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The way we watch movie and TV shows has changed over the years. With a decent Internet connection, you are now offered unlimited choice of what to view, thanks to online movie rental sites such as Netflix. Yet there are other sites that offer equal and, some would argue, better value for the money. Let’s take a look at three of the best:
Hulu
If there’s one online movie rental site that comes close to Netflix, it’s Hulu. Comcast, 21st Century Fox, and the Walt Disney Company all have vested interests in Hulu, so it’s likely that it’s here to stay. Offering premium video content from around the world, as well as from a multitude of networks and studios, Hulu offers plenty of movies and TV shows to enjoy. Thus far, it is only available to viewers in the US, but the site has plans to branch further afield. And just like Netflix did with House of Cards, Hulu has already produced its own original content in Battleground. The site’s five-year deal with the CW ensures viewers can use the site to stream next-day content from five of the six major networks, which isn’t bad for $7.99 a month.
Amazon Instant Video
As you’d expect from Amazon, its online movie rental site offers an unlimited array of new TV shows and classic favorites for subscribers to stream. Besides its subscription service to a range of popular titles, Amazon also offers Instant Video, which enables you to keep up-to-date with the latest releases without making a trip to the cinema. Additionally, you can subscribe to an ongoing TV service: once the show has been aired, you can catch up the very next day.
CinemaNow
Unlike Netflix and the other online movie rental sites on this list, CinemaNow’s biggest selling point is that it doesn’t force the viewer to subscribe to a monthly plan in order to use its services. CinemaNow offers a pay-per-view plan beginning at $2.99. You can rent your favorite titles, or you can buy and download them too.
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Paul Williams
Paul Williams brings a wide range of experiences to his writing. He worked extensively in technology, as a software engineer, technical writer, and now a technology writer. Known as the leader of one of the top American Spacerock bands, his forward-looking music continues to be heard all over the world.