Netflix, Presto, Stan: What to watch

NOW that the dust has settled, TV shows have launched and deals have been made, what can you watch on streaming services Netflix, Presto and Stan this weekend?

Actors Laurence Fishburne and Gary Sinise in a scene from TV show 'CSI : Crossover'.

IT’S been nearly two months since Netflix launched officially in Australia and around four since both Presto Entertainment and Stan went online.

Now that the dust has settled, TV shows have launched and deals have been made, what can you watch on streaming services Netflix, Presto and Stan this weekend?

Foxtel’s Presto has added popular TV shows like Modern Family, plus more HBO content like Generation Kill and the first two seasons of Carnivale. Unfortunately there is still no Game of Thrones on Presto, however it’s available on Foxtel’s Play service.

Foxtel hasn’t released its subscriber numbers yet, but there are loads of promotions around that are offering it for free, like Telstra mobile plans, so expect the subscriber base to be quite high. It’s not known how many of those are paying customers, however.

Regarding devices, Presto is still only available on tablets, phones, PCs and on your TV through Chromecast. They do promise that PS4, Xbox One and smart TV support is coming in the near future. HD streaming is still missing from Presto, and there is no word when it will be supported.

Actor Taylor Lautner in a scene from film The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

Stan has added flicks like Edge of Tomorrow, The Lego Movie and the Twilight series to help bolster their movie credential. Dallas Buyers Club is on there too, for anyone who wants to watch it legally without getting done for privacy.

TV show wise, Season 21 of Top Gear is now on the service and classic TV series like Beverly Hills 90210, The Nanny and CSI are all on there too. Stan will also be the first of the services to completely commission an Australian show, a comedy called No Activity.

Like Presto, Stan only supports mobile, tablet and desktop streaming plus supports Chromecast and also Apple’s Airplay, which Presto doesn’t, for your TV.

Stan is the only service of the three where we have a rough idea how it is going subscriber wise, with the service’s parent company Fairfax Media announcing that it has roughly 200,000. They didn’t say how many of those were paying customers and not on free trials, though.

Netflix in Australia has been fighting the battle a bit differently to the others. While Presto and Stan have been relying on content traditional TV networks have produced, Netflix is banking on its own content. Since launching in Australia, their flagship show has been the Marvel Comics based Daredevil, while also quietly pushing out shows like The Returned. The service still has the least amount of Australian content, however, with only really ABC and SBS’s commercial shows like Summer Heights High and Housos available. The upcoming third season of Orange is the New Black in June is also expected to be a drawcard for the service.

Netflix, the leading Internet movie and TV subscription service, is heading down under, announcing today it will expand into Australia and New Zealand in March 2015. The highly anticipated launch of the streaming service will allow Internet-connected users in both countries to access the premium and unique Netflix offering in high definition and even 4K where available. Original series available at launch include Marco Polo, BoJack Horseman and All Hail King Julien. Image details: Charlie Cox stars in the Netflix Original Series “Marvel’s Daredevil.” Photo: Barry Wetcher

With the recent launch of flagship TVs from Samsung and LG, Netflix has also been installed on all of them, with seamless integration. Like Presto, there are no official numbers for Netflix’s Australian subscribers, but similar to Telstra, Optus is giving away Netflix subscriptions to new customers, so that will have helped boost initial numbers.

Netflix may become more expensive soon, too. It’s expected that the government will include a ‘Netflix’ tax in the upcoming budget, adding a GST to digital goods and services like Netflix.

While the content from all three services still lacks that of streaming options in the USA, they’re off to a steady start and aren’t slowing down any time soon.

News Corp Australia, publisher of news.com.au partially owns Foxtel.

Actors Laurence Fishburne and Gary Sinise in a scene from TV show 'CSI : Crossover'.