get higher, the need to compress audio and video diminishes. Sony Pictures Core shows a glimmer of what's possible, with quality comparable to some 4K Blu-ray discs (though you do need a Sony TV to get the best streaming quality).

So while 4K Blu-ray should be the choice for those serious about prioritising picture and sound quality, streaming is undeniably convenient for everyday viewing. And as the tech improves, it may not be long before streaming equals or even surpasses the quality of a physical disc.

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Sky Q, the company’s satellite TV service, is officially off the market for online customers.

This was confirmed by ISP News as well as a Sky employee on the brand’s community site, who says the service is “no longer available to buy online”.

That doesn’t mean Sky Q will be switched off for existing customers, as the brand says they can still “manage their package online or through the My Sky App”. It’s also available to buy by calling Sky directly or in-store.

New customers are now being directed to choose Sky Stream, the company's streaming service, which gives you access to Netflix and a variety of Sky channels.

There are also plenty of add-ons you can choose to pay for on top of the base price of £15 per month for 24 months, including Sky Kids, TNT Sports, and Disney+.

This is all provided via just a streaming puck and can be controlled via a remote control, making it easy and fuss-free to set up.

That option certainly sounds tempting when compared to Sky Q’s requirement for a satellite dish and associated cabling to be installed on your house by an engineer.

We gave both Sky Stream and Sky Q five-star reviews when we tested them, although we did call the Sky Q "a bit old-fashioned in some ways" due to its design and dish requirements.

With the wider rise of streaming, though, it's hardly a surprise that Sky is starting to phase out its satellite TV offerings. We don't know how much longer the brand will keep Sky Q running for, but it's certainly looking like the end could be near.

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As we near the end of 2025, I can conclusively say that this year has been a bit of a strange one for streaming services.

Even as we enter the final weeks of the year, we're hearing news regarding the official UK launch of HBO Max, and it appears that Netflix is poised to acquire Warner Bros.

The biggest streaming surprise of 2025 for us, however, came from our very own Awards judging process. We took stock of our favourite streaming services.

After a year of middling content, price increases, and, most crucially, 4K HDR streaming issues, we decided that Disney+ shouldn't take home the Award for "Best video streaming service".

Instead, Apple TV snatched the Award, and for good reason, too. We don't give out a "most improved" Award, but if we did, Apple TV would be a shoo-in, thanks to its much broader library of high-quality content compared to when it launched back in 2019.

I've dabbled in Apple TV (formerly Apple TV+) over the years, watching the likes of The Morning Show, Slow Horses and Silo. However, there's still a lot that I was curious to catch up on, including Shrinking (see our latest edition of Now Showing for my thoughts) and Severance (which I admit I'm yet to watch).

There's also been a new crop of shows for 2025, including The Studio and, most recently, Pluribus; both of which are stellar.

So, with all of this in mind, I decided the slash my Netflix Premium subscription back down to the basic advertisement-inclusive tier that's included with my Sky Stream package.

And I'm happy to report that I don't regret my decision in the slightest.

Truthfully, I've been wary of Netflix's middling content library for quite some time, and locking 4K HDR behind the top tier (which has risen to an astronomical £18.99 per month here in the UK) is a frustrating trend that is sweeping the world of streaming. We have Netflix to thank for that.

Regardless, I'd like to get back to what's making Apple TV my streaming weapon of choice.

The quality of the content on Apple TV seems to be a cut above, probably thanks to the fact that each show has a considerable budget behind it. Selling a boatload of iPhones, iPads and AirPods each year will, of course, allow Apple to boost the budgets of its original programming; however, it's nice to see the company invest that into making high-quality productions.

Everything looks and sounds superbly slick on Apple TV, and with 4K, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos included as standard at a fraction of Netflix's asking price for Premium, I can easily forgive the lack of third-party content.

Better yet, the writers, directors and talent that Apple TV attracts are second to none. Take The Studio, for example, which includes an onslaught of A-listers, all of whom shine in their respective roles.

I deemed The Studio to be "one of the best TV shows I've watched in years" during one of our regular What Hi-Fi? Team AV discussions where we discuss what we're currently watching, and I stand by that assessment. Conversely, it's been quite a while since I've felt anything near that for a Netflix Original show.

I've also been pleasantly surprised by the range of content that Apple offers. It's diversified its offerings since launch, meaning there is now a solid range of non-scripted shows and movies. I've just started to tuck into Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars, which is a treat for foodies.

Apple is also leveraging its platforms to involve huge musicians such as Billie Eilish, Mark Ronson and Bruce Springsteen for documentaries and recordings of live performances.

It's been one of the more overlooked services compared to the likes of Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video, but I think it's time to change that.

Apple has been working away in the background to expand its content offerings, and in doing so, it's quietly become the best streaming service for your money.

Sure, the services I mentioned above have swathes of third-party content, but as someone who values quality over quantity, I have no qualms about making Apple TV my number one streamer.

Netflix remains on my roster, and I'm sure there are some hidden gems that I'm yet to watch, but it's no longer at the top of my list.

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HBO Max is coming to the UK and Ireland early next year. The streaming service will launch on these shores in March 2026, HBO has announced. But Sky customers will still be able to watch HBO content under the terms of the current deal.

Currently, Sky carries HBO content like Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, The Last Of Us, Succession, House Of The Dragon and The White Lotus via its Sky Atlantic and Sky Comedy channels. The two broadcasters also work together on joint productions like George McKay's forthcoming legal thriller War.

Sky customers will still be able to watch this existing content once HBO Max launches. HBO is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, which also owns Warner Bros. Pictures and the DC Universe – giving Sky (and HBO Max) customers access to films like the Harry Potter franchise, Superman, The Batman and Dune.

For the first time in the UK, non-Sky customers will be able to subscribe direct with HBO Max to enjoy all this content.

So it's good news for Sky customers, right? This being streaming, it's not quite that straightforward.

Once HBO Max has launched in the UK, Sky customers will still have access to existing HBO shows – and any future series – on the same Sky channels as now. But new series – like the forthcoming Harry Potter show – will have to be watched through the standalone HBO Max service, the ad-supported tier of which will be bundled free for Sky customers.

So it won't cost Sky customers any extra. But they will have to watch through a different service, much as they do with Netflix content currently.

Complicating matters further, HBO is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, which plans to split into two separate companies. HBO will be part of the 'Studios & Streaming' business, which is currently seeking a new owner. Bidders include streaming big hitter Netflix, Paramount Skydance (owner of Paramount+) and Comcast (which owns Sky).

The deal is hoping to conclude by the end of December. So by the time HBO Max launches in the UK, it could have a completely different owner, and hence be a very different proposition.

If Comcast wins, it could simply offer all the content as part of its Sky offering. This would mean either retiring the HBO Max service soon after it launches on these shores, or even not launch it at all.

The same could be said for Netflix – and as Netflix is bundled with most Sky subscriptions, Sky customers would get the same access to all the HBO content they do now.

Paramount could merge HBO Max with its Paramount+ service, but what would it call it?

As you can see, there are a lot of moving parts to this deal. HBO Max's UK tiers and pricing information are also yet to be confirmed.

The UK launch is the latest part of HBO Max's international rollout. In January, the service will expand to Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.

HBO Max launched in 2020. It was briefly renamed Max, but then changed its name back following widespread derision.

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Having trouble getting Tidal to work? You’re not alone, members of the What Hi-Fi? team are experiencing similar issues and according to most internet service trackers we’re not alone.

Journalists that we are, we’ve decided to chronicle the outage as we speak to Tidal and other experts to find out why the service is down and when its coming back.

You can keep track of our progress in this live hub. If you have any questions you’d like us to extend to Tidal let us know in the comments and we’ll endeavour to get them answered ASAP.

When did the outage start?

We haven’t got a firm time confirmed when the outage start. But members of the team who use it reported the app on iOS and Android was working fine last night, but woke up unable to access its online services.

Internet tracking service Down detector shows a massive spike in people reporting issues accessing Tidal from around 8.00am (UK time) this morning. You can see the spike in the graph attached below.

Which platforms is it down on?

We’ve contacted Tidal for official comment on the outage and how widespread it is. But subscribers among the team have uniformly lost access to the online services on iOS, Android and the webplayer.

What caused the outage?

We haven't received official comment from Tidal yet, but it is highly likely liked to the Cloudflare outage reported yesterday. Cloudlfare is a tech company and services provider that helps run large parts of the internet and webservices, including websites and services such as Tidal. It suffered issues yesterday that made numerous other websites, apps and services suffer outages.

Is it working again?

Members of the team are getting intermittent access to the online services again as we speak., though it is still very flaky and appears to be occasionally falling back offline.

Apple has rebranded its streaming service with "a vibrant new identity", and it involves a confusing name change.

The tech titan snuck the reworked streaming service name into the announcement that the 2025 blockbuster F1 The Movie will be available to stream on the platform from Friday, the 12th of December.

Right at the bottom of the press release, Apple says "Apple TV+ is now simply Apple TV", meaning the service has dropped the "+" from its name.

While it's certainly a cleaner look, it will also make things even harder to distinguish within Apple's streaming repertoire.

Apple TV can now refer to one of three things: the streaming service, the digital store where you can buy or rent films and TV shows, or the streaming box that you connect to your TV via HDMI.

Furthermore, that "vibrant new identity" is already beginning to make an appearance, as users who have updated their Apple TV 4K to the tvOS 26.1 beta software have reported (via MacRumours) a colourful new app icon that's replaced the previous monochromatic look.

The same branding has begun to crop up on Apple's streaming press site, too, which you can see here.

So why has Apple made this change? It's hard to tell; however, with reports mounting of a new Apple TV 4K streamer, this brand refresh is certainly adding fuel to the fire.

MORE:

Read our full Apple TV+ review

And check out our Apple TV 4K (2022) review

Here are the best streaming services for movies and TV shows

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 we first reviewed Apple TV+ in the spring of 2020, we praised its picture and sound quality but criticised its relative lack of content and device compatibility.

More than five years on, it's now known as just 'Apple TV', and it’s still the best-performing mainstream streaming service from an AV perspective. And although Apple’s approach means the catalogue is still much smaller than that of rivals, the quality of the available content is very strong indeed.

Apple TV is now available on pretty much every device, too, and it’s still significantly cheaper than Netflix and Disney+ if you care about 4K, HDR and Dolby Atmos, which we most certainly do.

It’s about time for a full reassessment, then.

Price

While most of the streaming big boys now have a dizzying array of subscription tiers, Apple TV has just one that costs £9.99 / $12.99 / AU$15.99 per month.

That gets you an ad-free experience in 4K HDR and with Dolby Atmos sound.

Netflix and Disney+ are both available for less than that, but only with adverts, potato picture quality and restricted sound options.

To go ad-free and enjoy equivalent picture and sound quality to Apple TV, Netflix will set you back £18.99 / $24.99 / AU$28.99 per month, while Disney+ is £14.99 / $18.99 / AU$20.99.

Amazon Prime Video works slightly differently: if you combine the Prime Video-only subscription with the top-up ad-free subscription, which also gives you access to the best picture and sound options, it comes out at £8.98 / $11.98 (in Australia, you can’t subscribe to Prime Video without the broader Prime subscription, so the price there is AU$12.98).

Of course, cost and value are different things, and the relatively low price of Apple TV (at least compared with Netflix and Disney+) reflects its smaller content catalogue.

Content

While Netflix and Amazon license movies and TV shows from other studios to bolster their respective streaming catalogues of original content, Apple TV hosts only exclusive productions.

It’s the same approach that Disney takes, but Disney, of course, has several studios under its umbrella and a back catalogue that stretches decades into the past. In contrast, Apple has been creating and amassing its ‘Originals’ for a relative blink of an eye.

In other words, the content catalogue of Apple TV is much smaller than that of its rivals. As mentioned at the start, though, the quality of that content is now very high, especially against the occasionally endless-seeming sea of rot that regularly appears on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in particular.

Apple is especially strong on TV shows, with the likes of Severance, Black Bird, Platonic, Shrinking, The Studio, For All Mankind, The Afterparty, Prehistoric Planet, Silo, Ted Lasso and Criminal Record all scoring highly with critics and audiences.

Then there’s Slow Horses – one of the very best TV shows of the last few years, at least as far as the What Hi-Fi? team is concerned.

The movie selection is less impressive: films such as Coda, Killers Of The Flower Moon, Tetris and Finch prove that there’s quality on there, but it doesn’t take long to run out of well-rated flicks.

Overall, though, there’s more than enough quality content on Apple TV for most people to feel that they’re getting strong value for money out of their subscription cost.

It’s worth noting that most versions of the Apple TV app also contain Apple’s pay-as-you-go store for movies and TV shows (still sometimes referred to as the iTunes Store).

This is the very best place to buy and rent movies for streaming, but it’s not part of the Apple TV subscription, so it doesn’t fall within the scope of this review.

Device compatibility

It took a while, but the Apple TV app is now available on pretty much every device that also has Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. In fact, of all the TVs, smart projectors and streaming sticks we’ve reviewed over the last two years, only one or two haven’t had it.

What’s more, you can now subscribe to Apple TV and access its content through the Amazon Prime Video app, which is a great backup option if your device doesn’t have a native Apple TV app.

One thing to note, though, is that while Apple TV performs well across all devices (at least all those with which we’ve tested it), they don't all make use of the highest-quality streams.

Picture

And it’s those high-quality streams that really set Apple TV apart from its rivals.

While the streaming bitrates of Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video average between about 10 and 25 Mbps, Apple TV averages around 25 to 40 Mbps, and even stretches to 45 Mbps at times. This is because Apple applies less compression to its streams, and the result is all-round better picture quality.

Compared with even the best Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video streams, content from Apple TV looks noticeably sharper, cleaner and more detailed. There’s less banding (unsubtle steps where a colour’s shade changes) and less picture noise, and the result is a crisper overall image.

Playing See, one of Apple TV’s most sumptuous streams, there’s an awesome depth and solidity to the epic landscapes, excellent shading across the board, including in skin tones, and a very impressive combination of thrilling contrast and subtle shadow shading.

We’re not talking 4K Blu-ray levels of crispness and control, of course – discs can exceed bitrates of 100 Mbps, after all – but Apple TV gets closer than any of its mainstream rivals.

Only Sony Pictures Core can beat it for picture quality, and only when it’s accessed via a Sony TV. That’s also less of a streaming service and more of a store for Sony Pictures movies.

Even when Apple TV is accessed via the app on non-Apple devices, which don’t always have access to the highest-bitrate streams (estimates suggest some are capped at about 25 Mbps), there’s a sheen to the delivery that is rarely matched by rivals.

This may be at least in part down to the glossy way in which Apple’s content is produced – there’s of course no way to be sure, seeing as the content is exclusive to its own service – but whatever the reason, the result is highly enjoyable.

The vast majority of Apple TV’s content is available in 4K with Dolby Vision, and this is broadly the format in which it looks its best, but a well set-up TV will do a great job with the fallback HDR10 option, and the service even now supports HDR10+ for that additional, contrast-boosting dynamic metadata. Great news for Samsung TV owners in particular.

Sound

While Apple TV has no technical advantage over rival streaming services when it comes to sound quality, with all of them delivering Dolby Atmos soundtracks at 768 kbps, the general audio delivery is still very good in its own right.

During the opening chase in Fountain Of Youth (yes, it’s a dreadful film, but boy is it nicely produced), the Atmos soundtrack fills the room with the sounds of bustling Bangkok.

There’s detail everywhere, and effects sweep precisely around the soundstage. Tonally, there’s good balance, too, with clean treble, weighty bass and clear, fairly textured midrange.

Across Apple TV’s offering, there’s perhaps a little too much smoothness and politeness. We find ourselves longing for a more solid punch from explosions and gunfire, and more reach to dynamic range.

This is a common theme with streamed movies and TV shows, though, and only physical media is significantly better in these regards, thanks to its uncompressed, super-high-bitrate audio.

Verdict

While it still lacks the vast catalogues of its rivals, Apple TV’s content offering is much bigger than it once was, and the quality of its recent Originals is arguably superior.

But what really impresses (assuming you’re of an AV nerd persuasion) is the quality of the presentation, particularly in terms of picture. None of its direct rivals can match it, and if you access the app via an Apple TV 4K, it’s streets ahead.

Add the highly accessible price, and Apple TV has become a real winner in our book.

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Read our review of Disney+

Also consider Netflix

Read our Amazon Prime Video review

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Peacock has announced that it will be the first streaming platform to serve up NFL games in Dolby Atmos.

Sunday Night Football is now available in the immersive audio format throughout the 2025 season on supported devices.

The announcement arrived as NBC Sports opened its 20th season of Sunday Night Football coverage, with the NFL Kickoff Game featuring Super Bowl champions the Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Dallas Cowboys, marking the debut of the enhanced audio experience.

The introduction of Dolby Atmos aims to bring viewers closer to the action through multi-dimensional sound that places them virtually in the stadium.

Rather than simply hearing the game, it aims to recreate the atmosphere of being in the crowd, with every snap, tackle and touchdown delivered with enhanced depth, clarity, and spatial detail.

Naturally, the end result will depend entirely on your set-up. If you’re rocking one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars though, then your chances of enjoying the promised extra immersion are high.

According to Dolby's research, the majority of NFL fans – some 85 per cent – consider audio that replicates in-person stadium sounds as important to their viewing experience.

Atmos could potentially deliver this increased immersion by capturing the roar of the crowd, the clarity of on-field calls, and the impact of tackles with three-dimensional precision.

Peacock has previously introduced features including Multiview, interactive Prediction Games and Live Actions, while also preparing new NBA-specific features such as Peacock Performance View and Courtside Live for the upcoming basketball season.

Beyond Sunday Night Football, the service also offers coverage of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Big Ten football and basketball, Premier League matches, and will add NBA coverage from the 2025-26 season onwards.

Only the NFL, though, has Dolby Atmos support confirmed. For the time being, at least.

If you do fancy enjoying the on-field action with enhanced Dolby Atmos immersion, feel free to check out our list of the best soundbars.

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Not sure which movie or TV episode to switch on tonight? After all, there is so much choice out there even on one streaming service, let alone when you factor in multiple, or your growing collection of physical media.

Well, let us narrow it down for you. If you have a Netflix subscription, these could be the perfect films and TV shows to add to your watch-list.

From teenage werewolves to Korean horror, there's something for even the pickiest of film-lovers in here.

Wednesday

If you’re a fan of the macabre, are craving a Tim Burton fix or are just keen to see a re-imagining of one of the most famous fictional families, Wednesday has a lot to offer.

This is Burton’s take on the stone-faced teenager Wednesday from the Addams family, but now it's her chance to take centre-stage.

Played brilliantly by Jenna Ortega, Wednesday is enrolled in Nevermore Academy – a high school that caters to Outcasts. These are teenagers with special abilities; think telekinesis and shapeshifting.

Wednesday’s own psychic powers lead her to uncover a string of mysterious happenings at the school, that may or may not be connected to a handful of gruesome murders going on.

With Tim Burton directing half of the first season and acting as executive producer for the rest, it's unsurprising that the show is filled with other-worldly creatures, kooky characters and (at times) ridiculous plot twists.

The creators are not afraid to lean into the silliness of the concept, with Wednesday’s monotone dialogue containing some chuckle-worthy wordplay and each episode’s title offering some sort of pun on the word ‘woe.’ A personal favourite has to be “Quid Pro Woe”, but each to their own.

Half of the second season has been released as well, with the next batch of episodes coming on 3 September. I'll remain in spoiler-free territory, but this series is just as gripping as the first.

Both series are available in Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, with 4K resolution on offer as well.

Stream Wednesday on Netflix

Parasite

We can all probably remember the year Bong Joon Ho's Parasite absolutely swept the Academy Awards, becoming the first non-English language film to win the prize for Best Picture.

And what better way to relive the only good part of 2020 than by watching the global phenomenon this week?

If you somehow missed it, Parasite follows the Kim family who are struggling with money and are stuck in a semi-basement flat in Seoul that is falling apart.

So, when son Ki-woo encourages his sister Ki-jung (played by Choi Woo-shik and Park So-dam respectively) to work as an art therapist for the wealthy Park family, it seems like the perfect opportunity. Thus begins a deceitful web of lies that leads to the whole Kim family working for their rich counterparts.

It's difficult to put Parasite into a single category, with elements of horror, comedy, drama and thriller all at play and expertly woven together by Joon Ho. But clearly this refusal to be pigeon-holed paid off, with the film receiving 99 per cent on the Tomatometer of Rotten Tomatoes and 90 per cent on the Popcornometer.

It is available on Netflix in 4K, but it's worth saying there is no Dolby Atmos or Dolby Vision available.

Stream Parasite on Netflix

Oppenheimer

Any regular readers of What Hi-Fi?, especially our TV and AV reviews, will likely have spotted that we have some personal favourites when it comes to what we watch when testing out the tech.

Blade Runner 2049, Civil War and Mad Max: Fury Road have all made countless appearances. But Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer is also a regular test disc, boasting jaw-dropping cinematography and a gripping plot to boot.

Based on the true story of how the US's first atomic bombs were developed, the film follows J Robert Oppenheimer (portrayed by Peaky Blinders' Cillian Murphy) from his university days to the creation of the bomb that would ultimately end World War Two.

Nolan's intricate cinematography and Ludwig Göransson's moving score make for an incredibly compelling watch. Its use of rich colours and immersive sound performance is the main reason why it is such a hit in our test room, too, as we find ourselves coming back time and time again.

Oppenheimer also snagged its share of Academy Awards, with the prize for Best Picture among those under its belt. Movie-goers rated it highly too, with a Popcornmeter rating of 91 per cent.

Stream Oppenheimer on Netflix

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You never truly appreciate what you have until it’s gone. It’s true in relationships, it’s true of your own youth, and, of course, it’s true when it comes to novelty childhood snacks. Remember Panda Pops? Sweet, sweet times.

You’ll smirk when I tell you this, but I mean it in all sincerity, that the same truism hit home during the recent coverage surrounding the mediocre, yet wildly popular, fever dream of a blockbuster, A Minecraft Movie.

Few would consider a bearded Jack Black wearing a blue T-shirt and shouting “flint and steel!” to be the basis for a cinematic masterpiece, mainly because it isn't, but it’s not the intrinsic narrative qualities of said brick-based adventure tie-in that have me feeling all misty-eyed.

Instead, it’s been the sense of community, however outlandish and occasionally toxic, that A Minecraft Movie has conjured that has me hankering for a similar experience.

I’ve never played the game or seen the film, but what I have witnessed has been the plethora of videos, memes and news reports covering young audiences getting together at their local cinema and revelling in the delights of communal cinema.

Patrons seem particularly excited whenever there’s a mention of the fabled ‘chicken jockey’ or each time Jack Black pulls out dialogue referencing the original game’s crafting mechanics, invoking rapturous reactions from the real-life, in-house audiences.

I don’t approve of throwing popcorn everywhere or scaring families with young kids, but this explosion of fan-oriented ecstasy following months of anticipation is something I haven’t witnessed since Avengers: Endgame.

It’s people doing what people used to do: going to a cinema and watching a film communally. The multiplexes are dying, nobody leaves the house any more (apparently), and the high street itself has become some sort of barren anachronism from a bygone era.

I should know: the town in which I grew up has its own leisure complex, which once consisted of a bowling alley, a gym, two restaurants and a cinema. Now, only the gym and bowling alley remain, and I'm not particularly confident regarding the longevity of the latter.

As much as I love nailing a tricky spare and blasting my quads in equal measure, the death of the town’s local Empire cinema feels like a loss whose consequences many of us are only just coming to terms with.

Local cinemas such as these are exactly the kinds of places where such communal experiences are to be enjoyed, yet they have become increasingly rare in this age of 65-inch TVs and on-demand streaming. Not that we would discourage you from buying one of the best 65-inch TVs, mind.

Yes, I missed the boat on A Minecraft Movie, but this is the place where I had my own experiences, the ones that really do form happy childhood memories.

This is the place my parents took me to see Pirates of the Caribbean for the first time, the place that I went on a double date to watch the surprisingly excellent 21 Jump Street reboot as a teenager (my mate and I loved it, our dates were ambivalent), and the place that blew my mind as a twenty-something watching Top Gun: Maverick and slightly falling in love with a fifty-something Tom Cruise.

The late great David Lynch made a great point about watching movies on your iPhone which, while it’s a slight stretch, can be applied here. “If you’re playing a movie on a telephone, you will never in a trillion years experience the film. You’ll think you’ll have experienced it, but you’ll be cheated. It’s such a sadness that you think you’ve seen a film on your [expletive deleted] telephone. Get real.”

Okay, so no one’s daft enough to watch, say, Dune: Part 2 on their iPhone and think that it’s the same as watching it at the IMAX in Waterloo, but Lynch’s point is that watching a film is an active experience rather than a passive one, an experience that goes beyond the literal footage that unfolds in front of your eyeballs.

It’s about the screen and the sound, not to mention the building you watch it in and the people you’re with, and that’s not something you can replicate by sitting at home watching Netflix in bed.

I’m of the generation that is old enough to know just what it’s missing, and to be capable of realising the difference between hearing the thunderous howl of Tom Cruise’s R-72 Darkstar nailing its Top Gun test run in a properly kitted out theatre against my TV’s rather poxy in-built speakers.

Yet for younger viewers, glueing themselves to an iPad or iPhone screen might be all they’ve known and, more worryingly considering the struggles of the modern cinema, all they ever will know.

Now that my local cinema has gone, I wish I'd made the most of it. It's become easy to be complacent, to fool yourself in the manner Lynch describes, into thinking you're thinned-out domestic experience was the same as the full-fat cinema version.

Yes, I enjoyed watching Deadpool and Wolverine on Disney Plus, but it was nothing compared with the pleasure of seeing Infinity War at the Clapham Picturehouse with, oddly enough, another ex-girlfriend. Maybe she wasn't as into Marvel movies as I was.

I miss those experiences, and I hope that they're not going to be consigned to the annals of history along with handwritten letters, in-car CD players and basic human decency.

I still want to watch films with my friends and family, be they young or old, rather than cooping myself up alone in my flat to slog through another lacklustre Star Wars spin-off.

Popcorn chucking aside, then, I'm glad a new generation is getting the chance to enjoy such communal reveries. Be it Marvel madness or Minecraft mayhem, there's nothing quite like seeing a movie at your local cinema.

Now that mine has perished, I wish I'd visited more often when I had the chance.

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Netflix will start carrying live TV channels for the first time. It has inked a deal with French broadcaster TF1 to show its five broadcast channels as well as over 30,000 hours of on-demand content to users in France.

The deal takes effect from summer 2026.

For TF1, it means getting its content in front of more eyeballs, as every Netflix user in France will have it available from within the app. And for Netflix, it adds more localised content as well as live sports games.

The two companies have previously collaborated on co-productions like Les Combattantes, L’Agence and Tout le bleu du ciel.

Media commentators are heralding the deal as a sign of things to come.

NBCUniversal creative products director S.J. McKenzie wrote on LinkedIn that the deal "should have every U.S. media exec on alert."

She added: "While U.S. teams are still stuck optimizing bundles and measuring ‘attention’, Europe is building the next evolution of streaming."

Netflix has completely upended the traditional broadcast model of TV. Just recently, Netflix show Adolescence made history by becoming the most watched programme in the UK, garnering more views than traditional broadcasters like the BBC and Channel 4.

The streamer has also encroached on the previously broadcast-only area of adverts by introducing an ad-supported tier. According to market analysts Nielsen, May 2025 was the first month in which streaming was more popular than both cable and broadcast TV combined in the US.

Now it seems TF1 has take the approach of if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

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It may seem that streaming platforms have been surpassing traditional TV for a while, but now the statistics have confirmed it is official.

According to Nielsen, last month was the first time that streaming was more popular than broadcast and cable TV combined in the US.

That’s because cable and broadcast TV viewership fell to just 24.1 and 20.1 per cent respectively. Streaming has jumped up to 44.8 per cent, however, nearing half of total TV viewership.

There is one platform that is leading the charge for streaming. YouTube has taken the crown as the most popular streaming service in the US right now, making up a whopping 12.5 per cent of all TV viewing.

This marks the platform’s fourth consecutive monthly share increase and the highest share of TV for any streamer to date.

Hot on its heels are Netflix with 7.5 per cent and Disney+ with 5 per cent.

With Netflix’s latest series of price hikes, it will be interesting to see whether Disney+ (a relative newcomer at just over five years of age) can get to second place at some point.

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A new UK Disney Plus deal is looking to woo new and returning users alike by offering access to its Standard with Ads tier for just £1.99 per month.

That’s a hefty discount over the standard £4.99 monthly price for that tier, undercutting every major streaming competitor in the market. But the offer won’t be around for long.

The limited-time promotion – which runs from 11th June until 30th June – delivers four months of Disney Plus Standard with Ads for a total of £7.96, compared to the usual £19.96 it would have cost for the same time period.

Naturally, prices will revert back to the standard £4.99 monthly charge after the first four months have passed.

Also, remember to cancel before it auto-renews, if you’d rather hop around to another service.

This current offer makes Disney's streaming service significantly cheaper than monthly prices for Netflix's Standard with adverts tier (£5.99), Amazon Prime Video (£8.99), and Apple TV+ (£8.99).

The ad-supported Disney Plus tier provides Full HD video with 5.1 surround sound support. It also lets you stream simultaneously on two devices.

Note, however, the ad-supported tier doesn't include download functionality for offline viewing – a feature reserved for Disney's higher-priced monthly Standard (£8.99) and Premium (£12.99) tiers.

With heavy-hitting exclusives like Andor currently available, there’s no shortage of top-shelf content to sink your teeth into.

One of our favourite streaming services, Disney Plus earned five stars in our review, making this offer one to snap up.

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Read our Disney+ review

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With premium streaming subscriptions continuing to climb in price, finding a bargain has become increasingly rare. That's what makes Peacock's current promotion so compelling – new subscribers can secure a full year of Peacock Premium for just $24.99, representing a substantial 69 per cent discount off the usual $79.99 annual price.

The deal, which ends today (Friday May 30th), can be activated by adding the promo code SPRINGSAVINGS at checkout, bringing the cost down to just $2 per month. This undercuts virtually every major streaming competitor, making it cheaper than annual plans for Netflix, Max, or even Hulu at full price.

NBCUniversal's streaming platform has evolved considerably since launching in 2020, building a content library that extends beyond its NBC roots. The service offers a mix of exclusive originals, including the critically acclaimed mystery series Poker Face starring Natasha Lyonne, and reality hits like The Traitors – both shows that have earned loyal followings.

The platform also serves as the home for all five seasons of Yellowstone, plus classic NBC favourites like The Office and Parks and Recreation.

Beyond entertainment, Peacock Premium delivers considerable sports coverage, too, serving as the US home for Premier League soccer, along with NASCAR, golf, WWE, and select Olympic coverage. WNBA coverage also begins with the 2025–26 season, adding to the platform's growing sports roster.

With many streaming services regularly increasing their subscription prices (we’re looking at you, Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV+), at $24.99 for twelve months, Peacock Premium's current offer represents genuine value if its content appeals to you.

It’s worth noting, however, that despite being a ‘Premium’ tier, it is still ad-supported. To banish ads entirely (barring limited exclusions), you’ll need to sign up for the Premium Plus tier, which isn't currently on offer.

As for supported devices, Peacock Premium plays nice with everything from smartphones and tablets to smart TVs and consoles. The service also offers next-day access to current NBC programming, including Saturday Night Live and Chicago Med.

If you do decide to sign up, note that the service will revert to standard pricing at $79.99 annually after the promotional year expires.

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If you struggle to sit through a movie without your pulse maxing out at 120 bpm, Netflix may have provided you with your next means of getting your much-needed adrenaline fix.

For lovers of tense crime thrillers in the same vein as Heat, The Town, Inside Man or Argo, new heart-stopper iHostage – out this Friday – teases high emotional stakes and action as tense as Tom Cruise on a ten-storey tightrope.

Inspired by true events, iHostage follows the story of a rogue gunman who enters an Apple Store in central Amsterdam and holds its patrons hostage, leading to a tense and delicate standoff between the perpetrator and the Dutch police.

As the trailer hints, however, there could be more to the man than meets the eye – "the injustice you constantly subject me to" seems to be a prime motivator for our apparent antagonist's explosive actions.

Explosive might well be the word. Not only is the man armed with what appears to be a loaded machine pistol, but he's also strapped with an improved explosive device that adds a deadly new dimension to proceedings.

The film's narrative explores the relationship between the gunman, his hostage and a Dutch negotiator who, despite the heavy-handed actions of the police, tries to prevent a crisis from turning into a full-scale tragedy.

Per Netflix's description: "Through the eyes of the attacker, the hostages, and the first responders, iHostage delivers a tense and emotional tale of courage, survival, and the lasting impact of terror."

Directed by Dutch director and producer Bobby Boermans, iHostage arrives exclusively on Netflix on April 18th. If you need your daily adrenaline fix and don't have immediate access to a local bungee jump, it definitely looks like one to check out.

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With so many video streaming services vying for our hard-earned cash and even more 'must-watch' shows scattered across them, we’re always looking for ways to save some silver – so how does 70 per cent off Apple TV+ sound? 

Until 24th April, you can bag three months of Apple TV+ for only £2.99 / $2.99 / AU$3.99 per month for three months, giving you ample time to binge some of the video streaming service's biggest hits, which include Severence, Slow Horses, Silo and talk-of-the-town hit comedyThe Studio, which sees Seth Rogan's character heading up a movie studio in a hilarious and chaotically intense Hollywood satire.

Apple TV+, which would normally set you back £9.99 / $9.99 / AU$12.99 a month, has risen to prominence with a slew of unmissable shows, with Bad Sisters, Ted Lasso, Mythic Quest and this year's refreshing crime caper Dope Thief joining those aforementioned standout titles.

Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of Killers of the Flower Moon flies the flag on the movie side, as does Oscar-winner Coda and George Clooney and Brad Pitt-starring Wolfs.

The limited-time deal is available to new subscribers as well as qualifying returning subscribers who have not previously accepted an Apple TV+ one-year or three‑month free offer. You can read the full offer terms here.

What's more, new signups include the seven-day free trial, too.

Well, what are you waiting for?

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Formula 1 fans in the US can now watch the sporting event in glorious 4K HDR thanks to F1 TV’s new Premium subscription. The F1 app has been available for TV platforms since the end of 2021, and this subscription is its latest addition.

In the UK, F1 fans can already watch in 4K via Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream, although you have to subscribe to an Ultra HD package.

For all the options in both the UK and US, it goes without saying that you also need to have a 4K TV. You can get an annual subscription to the US app for $130, which adds up to just under $11 a month.

The Premium subscription is not as inclusive as you might expect, though. US consumers can only access the 4K HDR content in the app available for Apple TV 4K (tvOS) and Roku.

F1 TV is also introducing a new Multiview feature, where you can combine multiple feeds from the race. However, this does not work with Android, which is a bit of a bummer.

On top of that, the first generation of Apple TV 4K is limited to 4K HDR at 30fps, which is a bit choppy for F1. You need the second- or third-generation model to stream in 4K HDR and 50fps.

Formula 1 will kick off this year on 14th March in Australia. If you are based in the US and looking for a way to watch the event in 4K, the new subscription tier could be a good option for you.

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After six years, everyone's favourite Netflix karate TV show has come to an end. The final episodes of Cobra Kai have landed on the streaming service, closing season six, and satisfyingly crane-kick it up for a final showdown like no other.

While there's likely plenty of life left in the Karate Kid franchise, apparently that's it for the phenomenally popular action series, which expands on the original movie trio in what fans call the 'Miyagiverse'.

So wrap your ties tightly around your heads, turn up the metal music to thrash volume and get ready for action and adventure like none before it... with a huge helping of cheesy self-awareness too, of course.

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What you might not expect from this finale is how much pull it will have on your heartstrings. Yes, there are plenty of well-choreographed fighting sequences that do the five seasons and umpteenth fights that have come before it proud, but thankfully plenty has been put into wrapping up the story too, with more than a few complex character stories being brought to a satisfying close here.

We'll keep this spoiler-free, but a heads up: the 15-episode season six is the bloodiest yet and culminates in an epic, unexpected fight at the Sekai Taikai tournament.

ScreenRant says the final five episodes present a "near-perfect ending for its characters" while Empire calls it "a more than fitting send-off". Audience and critic reviews are mostly positive in their Rotten Tomato ratings too.

Keep in mind that, despite the years and series count of Cobra Kai, the show still maintains an overall Rotten Tomatoes score of more than 90 per cent both for critics and fans – an impressive achievement.

The entire series is available to watch now on Netflix.

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UK Netflix viewers could soon have to pay the BBC licence fee. That's according to a recent Bloomberg report claiming that the UK government is considering the move as one option to keep funding the BBC.

It's not just Netflix viewers, though. Users of all video streaming services would be made to cough up, whereas currently you don't need to pay if you only participate in catch-up/on-demand viewing (and not on iPlayer). However, as we'll see, the current rules aren't quite that simple...

I say let's do it. And before you scream "But I didn't even watch The Traitors!" just hear me out.

Licence to bill

The rules, as they stand, take quite some getting your head around. Basically, you need a TV licence if you watch any programming that's broadcast live, or if you use iPlayer. That includes anything shown live on any platform (including online services like YouTube and streamers like Netflix). And you're liable to pay even if you don't own a TV but watch on a different device, like a smartphone or tablet.

You also need one if you record any live broadcast, whether that's on a DVR like Sky Q or even a VHS recorder (remember those?).

But if you only watch what's available on the likes of Netflix and YouTube and not live events, you don't need a licence. You can also watch other terrestrial catch-up services like ITVX and My5 without a licence (again, as long as you don't watch anything live).

There are discounts if you or someone you live with is severely sight impaired, or if you have a black-and-white TV (according to figures from last year, over 3500 UK households do, surprisingly), and for some other reasons.

There's also an incredibly niche loophole that says that students whose parents own a licence, and who stay at their parents' house between term times, can watch without a licence at their term-time residence on a smartphone or laptop so long as it's not connected to an aerial or plugged into the mains. So charge your phone while watching and you'll technically require a licence. Seriously. It's on page four of this document.

Also, a communal TV licence won't cover individual rooms within a student hall of residence. So if a student doesn't live with their parents between terms, or their parents don't have a TV licence, they will need a TV licence for their room within a hall of residence, whichever device they're using to watch (and regardless of whether it's plugged into the mains or not).

Confused? I don't blame you. The rules have evolved to try and keep in step with the times – until 2016, you didn't need a TV licence if you only watched iPlayer and not live TV (what was known as the 'iPlayer loophole') – but in doing so have become ever more complex. Adding the charge to your Netflix bill could simplify this considerably.

To the ex-stream

Think about it: if you watch any streaming service, you must be at least slightly digitally savvy, so chances are you have watched at least some of the Beeb's output. I know there are those who might strenuously avoid it on purely ideological or moral grounds, and of course that's their right. But even if you go out of your way to avoid watching BBC TV channels, have you never listened to BBC Radio? Read the BBC News website? Looked up a recipe on BBC Food? Helped a young person with their studies using BBC Bitesize? Checked the weather on the BBC Weather app?

The licence fee funds all of this and more. Even if you do purposely avoid all of this content (and I would kind of admire you – that's quite some effort), I would argue that you still benefit from it. Having an impartial journalism outlet in BBC News (which isn't owned by vested interests or forced to rely on advertisers) is a boon to wider society in general. Even if you don't read it, chances are you will read or watch follow-ups on its scoops from other media outlets. It might not be perfect, but we would all be worse off without it.

So why not adopt a subscription model? That's what Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ et al have to do, after all. If the BBC can't stand on its own two feet, surely it shouldn't exist at all, at least in its current form.

That would make the BBC compete on purely commercial terms, conflicting with its public service remit. It would inevitably mean a drop in funding, with compromises on BBC output. As anyone with kids will tell you, CBeebies and CBBC are hillocks of civility in the morass of YouTube / Nickelodeon / Blippy / Cocomelon. And all those news articles, recipes, and weather reports we've been taking for granted? They would be cut back severely, put behind a paywall, or forced to carry adverts. The BBC apps, websites and podcasts already have adverts when accessed abroad. Which makes you realise how annoying they are (the ads, that is, not the BBC content, though I'll make an exception for Robin Ince on The Infinity Monkey Cage).

Now, you can bet streamers like Netflix would pass on the charge to us viewers in a heartbeat. Which no one wants – US Netflix prices went up again recently, and are sure to rise in the UK again soon. Adding the licence fee on top would make streaming prohibitively expensive. But what's the alternative? Adding the licence fee to general taxation? That would have echoes of the poll tax, and we all know how popular that was. True, it could be linked to the size or type of your dwelling, like council tax, so wealthier people pay more, which I'm all for in principle. But the wealthy do have a habit of avoiding – or at least minimising – most taxes. I can see dollar signs in the eyeballs of all those accountants promising a more 'tax-efficient' way of managing your finances.

At least this way you are charging the people streaming, rather than those who genuinely have no digital footprint. In my view, it's the most sensible way forward – if the vast majority of us give a little, we all gain a lot.

Something has to change in the funding model if we want the BBC to not only survive, but thrive. At the moment, this looks like the least worse option.

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As sure as night follows day, Netflix has raised its prices in the UK. The move was widely expected after it raised prices in the US a couple of weeks ago.

UK viewers will pay at least £1 more a month, but one tier has risen by £2. The streaming service has also hiked the price of its Extra member add-ons by £1.

The Standard subscription without adverts has risen by £2 to £12.99 a month. This is Netflix's most popular tier. The Standard option (with ads) is now £1 pricier (£5.99 a month), while the Premium tier is £1 pricier at £18.99 a month. Premium includes 4K and HDR, spatial audio, and lets you watch on up to four devices in the same household simultaneously and download on up to six devices.

All the new prices are effective immediately, and apply to both new and existing subscriptions.

Here's how the new prices look.

This is the first price hike for UK Netflix viewers since October 2023. Like other streaming services such as Disney+, Spotify and Paramount+, Netflix's prices have been edging up in recent years. In 2022, even Amazon raised the price of its Prime annual subscription service (which includes Prime Video) from £79 to £95 – its first price rise since 2014.

Netflix also started cracking down on password sharing a couple of years ago. It added nearly 19 million subscribers in the final months of 2024, far surpassing its projected 9.6 million.

Nevertheless, the latest price rise will be met by groans from UK customers who are growing weary with the ever-escalating cost of living. Share your thoughts in the comments.

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In the battle of DC versus Marvel, one family cartoon feature is often overshadowed by the big-budget, SFX-fest blockbusters. That flick is now a Netflix treat, having just landed in the library in time for the weekend, and makes for ideal family viewing – pets included.

DC League of Super-Pets achieves that all-too-rare straddling of entertaining the kids while also offering enough over-their-heads jokes to keep parents chuckling along too.

The Popcornmeter over at Rotten Tomatoes is at a strong 88 per cent for Super-Pets, showing that fans are all in for this family favourite – even if the critics were a little more reserved, racking up a 72 per cent Tomatometer score. Still, The Guardian called it a "cute superhero romp" while Roger Ebert descibed its script as "smart, exciting, and very funny".

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Super loyal

While the superhero movies from DC Comics have been hit and miss, aiming for older audiences and following darker themes than many Marvel flicks, this lighthearted animation hits the mark.

Super-Pets stars the voices of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart – an already proven hit action-comedy team-up – backed by several Hollywood big-hitters including Keanu Reeves, John Krasinski, Natasha Lyonne, Olivia Wilde, Ben Schwartz, Thomas Middleditch, Jameela Jamil and, indeed, more. Yep, this is an all-star cast.

The story follows the dog of Superman himself, Krypto, who is, suitably in my mind, also super-powered. He leads a gang of shelter animals who become blessed with new powers and must learn how to use them in order to rescue kidnapped superheroes – Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Batman, Aquaman, Cyborg and Batman. The slapstick is hilarious, the characters cutesy, and the pace action-packed, making this one of the most endearing big-screen DC Comics creations yet.

Rated PG, this 2022 release is good fun for all the family and is now available to watch on Netflix while the license lasts.

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In what Apple is calling its "best offer ever", until Feb 27 you can get your hands on six months of Apple Music for just $2.99. It's important to note though, that this is only for new subscribers to the service. So, if you have had Apple Music already, you might want to think about telling someone else in your life that it's their turn to try it.

It appears Apple snuck in with this almighty deal while Spotify is busy finalizing its long-anticipated tier, Spotify HiFi; and we're pretty pleased it has. Apple Music is an excellent music streaming service, and to bag six months of it for less than what a single month would usually cost you $10.99) is quite a special discount.

If you have yet to try Apple Music, now is the time. For new subscribers, the music streamer is offering six months for just $2.99, which is a saving of more than $60 on the usual monthly cost. That's a pretty incredible deal considering there are 100 million songs and more than 30,000 expert-curated playlists to work your way through. Yes, Apple Music was a little late to the music-streaming party, but it has certainly impressed, earning a spot in our best music streaming services of 2025.

In our full review, we praise it for how far it has come in such a short time: "With superb curation, excellent catalog and great sound quality, not to mention the inclusion of Dolby Atmos and hi-res tracks at no extra cost, Apple Music has become even more attractive and better value than before."

Feature-wise, Apple Music’s entire catalog is now available in two tiers of high-resolution quality – Lossless (24-bit/48kHz) and Hi-Res Lossless (24-bit/192kHz) – at no extra cost. There are also weekly rotating playlists, curation to suit your music tastes and listening habits and even access to the separate Apple Music Classical app. It also integrates with your own saved library of music – splitting the curation into two separate tabs for ease of use.

As we found in our time with the service: "If you are an Apple device owner, it's a no-brainer thanks to the streaming service's seamless, deeper integration with Apple products and use with Siri." And, if you're an Apple device owner who has never used Apple Music, this six months for just $2.99 offer makes it a double no-brainer.

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Sky has announced that its spin-off streaming service Now (formerly Now TV) will receive a major UI overhaul in the coming weeks. The service, which segments Sky TV offerings into three packages – Entertainment, Sports and Cinema – will get a new user interface that should make navigating the platform on everything from smart TVs and media streamers to mobile phones and tablets smoother and more intuitive.

This is because Sky has opted to migrate Now to NBCUniversal's Global Streaming Platform, which currently powers Peacock in the US, as well as SkyShowtime in Europe and Multichoice in Africa. Sky highlights the platform's capabilities, referencing how it was the "first streamer to exclusively host an NFL Wild Card playoff game, which was the biggest live-streamed event in the U.S. history at the time".

Furthermore, Kali Cerr (Managing Director of NOW & Sky Content) had this to say regarding the upgrade coming to Now: "Migrating to NBCU’s Global Streaming Platform means NOW members will benefit from the ongoing delivery of customer features that enhance the viewing experience and leverage the latest technologies and innovations across the platform".

Despite migrating to a new platform, the service will remain as Now. That being said, Sky promises that the enhanced user interface will "further enhance the viewing experience and deliver a more personalised experience overall".

Overall, Now users can expect to see a slicker menu system with a smoother search function, new content rails including a Top 10 content list, the introduction of kids profiles with access to ad-free children's programming, and Sky Sports+ live streams will now be housed as curated collections in one convenient place.

Now users in the UK can expect to see a phased release of the app update from the 18th of February through to March, while members in Italy can anticipate a Spring update. The update is scheduled to launch in Germany at a later unspecified date.

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You won't find a better example of a 'Marmite' movie – one that is loved by some and hated by others – than the 2023-released biopic on boxer George Foreman, which returned to the Netflix catalogue last week. On Rotten Tomatoes, Big George Foreman has a Popcornmeter (audience) rating of 96 per cent yet a Tomatometer (critics) score of just 46 per cent.

Whether or not you fall for the movie's comeback tale charms and boxing history, this is a classic sports story to tell. The critics didn't rate its unoriginal storytelling format, but if you care more for the man and the sport than filmmaking frills and flair, you may well fall into that high rating group.

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A tale less told

The name George Foreman is often associated with 'the guy who out-fought Mohammed Ali'... and who launched a healthy grill system in his later years. But there's more to the man behind the gloves and his career, as this biopic examines.

The reality is that he is one of the most impressive boxers who has ever lived. When you're boxing at a time when Ali was at his height – and in the shadow of a self-selling machine – it was always going to be difficult to be seen.

Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World, to use its full title, gives the Foreman story a chance to be heard in a way that doesn't centre on Ali. Of course, Ali does feature, as does that fight, but this is a true comeback story that begins during his childhood of poverty – his situation fuelled his passion for the sport – and leads to his Olympic Gold win, at a time when boxing was becoming centre stage in the world.

Throw in a near-death experience and the life-changing effect it had on Foreman, and you have a compelling biopic, no matter how it is told. Starring George Tillman Junior, Khris Davis, Forest Whitaker and Jasmine Matthews, this super-strong cast transports you back to a golden era of boxing through this fascinating true story.

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Netflix is set to welcome a highly popular five-season TV series to its catalogue courtesy of rival streaming service and production company Paramount. Yellowstone has until now been exclusively streaming through Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video, but now that the cowboy hit has concluded it is being shared with other streaming services. Netflix has secured the rights and will add the show next Thursday (30th January).

How long it will be available is not currently clear right, but it may not matter as this is a seriously bingeworthy show.

Interestingly, Yellowstone was originally pitched to HBO, who rejected it. Paramount picked it up and it's been a massive hit since its debut in 2018, currently garnering an 83 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.6 score on IMDb.

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Cowboys, eh? So is it a Western?

While Yellowstone does have a theme that centres around cowboys, it's set in modern times and therefore referred to as a neo-western drama.

The show tells the story of conflicts between landowners over the shared borders of the Yellowstone Dutton Range, Broken Rock Indian reservation, Yellowstone National Park and land developers.

As you might imagine that means a lot of clashes resulting in political battles as well as physical ones.

Hit cast

Leading the charge is Hollywood's Kevin Costner, who you'll see in a lot of the promotional images as he was initially used to sell the show. Although you may well be familiar with other members of the cast too, due to their rise in fame alongside that of the TV show. For example, Kelly Reilly has risen to fame following her superb performances as Beth Dutton, the powerful daughter of John Dutton, Costner's character.

The show's popularity is in no small part due to that ensemble's acting efforts. Sure, there are some fantastic characters and great writing behind them, but the acting and chemistry of the cast really helps raise this show to another level.

Get ready for high drama in this powerful series that is bound to have you hooked from the start.

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I’m sure many of us can recall the days when getting an all inclusive Netflix subscription would only set you back £5.99 per month in the UK.

But those blessed times are behind us. As its subscribers have grown to a global audience of 700 million, so too have its prices with the standard subscription without ads costing £10.99 monthly in the UK. Things are about to get even more pricey in the US, however, as Netflix has announced a set of new price hikes.

Netflix Standard with ads has gone from $6.99 to $7.99 monthly, and without ads has gone up to $17.99 from $15.49. Perhaps the most egregious of them all is Netflix Premium which has gone from $22.99 to $24.99. Canada, Portugal and Argentina are also included in the price increase.

It said that this year the streaming service will be focusing on providing more live TV and video games, including “socially engaging” party games and mainstream established titles such as Grand Theft Auto.

So, what does that mean for the price in the UK? Netflix hasn’t released anything to suggest there will be an increase in any other countries, but their price hikes in the US could well transfer further afield.

The UK equivalent of the new US pricing tiers would be £6.49 (Standard with ads), £14.60 (without ads) and £20.28 (Premium). We’ll certainly be keeping our eyes peeled for any pricing hikes in the UK.

In the last decade there have been a whole host of streaming services created to rival Netflix, and the prices have been getting more and more competitive. Disney Plus, for example, is £4.99 for its lowest tier subscription.

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In August, my colleague wrote how Disney+ is the best streaming service for music fans – and he isn’t wrong. Amongst all the Marvel this and Pixar that, he found a perhaps unlikely number of concert films and documentaries, including Billie Eilish's Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter To Los Angeles, Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium, and Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour and Folklore: The Long Pond Sessions. I have had access to the Disney+ catalogue for years but until then hadn’t realised quite the wealth of music material in the House of Mouse’s library – material that is, more often than not, available in premium AV formats such as 4K, HDR and Dolby Atmos by the way.

So I have kept an eye on it since and am here to present you with three music and concert movies that have hit the service in the past few months, plus one coming soon that fans of Disney’s animated classics should enjoy.

Elton John: Never Too Late (13th December)

On 13th December, when you were up to your eyeballs in made-for-TV Christmas movies and on your umpteenth viewing of It’s A Wonderful Life, Disney+ released another Elton John masterpiece. The 100-minute documentary is a full-circle look at Elton’s life and 50-year career as he prepares for his final-ever show in North America at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium (2022), fittingly returning to the venue of his legendary 1975 concert. Never Too Late chronicles his rise to stardom and the many well-documented highs and lows he had on the way – what a life! – mostly told using fantastic vintage footage, including never-before-seen concert reels and even some excerpts from his personal diary. It’s highly personal and well put together, even if most of its content won’t be ‘new’ to Elton fans. But it’s the recent tour footage of him with his family (his husband, David Furnish, directed the documentary with RJ Cutler) that I found really valuable.

4K, Dolby Vision HDR, HDR 10, 5.1 audio

Music By John Williams (1st November)

Die-hard Williams fans will no doubt have lined up this documentary as soon as it dropped on Disney+, but even those with only a passing interest in the legendary composer will be in for a treat here. I sit somewhere in the middle of those audiences, and the documentary was a real eye-opener into the genius behind both the man and the musician – a colossal tribute to not only the many (many) hugely impactful scores he has produced but also the process and ideas behind how they came to life. For me, some of the best scenes are those between Spielberg (who produced the film with Ron Howard) and Williams, and just hearing the versatility of his scores within the 106-minute runtime (it could easily have been double that!) made for a wonderfully entertaining and cinematic experience.

4K, Dolby Vision HDR, HDR 10, 5.1 audio

Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (25th October)

Going backstage with the Boss, Road Diary opens with footage of and interviews from the band rehearsing and preparing for its 2023/2024 tour, its goal to get back to where it was in the ’70s and put on a proper rock show (rather than critics and audiences reacting with, as Nils Lofgren says: “it’s nice with these old men going through the motions!”) Naturally, we do get a trip down memory lane, to the band’s early formation and legendary live gigs, but the focus is fittingly on the latest touring – the preparations after six or seven years away and, of course, footage of the gigs themselves – and how much it means to the Springsteen lifers who attended.

4K, Dolby Vision, HDR10, Dolby Atmos, 5.1 audio

The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl (7th February)

This one could end up being my favourite on the list, such is my lifelong affection for my favourite-ever Disney movie. Last year, Disney held two back-to-back live-to-film concert events at the Hollywood Bowl to celebrate the movie’s 30th anniversary (and everything the franchise has so far spawned in the three decades), and in February the recording of that event is coming to Disney+. Most of the film’s running time will no doubt be taken up by performances of the songs – a full orchestra performs Hans Zimmer’s songs and there are also performances from the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. We can also expect cast members from both the 1994 and 2019 films, such as Jeremy Irons (Mufasa), Nathan Lane (Timon) and Jason Weaver (young Simba) as well as celebrity guest appearances from North West and Jennifer Hudson.

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If you've read any of our Samsung TV reviews, you'll notice a common con, and it's one that has nothing to do with their panel technology or price.

Specifically, jump over to any recent review, including the S95D QD-OLED or QN95D NeoQLED and you'll notice, a common flaw in the features section relates to a certain HDR format: Dolby Vision, which Samsung simply refuses to adopt.

"Why is this the case?" you may ask – Samsung says it's because it doesn't want to shell out for Dolby's costly licensing fees and, even though Samsung won't admit this, we're fairly sure it also comes down to its main competitor (also from Korea) embracing Dolby Vision with open arms... awkward.

Instead, the Korean tech conglomerate opted to pioneer the development of its own format, which we all fondly know as HDR10+. The idea here is that Samsung has much greater control over how it implements HDR into its TVs, allowing it to tune picture characteristics to align with its vision of what makes a good TV. Furthermore, it can implement HDR10+ freely with no concern regarding licensing costs; it's a win-win for Samsung.

In fact, Samsung is doubling down on this stance with its launch of Eclipsa Audio, which it developed in partnership with Google as a free, open-source alternative to Dolby Atmos. This immersive format is set to launch on Samsung's 2025 TV and soundbar line-up, and it's only coming to YouTube as of now, but it could make a powerful duo with HDR10+ to become a true Dolby-busting alternative.

Other manufacturers have also adopted HDR10+ as a supported standard, such as Panasonic, Philips, Hisense, and TCL. These companies haven't taken sides in the HDR war and instead opt to include support for both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision in harmonious coexistence.

There has always been one issue regarding HDR10+, though, and that surrounds supported platforms. If Dolby Vision is the golden child of the HDR family, showered with praise and supported by Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney Plus, and even Xbox, then HDR10+ is the middle child that is unfortunately overlooked in many circumstances.

Uptake of HDR10+ has been much slower, aside from Amazon Prime Video which welcomed it with open arms and adopted it as the preferred format for most (but not all) of its original programming. Netflix hasn't budged on its Dolby Vision preference, while Apple has softened its stance by supporting the format on its first-party TV+ content and third-party content bought via the Store (formerly iTunes). However, the one that's weighted heaviest in this HDR debate has been Disney Plus, as it has been team Dolby Vision since it launched in 2019.

The launch of IMAX Enhanced content on the platform a couple of years ago seemed to signal that the House of Mouse was opening up to different formats, with DTS:X audio joining Dolby Atmos on the platform.

Surely enough, at CES 2025 the industry group that backed HDR10+'s development announced that the format would be coming to Disney's streaming service in the near future. Details were brief, and we are yet to have a confirmed list of content, but this seems like a huge win for HDR10+ and, more importantly, Samsung TVs.

While not having Dolby Vision was never a deal breaker, it was a shame that owners of Samsung TVs were stuck with streaming in HDR10 on a majority of formats. With Disney opening its doors to HDR10+, this needn't be the case. HDR10+ aims to improve colour accuracy, expand contrast and adapt the picture on a frame-by-frame basis thanks to the use of dynamic metadata; all of which are major benefits over the "traditional" HDR10 format.

Make no mistake, we're not giving Samsung a free pass here; Dolby Vision is still an excellent tool that, when utilised correctly, can help creatives present movies and TV shows that best represent their original vision. We'd still really like Samsung to join its comrades in the TV realm and adopt the format, but we've come to terms with the notion that this is very unlikely to happen.

Ultimately, the battle of the HDR formats will continue to rage on. However, you'll certainly find mentions of Disney Plus supporting HDR10+ in our future Samsung TV reviews, as it's a crucial feature to mention and certainly a welcome addition.

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It's not often a TV adaptation of a computer game does well, but the anime reimagining of the classic Castlevania game (2017-2021) proved one of those rare exceptions, as did the spin-off series that landed on Netflix in 2023, titled Castlevania: Nocturne.

As Nocturne's first season got mind-melting 96 per cent Tomatometer and 8.3 IMDb scores, the second season has been eagerly awaited. It has now landed on Netflix and is already garnering praise, with Bloody Disgusting calling it "a more focused and emotionally powerful second season".

Created in classic Japanese animation style, expect imaginative and original action sequences framed by emotionally moving character arcs. And can you spot the famous voice actors in Castlevania: Nocturne season two?

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Voices in the dark

You may want to discover the famous actors voicing this show for yourself. If that's the case, scroll past this section of the article.

Still here? Then you must want to hear who has teamed up on this project. The stand-out name is Iain Glen, of Ser Jorah Mormont in Game of Thrones fame, who plays Juste Belmont, one of the main protagonists.

You may also spot the likes of Edward Bluemel, who leads as Richter Belmont, well known for his roles in My Lady Jane, Sex Education and Killing Eve. The other main character, Annette, is also played by a recognisable actor in Thuso Mbedu (The Woman King, Mufasa).

Castlevania: Nocturne plot

Castlevania: Nocturne follows the story of a legendary vampire-hunting family, the Belmonts, and especially renowned head honcho Richter, who has fought the likes of Dracula himself. In season two, we find the hero in the time of the French Revolution, vying to tackle the rise of a power-hungry vampire preying on the people.

Expect plenty of high-octane fight sequences with super-powered abilities, monsters and magical weaponry. It all equates to a visual feast that helps to punctuate the character stories well.

Castlevania: Nocturne won't be for everyone, as its 45 per cent Popcornmeter rating suggests, but if you're a fan of anime (particularly of the original Castlevania series) there is plenty to enjoy, and it's certainly worth giving that first episode a try if you haven't already – it's an instant taster of what's to come.

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Disney+ will soon start streaming in the HDR10+ format, FlatPanelsHD reports. This will bring Disney+ in line with Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video, both of which already support Samsung's format of HDR.

This is good news for owners of Samsung's TVs, which support HDR10+ but not the rival Dolby Vision format. That means they will be able to enjoy Disney+ movies and shows in HDR, with greater contrast.

Some TVs (like those made by Panasonic and Philips) support both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. But LG and Sony's TVs don't support HDR10+, leading content providers to essentially pick a side between Samsung's and Dolby's formats.

Disney+ already supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision.

Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and Paramount+ also support HDR10+.

HDR10+ was created by Samsung as a rival to Dolby Vision. Like its rival, it uses dynamic metadata to boost HDR images frame-by-frame, enhancing the difference between the lightest and darkest parts of the picture and adding depth.

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It isn't every day that a small-scale movie about Britain's working class punches way above its weight internationally, but that's what Bank of Dave did in 2023. It earned an impressive 87 per cent 'popcorn meter' rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its inspiring and uplifting story, not to mention a Top 10 spot around the world in the days after its December release. Now, its sequel is here.

Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger has landed exclusively on Netflix today, giving subscribers a good reason to keep warm in front of the TV this weekend. So what can you expect from this highly anticipated sequel and why should it be your film (or double-bill) of choice?

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Bank of Dave 2 is true... ish

Bank of Dave 2 once again follows the true-life story of self-made millionaire Dave Fishwick, who started a community bank in Burnley to help local businesses thrive. While a film about banking might not sound all that exciting, the original was compellingly unique by focusing more on the community and the underdog than any dull note counting.

This time, two years after the community bank was founded, the community banking hero moves to the US to bring the fight to payday lenders that prey on vulnerable Americans. Netflix says it is a 'true-ish story', while Fishwick himself told Radio Times that it's "hugely more real" than the first movie.

Who stars in Bank of Dave 2?

Thankfully many of the fantastic original cast have returned for the sequel, with some top US actors joining the list too. Rory Kinnear reprises the role of Dave Fishwick himself, with Hugh Bonneville back as anti-Dave banker Sir Charles Denbigh. Jo Hartley, from This Is England and Afterlife, also returns as Dave's wife Nicky Fishwick.

New to the cast is Rob Delaney of Deadpool & Wolverine fame, who plays cold-hearted loanshark Carlo Mancini. Also look out for cameos from Def Leppard, Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond, all playing themselves.

Piers Ashworth and Chris Foggin returned to write and direct the sequel respectively, so expect a similarly heartwarming and exciting underdog escapade.

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If a feel-good movie is what you're after – and who isn't at this time of year – then here's a superb option that may have slipped under your radar. The Rotten Tomatoes rating agrees, with a whopping 98% on the Tomatometer and 90% on the Popcornmeter. So, film fans are pretty much in agreement on this one.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a quirky, funny and entertaining film that all the family can enjoy. But don't think that means this is light and fluffy - there's real emotional depth and poignancy here, as well as tonnes of creativity, not least in the form of the stop-motion animation.

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What's in a shell?

In an art-meets-life-meets-art style, the film tells the story of a documentary maker who decides to start making a movie about a mollusk shell he finds living in his Airbnb. No, really.

Marcel, the super cute one-inch-tall shell, lives with his grandmother Connie and their pet lint, Alan. Living alone they are the mysterious survivors of a group of shells that once made up a community.

What follows is a story about finding a connection where you might not expect to discover. Ready your heart to be warmed and your funny bones to be tickled.

Handmade magic

The movie was the brainchild of Dean Fleischer Camp, who co-wrote, voiced and directed it, and Jenny Slate who co-wrote and voiced it. After buying the shell to make the film, Fleischer Camp found that others in the same store were so different that he ended up 3D printing shells to achieve the look he wanted.

This is one example of the many hurdles they had to overcome to get the film made, which is why it took seven years in production.

And it does feel like a labour of love, and real art – which no doubt helps deliver that genuine heart-warming feeling that's all too rare in family films these days.

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Christmas movie'd out already? If you've gone too hard on the jingle and cheer this December and want some classic movie immersion, Netflix has thankfully added some great movies in this pre-Christmas period that otherwise might be quiet for viewing.

To be clear, these aren't Christmas movies; we rounded up the best of those last week. These are Hollywood blockbusters that have made their way around various services only to land on everyone's favourite this week, meaning any subscribers can now enjoy these big-budget brilliant movies for free.

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The Batman

The Batman manages to reinvent this done-so-many-times movie in a way that's original, enthralling and entertaining. It's got a very decent 85 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes and sees Robert Pattinson play a dark and moody version of everyone's favourite human bat with a The Crow-like feel.

Look out for a near-unrecognisable Colin Farrell playing his part of the Penguin to perfection. In fact, he has a spin-off series to himself now, which I'd recommend if you fall for his character here. This latest in the franchise has mystery, drama, action and excitement, with huge helpings of style and dark edge that make this a classic example of Batman at his best.

Terminator: Dark Fate

While Terminator: Dark Fate didn't get the highest audience praise (82 per cent Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes), as a big fan of this series of movies I was surprised by how great this really is. Dark Fate goes back to the basics of a bad robot chasing a human protected by a good robot. Then it adds in some great twists to get the original Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton in the mix, who both do a superb job of playing with their characters in this new version of reality.

The ensuing action is high-paced, original, exciting and bags of fun to watch. It's so good I've watched it several times.

Carry-on

This straight-to-Netflix movie sees Taron Egerton (Rocketman, Tetris) playing a young TSA agent in an airport who has to outsmart a traveller who blackmails him into letting a parcel through on a Christmas Eve flight. So, yes, this is a bit of a Christmas film... but only in as much as Die Hard 2 is.

Mystery and quick thinking seize the day here as Egerton leads alongside Jason Bateman (Arrested Development, Air)and Theo Rossi (Sons of Anarchy). And keep an eye out for Breaking Bad's Dean Norris playing the classic enforcer-type character as you might expect him to.

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While this might not be your classic choice for a Christmas seasonal family film, it is not going to disappoint – just add some ginger biscuits to get you in the mood. With a 95 per cent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes (and a 94 per cent audience one), Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a fresh and, in my book, unmissable option for the whole family on Netflix.

Despite this being the sixth instalment in the Shrek movie series, The Last Wish is so well made that you could easily enjoy it as a standalone viewing, though I'd argue that it's best enjoyed as the finale to the hilarious and magical universe experience that it is.

Rated PG, this is a good family-friendly flick and there are plenty of jokes for parents as well as little ones.

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The finale for Puss?

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish continues the epic that started with the original Shrek back in 1990 as a picture book before being made into a film in 2001. Since then it has spawned five movies, a 4D short film, a TV special, many video games, theme park attractions and a West End musical theatre show. Together that has made Shrek the highest-grossing media franchise of all time.

Puss started making out for himself back in 2011 with the first Puss in Boots movie, followed up by The Last Wish in 2022. Indeed, it has taken a couple of years for it to hit Netflix so that subscribers can enjoy this cartoon comedy caper for free.

The best (spoiler-free) bits about The Last Wish

One thing to know about Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is that it's executive-produced by legendary director Guillermo del Toro of Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, Pacific Rim and Pinnochio fame. That's a golden touch to have on any project.

The story follows Puss (voiced by Antonio Banderas) who has lost all but one of his nine lives and is now on a mission to find the mystical 'last wish' to restore his many lives once again. It's fun, charming, genuinely amusing and often nostalgic – and don't just take my word for it. The Guardian called it a "sharp, striking Shrek spin-off" while The New York Times said that "this often charming movie will play particularly well if you’re a cat person".

This isn't the end of the line exactly either: Shrek 5 has been confirmed for a 2026 release.

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December's here, the Christmas season is in the air, and Netflix is dutifully filling its catalogue with frosty delights.

From new Christmas movies to seasonal classics, with some offering A-list leads while others going hard with that so-bad-it's-good charm, plenty are popping up on the streaming service weekly throughout the month.

Of the latest Christmas haul, I've picked three perfect winter warmers to leave you uplifted and in a festive mood. One has even won over the critics!

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Hot Frosty

It's rare to find a new Christmas film that has earned decent critic ratings, yet Hot Frosty has done just that. With an impressive 82 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes, this could be the Christmas film to get you in the spirit without requiring that customary leave-you-criticism-at-the-door attitude adjustment for the hit-and-miss Christmas movie genre.

An intentionally whimsical rom-com about a young widow whose magic scarf (yep, you read that right) brings a handsome snowman to life, expect everything to be tongue in cheek, with just enough of everything to scratch that holiday itch.

Our Little Secret

Unlike most of the straight-to-streaming movies on the Christmas options list, Our Little Secret actually feels like a more sophisticated release. And it has a sophisticated star at the helm, too, with Lindsey Lohan leading this fresh rom-com.

The story follows two exes who must spend the holiday season together upon discovering that their new partners are siblings. Ridiculous, yes, and many people's worst cringey nightmare – but it gives you enough to keep this silly and funny premise well within the light and uplifting viewing experience synonymous with the season.

Meet Me Next Christmas

Meet Me Next Christmas is at its best a passable seasonal romantic movie that does well to play up the charming warmth between the lead actors. But at worst it's like an advert for the Capella group Pentatonix, about whom the film is focused and in which there are one too many poor attempts at acting.

So if you want a film that's straddling that line between enjoyable and ridiculous enough to laugh at with your couch compatriots, this offers itself up perfectly for pot-shots aplenty.

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Own a freely TV? Then we have good news as the TV streaming service has just confirmed four new channels and content providers are joining it.

If you have a smart TV, you will be able to access PBS America, AMC Networks International UK (AMCNI UK), GB News and shopping channel QVC from early 2025.

That brings the total line up of streamed live channels on Freely to over 40.

Freely is available on next-generation smart TVs and is backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

One of PBS America’s offerings for the new streaming platform includes the work of filmmaker Ken Burns, who is known for his docs and movies on American history.

There’s also a news strand called Frontline which features the latest political news focused on the U.S.

You can stream these live TV channels alongside on demand content for free over Wi-Fi, so there is no need for a dish or aerial.

Another channel that caught our eye is Legend, which features a whole host of free sci-fi, action and cult series. Theorem you can find old school classics such as The A Team and the original Star Trek series.

Jonathan Thompson, CEO of Freely’s owner Everyone TV, said the new collaborations mark a “significant milestone as Freely continues to redefine the streaming experience, offering something for everyone, with content across a variety of genres.”

Freely is available on Panasonic’s line-up of 4K OLED, QLED, and LED TVs. We tested it on the Bush UT24SB as well as the Hisense E7NQ Pro, and we enjoyed the ability to live stream all BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 channels through the internet rather than having to watch them via an aerial or satellite dish.

There’s also Sharp’s range of smart TVs, including the GK4 4K and GM6 4K QLED models. Toshiba and Metz new models also come with Freely TV, including some QLED+ models from Metz which range from 43 to 65 inches in screen size.

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And here are the best prices for streaming services

This is our review of Freely

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!

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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

In case you haven't already heard, it's Black Friday! That means there are savings galore to be found on TVs, hi-fi, headphones, soundbars and more. However, there is a distinct lack of streaming deals here in the UK; unlike the US where you can currently get a sensational deal on the Disney Plus and Hulu bundle.

Netflix is offering nothing, Disney Plus has a disappointing lack of deals, and Apple TV+ is avoiding the sales event – in fact, it's practically only Paramount Plus and Sky which are offering discounts.

However, there is one deal that I'm personally parting with my hard-earned cash for; partly due because everyone in What Hi-Fi? Towers is chatting about the top-notch shows (which I don't want spoilers for) and also because it's a pretty solid deal – especially compared to the weak offerings from other services.

Now (formerly Now TV) has a selection of sixth-month saver options, including the Entertainment and Cinema passes for £6.99 per month (down from £9.99 per month) or a combination bundle with both passes included for £13.99 per month (instead of £19.98 per month).

My money is going on the Entertainment pass, on account of the plentiful TV shows I'd like to watch and the good price (I should be able to binge all of the shows on my watchlist in six months). However, there is a major condition that I'm not willing to compromise on that drives the price up, but I still think it's a worthwhile deal.

This Now streaming deal has absolutely enticed me, but I won't be subscribing without adding this to my package. As standard, Now streams in 720p with stereo sound; which doesn't really cut it for me. Thankfully, Now has introduced a new option to upgrade the picture and sound quality.

The Ultra Boost option upgrades picture quality to 4K with Dolby Vision HDR and support for Dolby Atmos audio; that's more like it. However, it does incur an additional £9 per month cost, bringing the full monthly cost to £15.99. That's a more expensive outlay than initially anticipated, but compared to Netflix's £18.99/month 4K HDR tier, I'm more inclined to opt for Now's offering.

With the likes of The Penguin, Dune: Prophecy and The Day Of The Jackal all piquing my interest alongside Succession and an unfinished second season of House of the Dragon haunting my watchlist for far too long, I'm convinced that I'll get my money's worth with this Black Friday streaming deal. And with this deal covering me for six months, I'll also be ready and waiting for The Last Of Us season 2 to hit the service early next year.

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We're finding and sharing the best Black Friday TV deals

As well as our live feed of Black Friday soundbar deals

Alongside our Apple TV 4K (2022) review

So, you've just taken advantage of a Black Friday TV deal and now you need an equally awesome Black Friday streaming deal so you've got loads of 4K stuff to watch on it. Well, we've got great news, because there is one. In fact, there's three we would heartily recommend.

As Black Friday hots up today and over the weekend, plenty of video streaming services are offering price cuts on subscription prices during Cyber Monday too, including Disney+, Hulu, Peacock and Paramount...

Disney & Hulu just $3/month

Our number one pick of the best Black Friday streaming deals is Hulu and Disney+ combining for a very impressive offer. Until 2nd December, you can subscribe to both streaming services for just $2.99 per month for a whole year, saving you 72 per cent, or $96.

Just want Hulu? You're looking at a monthly outlay of just $0.99 per month – incredible.

The catch? These deals are, as you'd expect given these super-low prices, only on the Basic ad-supported subscription tiers. Still, that gives you 4K HDR streaming on supported titles, and besides, Disney+ is our favourite video streaming service out there.

Peacock only $20/year

$20 for a year of streaming is a good deal on any service, particularly one with as much to offer as Peacock.

But if you don't want to commit to a service you might not have tried before for a whole year, the good news is that there is a six-month Black Friday deal too where you can pay just $1.99 per month.

Available to those who are not currently a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus subscriber, this Black Friday deal is on the Premium tier, which offers you 4K streaming but you will have ads and cannot download content.

If you have a Peacock account but are not a paid subscriber, simply sign into your account and enter code REALDEAL for the one-year offer or REALDEALMONTHLY for the six-month deal.

AMC+ for $1.25/month

This is only a two-month deal on AMC, but we reckon you can binge a whole lot of what this awesome streaming service has to offer in that time if you really channel your inner coach potato (we believe in you). The other caveat is that it's an Amazon Prime add-on so you need to have Prime Video as well, but I think it's a great opportunity to binge some of the best shows on TV (From, Dark Winds, The Terror etc) for peanuts.

Indeed, for Black Friday you can get AMC+ as an Amazon add-on for two months for just $2.50 ($1.25 per month), as opposed to paying $10 per month.

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And the best Black Friday soundbar deals out there

Our editors' picks of the best Black Friday headphone deals

Three unmissable new Netflix entries, two weekend days – yep, a choice is about to be put before you. But since we are already narrowing down your options to the cream of the newly released crop, at least you don't have to waste time endlessly scrolling the catalogue.

Here we have comedy from legends in the field, high-action award-winning animation and tear-jerking docudrama, so there's something for most moods and viewers.

These are all newly available on Netflix this weekend, giving you more than a good reason to spend the next few wintry days on the couch.

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Joy (Friday 22nd)

Joy is a movie that tells the story of how IVF was pioneered in the UK in the sixties and seventies. Starring Bill Nighy, Thomasin McKenzie and James Norton, expect a tear-jerking set of heart-warming performances from this well-reviewed (89 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes) drama, exclusive on Netflix.

The three pioneering British scientists who worked against the odds to make IVF a reality went through an experience that needs to be known. And this is a fantastic way to learn about the history of this groundbreaking scientific milestone.

Arcane finale (Saturday 23rd)

The multi-award-winning animated dystopian series Arcane has dropped its second season, and the final three-episode finale will be unleashed this weekend.

Released as Act I and Act II, the first two parts of season two landed at once. Only tomorrow, on Saturday 23rd November, can you access the final Act III triple episode ending. And this is just that – as the series creators say this will be the end of this show totally.

While this may be the end of Arcane, more could be coming as co-creator Christian Linke has said: "Arcane is just the beginning of our larger storytelling journey and partnership with the wonderful animation studio that is Fortiche Production."

A Man On the Inside (Nov 21)

This new comedy show, starring legend Ted Danson, is the next project fromThe Good Place creator Mike Schur. A Man on the Inside tells the story of a retired man who lost his wife and, seeking purpose, follows a wanted ad for an older man to go undercover in a care home.

This original storyline may sound fairly ridiculous, but it's actually based on a true story. Set in San Francisco, it spends a lot of time in the care home showing just how juvenile old age can be. And Danson is reportedly brilliant, with The Guardian calling him "comedy perfection in this unbelievably sweet show".

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This sci-fi cult classic has a surprising sequel – and it's free to watch right now

The wait is over, Cobra Kai fans – the second part of season six has finally made its appearance on Netflix, just in time for a weekend binge!

This isn't the popular TV show's final season – indeed, we have been promised that the seventh will arrive in 2025 and be the finale of this karate wonderland experience. So consider these latest episodes kind of like the second film in a movie trilogy. Here's hoping you think it's more Empire Strikes Back than Teen Wolf Too.

If you're new to the Miyagiverse, it certainly isn't too late to get involved. Watch the Karate Kid movie – or movies, if you can – and then enjoy all this series' references to those classic films. It's still a great standalone series – you'll just have a few references go over your head.

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All episodes have dropped

This second part of the sixth season comprises five episodes, which have all dropped at once, meaning you can binge this in one. The final season is also expected to be five episodes.

The show's creator said in an open letter: “Our day one goal with Cobra Kai has always been to end it on our terms, leaving the Valley in the time and place we’ve always imagined. So it is with immense pride and thankfulness that we are able to announce that achievement. … while this may be a bittersweet day for the fandom, the Miyagiverse has never been stronger.”

So while we can expect this all to end in 2025, that phrase can't help but linger: "Cobra Kai never dies!"

What's the story?

This season sees the Cobra Kai karate teams from the Valley heading overseas for the world championship showdown that is the Sekai Taikai.

William Zabka, who plays Johnny Lawrence, said: “The stakes are set at the end of the first five. I think if it was just a movie, it’s a great ending that would beg for a sequel, which fortunately is coming in a few months."

While the previous five-episode arc ended with relative peace in the valley, the co-showrunner Schlossberg says we can expect this new instalment "to take it to the next level".

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This weekend, the Netflix crew has concocted a particularly strong streaming offering for you to enjoy. From the punchy new Paul vs Tyson to the latest series of steam-punked Arcane, there's something for most tastes.

In the lead-up to the Christmas season, you can often expect a lull in decent new content as headline shows and movies are held back by distributors for the main event. Thankfully, Netflix doesn't appear to need such control as it has plenty to spare.

So get your comfiest couch attire on and settle in for a proper weekend binging recharge.

• The best TVs you can buy in 2024

Countdown: Paul vs Tyson

This is one of the most unique events to hit Netflix since the online streaming service began. As the lines between reality TV, YouTube celebrities and sports become ever more blurred, this TV event offers something very original.

This teaser show, which was released yesterday (Thursday), offers a glimpse of what we can expect from the main event next Friday (15th November). It sees YouTube celebrity Jake Paul, who is fresh in his new boxing career, take on the legendary retired heavyweight champion boxer Mike Tyson. Yes, it's real boxing, so they say. And yes, it's included in your Netflix subscription.

When you consider that these fights often cost viewers a hefty sum, this highly anticipated match-up could be well worth a watch – even for non-boxing fans.

Investigation Alien

As more and more alien and conspiracy TV shows hit Netflix due to popular demand, the quality is only going in one direction – upward. So expect some eye-opening viewing from Investigation Alien, which hits the service today (Friday 8th November). The docuseries promises to take you, via the guidance of reporter George Knapp, into the evidence of UFOs and alien life here on Earth.

For the uninitiated, Knapp is an American journalist famed for being part of the team that brought Bob Lazar into the limelight back in 1989. He has since won awards for his (mostly non-alien-focused!) work and hosts a paranormal radio show in Las Vegas.

Arcane, season two

This Sunday (9th November), steam-punk animation series Arcane is back for a second series following the widespread acclaim of its first in 2021. Arcane was based on the game League of Legends and, despite adaptations from game to screen not having the best track record, this bucked the trend to rank first in the 'Netflix Top 10' in 52 countries.

This was the first streaming series to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. It also won an Annie Award for Best General Audience Animated Television Broadcast Production.

The story is set in a dystopian period where there is unrest between a ruling rich and an oppressed population. This second series is actually set to be the last, to conclude the story. The first series was released in three acts over three weeks and, likewise, this second instalment will be unveiled weekly in three acts also.

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