Streaming TV has arrived, and finally there is something good to watch on TV. In fact there’s almost too much.

So, which streaming service is for you? Is price the crunch factor? Or the abillity to watch your favourite shows?

Here’s our quick lowdown to streaming TV services in Australia.

What does streaming mean?

Streaming means watching TV and movies through an online platform. So, if you’ve got a digital TV, you can access a streaming service. Basically, it means on-demand TV. What you want, when you want it. You might never get off the couch again.

The main players

The main players in this brave new world are Netflix, Presto, Foxtel Play and Stan, and they are competitively priced.

• Presto costs $10 per month for streaming an unlimited amount of Standard Definition (SD) content.
• Stan offers High Definition content for $10 per month.
• Netflix costs $8.99 for one SD screen, and $11.99 for two HD screens.
• Foxtel Play costs $25 per month for a basic pack, plus an extra $20 per month for the premium pack.

How do I play them?

To use a streaming service, you’ll need a Smart TV. What’s that? Well, it simply means that your TV is internet connected, and can offer services like apps and web browsing as well as media streaming.  But you’re not limited to your TV – you can also watch your favorite movies and TV shows on other devices – anything from your smartphone to an Xbox. You can find out more about Digital TV here. Still confused? Call your local TV expert today to get the lowdown.

How much will downloading all that data cost?

A big turn-off for users of TV streaming is the cost of downloading all that data. Luckily, most ISPs are providing quota-free streaming for their customers. This means even if you binge watch your favourite shows, you won’t exceed your monthly broadband quota. How great is that?

There is a catch: this is only available on broadband plans – not on your mobile phone. You can find more about quota-free streaming here.

So, which streaming service should I choose?

Ultimately, this largely depends on what you want to watch. All streaming services offer different content, so whether you want to watch Orange is the New Black or Game Of Thrones will be a major decider for your choice of provider.

Netflix has one of the largest libraries of online content in the world with exclusive rights to loads of TV shows and movies, plus some terrific original content, but their Australian catalogue is not as comprehensive as their US one. Presto and Stan hold their own in the Australian market with thousands of movies to choose from.

Do your research, check out what deals your ISP offers, decide what shows appeal to you and your family, and then settle down and enjoy never visiting a video store. Ever. Again.

You can find out more about the different streaming services here.