Great reasons to try Streaming TV - Shows you won't see anywhere else

Streaming TV is not going away, in fact it’s a force to be reckoned with. Streaming isn’t killing Free to Air and it’s not really directly impacting on Foxtel – but there are millions of people who haven’t even dipped a toe in the water, so let’s get that toe wet folks!

Let’s start with the basics. Streaming TV services require you to “sign up” and hand over a credit card. For all three key services (Presto, Stan and Netflix) there are one month free trials. To get going on the free trial you will need to hand over that credit card. My advice is set a reminder in your diary for 25 days after sign-up to cancel your account if you don’t want to be charged.

The best way to kick things off are on your smartphone or tablet. Download the relevant app, enter your login details and start browsing.

Each service has a deep catalogue of content and what you need to do is let it learn about you.

Running in the background at all times is a complex algorithm which learns from what you watch to recommend new things for you to watch. This is actually the beauty of the streaming services – but it only works once you’ve started watching stuff. Don’t just ignore your trial – get into it and start watching stuff.

Once you get into it, you can look at “better” ways to watch, with perhaps a Telstra TV, Fetch TV or Apple TV box – or a new Smart TV or Chromecast. There’s plenty of ways – but first, lets get you hooked!

Here’s nine great shows which apart from the odd billboard or advertisement you’ve probably never heard of and certainly haven’t seen on Free to Air TV.

Recommended by me:

Now, let’s be clear, these are my personal recommendations – and my tastes may well differ to yours. I don’t particularly like Zombie stuff or blood and guts, I’ve never seen an episode of Game of Thrones. But I do love Law and Order, The West Wing, Entourage, Madam Secretary, 24, Seinfeld – so year, I’m all over the shop

Billions (Stan)

Ok, this is brilliant, part lawyer drama, part stock market drama – it’s a gripping show about a Billionaire trader who is being targeted by the US Attorney over his firms practices. It’s hitting Stan each week and I’ve got to tell you I’ve loved every single episode.

Mr Robot (Presto)

Very nerdy concept here, this is about a young hacker who gets caught up in a whole matrix like complexity that will keep you on your toes and thinking each and every episode. Tough not to spoil anything, but you’ll probably need a bit of geek in you to get the most from it, but regardless it’s a cracking good drama.

11.22.63 (Stan)

Wow, where do I start – ever wondered what would happen if you went back in time to try to prevent the assassination of JFK? That’s what James Franco is up to in this one. But it’s not like Doc and Marty, he can’t choose the date before the gunshot – he’s got years in the past to prepare and you’ll follow him along the journey. Love this show.

Better Call Saul (Stan)

If you watched Breaking Bad why the hell haven’t you watched Better Call Saul. If you haven’t watched Breaking Bad what the hell is wrong with you? This is a great, fun, witty and brilliantly shot story of a small town lawyer and his life before Breaking Bad. Into its second season a new episode drops each week on Stan.

House of Cards (Netflix)

Without doubt the story of Streaming TV. This program is made for Netflix by Netflix. The only place to watch it is on Netflix. A highly implausible yet gripping US political drama that follows a congress man who has aspirations for the White House. If you’ve not seen an episode, get ready for a wild ride. If you’re up to Season 4 – NO SPOILERS OK – I’m still getting through it.

Recommended to me:

Suits (Netflix)

I’ve not seen this one yet, but it’s in the top three shows (outside those above) people tell me to watch. It’s been on Foxtel for a while, but it’s a legal drama so that’s one heck of a good start for me. It’s one of Netflix most popular.

Narcos (Netflix)

Just like House of Cards this one is made for Netflix by Netflix and it’s all about Pablo Escobar the Colombian drug lord and the Law enforcement agents hunting him down. Feels like a good (but unrelated) off-shoot to Breaking Bad to me.

Scandal (Presto)

This has been around a while, and Presto has every episode plus all new episodes every week. It’s got a bit of politics and a bunch of scandal – as the name suggests – it’s at the top of Presto’s list of most watched shows right now, so let’s go where the crowd is and find out.

The Walking Dead (Presto)

Perhaps not up my ally, but it gets a lot of talk – Into its sixth season the show is set in the time following a Zombie Apocalypse.

Parents

If you’re a parent – Wow, don’t kid yourself folks, there is a tonne of great kids content on Streaming TV. When my son was born 9 years ago, we had Foxtel, and without it, we’d still be buying the same DVDs over and over because kids scratch them but want to watch that show again and again.

Where Disney Junior dominated our viewing for many years, I can absolutely see parents of today saying that Stan, or Netflix or Presto are an important part of their kids viewing habits.

For what it’s worth – Stan is my current pick for mums and dads, introducing my kids to the original series of The Thunderbirds and Inspector Gadget has been sensational!

Presto:

Ben 10, Dora the Explorer, George of the Jungle, Hi 5, and loads of Kids movies (including Cars and Nemo)

Netflix:

Octonauts, The Wiggles, In the Night Garden, Mister Maker, Thomas the Tank Engine, and a heap of kids movies.

Stan:

Octonauts, Charlie and Lola, Dora the Explorer, Teletubbies, Bob the Builder, and some classics like Lassie, Thunderbirds and Inspector Gadget and again loads of movies.