BET+
Who’s it for? Viewers who want programming that spotlights Black culture
Price: $9.99 monthly; $94.99 annually
Notable originals: “All the Queen’s Men”; “First Wives Club”; “Love Marry Kill”
Library titles: “Basketball Wives”; “Love & Hip Hop”; Tyler Perry movies and TV series
BET+ is a premium streaming service in the Viacom/CBS family that provides subscribers access to a diverse selection of movies, TV shows and specials with a Black cultural perspective in mind. BET+ content includes original productions along with exclusive content from Viacom/CBS networks including BET, Comedy Central and VH1.
BritBox
Who’s it for? Fans of British murder mysteries and other U.K. programming
Price: $7.99 monthly; $79.99 annually
Notable originals: “Grace”; “Make It at Market”; “Suspect”; “The Tower”
Library titles: “The Coroner”; “EastEnders”; “The Office”; “Scott & Bailey”; “Suspect”; “Vera”
BritBox is designed for fans of British television and film with a focus on programming mostly from British TV networks BBC and ITV. Did that sentence give you a little déjà vu? There’s a lot of overlap between the programming and audiences for Acorn TV and BritBox. More than just murder mysteries, though, BritBox also has a growing library of high-quality original productions. It also offers same-day or live coverage of news and major events and a “Now” feature that allows users to watch select programs shortly after they air in the U.K.
The Criterion Channel
Who’s it for? Connoisseurs of art films, international films and classic movies
Price: $10.99 monthly; $99.99 annually.
Notable titles: “Breathless”; “Days of Heaven”; “The Elephant Man”; “Tampopo”
Collections: Starring Isabelle Huppert; Buster Keaton; Austin Film Society; David Lynch
The Criterion Channel is the streaming-service version of the familiar Criterion Collection of Blu-rays and DVDs. The company specializes in high-quality versions of classic movies, non-English-language films and cult favorites. Subscribers also may stream documentaries and TV shows related to Criterion’s curated content.
Crunchyroll
Who’s it for? Fans of anime and manga
Price: Free, with ads; $7.99 to $14.99 monthly
Notable titles: “Attack on Titan”; “Chainsaw Man”; “Dragon Ball”; “My Hero Academia”; “Naruto”
Crunchyroll was founded in 2006 and has since become one of the largest platforms for anime content worldwide. Its anime collection includes current shows and classics, covering the full range of the animation style’s genres: action, romance, fantasy, comedy. There are even a few live-action dramas in the mix. Membership allows access to the Crunchyroll website for internet streaming and offers manga (a form of Japanese comic book). Crunchyroll premium subscribers also can stream episodes shortly after they air in Japan, often with subtitles in multiple languages. The free plan includes ad-supported streaming and limited access to additional programs. Crunchyroll is available in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and parts of Latin America and, via social media, has a global community for anime fans.