It gives an instant cozy feeling, the idea of movie nights- of sitting in a couch with your family sharing a thick and warm blanket. Have you ever considered how every day would be less entertaining without films and music?

Would it still feel like a chill and relaxing Sunday morning without waking up to your dad’s tunes blasting off the speakers, or perhaps how incomplete your day would be without ending it with an episode or two of your favorite k dramas?

Indeed, music and films put so much more into our everyday routine. In the same way, the internet and technology have been extensively incorporated into our practices. From allowing users to socialize despite the distance to strengthening family bonds, technology has been convenient for people to utilize and enjoy by themselves or their families.

The Rise of Streaming Services in the Philippines

Back in the 90s, the VHS tape severely changed the entertainment industry by introducing the video-on-demand (VOD) concept. Imagine watching your favorite movies or shows whenever you like, as long as you have the tape and the player.

Fast forward to the 21st century, with the launch of VCDs, DVDs, and now, Blu-ray, varying levels of resolution quality became widely available to the public. Nowadays, VOD has transformed since the age of VHS. Streaming services provide VOD services to everybody with a premium subscription.

The norm for family bonding has changed from going to mall cinemas and having meals outside of the home to discovering new content to watch on TV with the help of streaming sites. An extensive library of exclusive content to binge on.

Away from the stress of getting everyone ready, deciding which movie and timeslot to choose, and other troubles of going to cinemas, video streaming platforms and music Streaming Services are widely available online, allowing users to watch shows featuring local films like those from star cinema and viva entertainment, and international and foreign selections. In contrast, some feature the hottest Asian dramas.

You may be asking what the deal is with these sites. You’re probably thinking you can just subscribe to one, and that’s it. But here’s the thing: different sites have different pros and cons.

Read on to find out more about streaming sites as we dive deep into the best streaming services in the Philippines!

Netflix

Starting this list is probably one of the most established streaming platforms today, Netflix. As a forerunner in video streaming services, Netflix has created for itself a niche market.

But, did you know that Netflix started out as a literal video rental service? Back then, Netflix sent customers physical copies of movies as a service.

It’s hard to believe that years later, they revolutionized the service into being entirely virtual, offering syndicated and original content, leading to Netflix briefly becoming a massive monopoly in their game and earning a fair share of the market.

Why should you choose Netflix, you say? It has a user-friendly UI that allows people to navigate the site or app easily. Additionally, Netflix is compatible with a previously exclusive service called Teleparty that allows people from different locations to create a private room to watch movies or shows simultaneously with the addition of a chat function.

Watch shows in Full HD resolution and discover more of Netflix by starting with:

• Stranger Things – a heart-warming callback to 80s kids’ adventure movies like The Goonies, Stranger Things pits kids as they face off a mysterious plot involving their town, a bald girl, and the local electric company.
• House of Cards – the first Netflix original, House of Cards follows Frank Underwood as he navigates the US political sphere, manipulating and outmaneuvering the people around him to lead him to his goal: becoming the president.

Amazon Prime

Following on this list is Amazon prime video. E-Commerce giant Amazon entered the streaming game during the brief reign of Netflix as the king. Amazon’s streaming service followed the same path as Netflix, only with more financial backing. Amazon Prime changed the entire game and gave Netflix a run for its money, eagerly creating original content and scooping up rights to a myriad of properties.

Here’s something to note: Unlike Netflix, Amazon Prime currently has no free services, thus allowing for a service like Teleparty. Though one may be on the way soon, remote watchers will have to stay with Netflix in the meantime.

Are you ready to dive into streaming platform? Catch these stories on Amazon prime:

• Modern Love – Based on the New York Times column but with a bit of embellishment here and there. Modern Love tells various stories of the different faces of love. Stories begin and end either happily ever after, though sometimes not together, but continue to inspire everyone to interpret love in their own stories and ways.
• The Boys – Based on the comic book series of the same name, The Boys explores what would happen if superheroes were not as heroic as we want them to be. A tale told through the lenses of dark humor, satire, brutal action, and snappy dialogue, The Boys has gathered renewed interest in the books and has now greenlit multiple spin-offs for Amazon Prime.

HBO Max

HBO, the home box office, is a hallmark of cable television. Known for creating quality content while being the home for a curated collection of theatrical films. HBO, or the Warner Media Group, has ventured into the streaming game.

With the DC Universe, Discovery, HBO Originals, and almost every other Warner Brothers-owned franchise under their belt, HBO Max has landed in the Philippines and is quietly brewing Asian-produced content along with their usual mix of American offerings.

Like most platforms on this list, HBO allows simultaneous streams. However, you might also want to note that, like Amazon Prime, HBO Max does not support free remote-watching services like Teleparty.

Calling all series enthusiasts! HBO Max might just be for you, Check Out these series to enjoy with your family:

• Game of Thrones – dubbed the show that changed television forever, Game of Thrones tells the story of the Starks, Targaryens, and Lannisters as they seek revenge, vie for control, and maintain power. The show is a master class in character development, creating some of the most memorable dialogue and scenes in television history. Two words: Red Wedding.
• Barry – another home run for HBO is the story of a hitman turned actor. That’s right, Barry, a former soldier currently working as a hitman-for-hire, encounters an unexpected problem on his latest assignment: he gets inspired to be an actor. Now he must navigate life balancing his hitman duties and acting school while learning what it is to be human, face his trauma, and hopefully be on the path to healing.

Disney+

The brand that houses most of our childhood, Disney, crushed their way to the video streaming services game. Disney turned heads when they announced in the late 2010s that they would pull all their content from Netflix’s library.

In a predictable move, Disney+ launches a few years later, housing ALL the movies and shows featuring the characters we all know and love. Disney Classics, Disney Princesses, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, you name it, and Disney+ (and no one else) has it.

Launching with a bang with Disney+ exclusive shows for Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Disney+ has become in demand all around the Globe and has finally arrived in the Philippines in November 2022, satisfying Disney fans all around the nation. Like Amazon Prime and HBO Max, Disney+ does not have free plugins or services that allow simultaneous streaming.

Here are some of our film recommendations to jump start your Disney+ Streaming:

• The Mandalorian – Disney+’s very first original, launched back in 2019. The show tells the story of a Mandalorian bounty hunter who ends up working for the Empire, only to discover that there are things more important than the mission and that his journey is only about to begin.
  The Mandalorian sets up the next Star Wars movie trilogy, The Heir to the Empire, along with other shows like Ahsoka, The Book of Boba Fett, and Rebels for additional world-building.
• Loki – Everyone’s favorite Asgardian trickster god is back and alive. for some reason. With time travel shenanigans afoot, Loki discovers his previous plans for domination are meaningless in the grand scheme of things, discovering his long-concealed humanity in the process, all the while setting up the next saga in the MCU with the formal introduction of the Multiverse, and its keepers.

Other Streaming Platforms You Must Try

Aside from the above-mentioned streaming platforms and streaming services, you may also try other subscriptions like YouTube Premium. YouTube, one of social media’s biggest and most used streaming platforms now offers a paid subscription for users to watch shows ads free.

Despite its vast reach when it comes to sales and subscriptions, YouTube continues to be a social media user’s most-used site allowing users to enjoy their music streaming service, music videos, and YouTube music. Calling all Filipino film fans! Youtube offers a variety of Filipino films.

Aside from this, You might want to check these platforms out: Iflix, Viva Max.

Aside from YouTube Music, those looking for music streaming services should not miss out on the big names of music streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.

Foodies, don’t turn blue! There’s a platform for you. Food Network Go and Discover + allow users to stream food network and Asian food network.

Whether you’re planning on watching a standalone film, the newest entry in a franchise, or the beginning of one, the family will have a lot of options for their next movie night, weekend, or marathon! Just don’t forget a big bowl of snacks and a warm cozy blanket to make the experience all the better.

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