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January 5, 2021


Happy New Year! As we head into 2021, the streaming landscape has already changed dramatically with the introduction of Discovery+. Just how much of a shake-up this new service will cause is yet to be seen, but Discovery Inc.  has done a fairly good job with promotion. Here's a quick review of our first look into Discovery+.

Streamer's Spotlight: First Look at Discovery+

Discovery Inc. kept most of the Discovery+ features a secret until the release of the new service on January 4. Now that it's here and ready for you to try out, we've taken it for a spin to gather all the essential details. Here's a quick breakdown if you're considering getting in on Discovery+.
 

What Is Discovery+?


Discovery+ (or Discovery Plus) is the newest multi-channel streaming service on the market. We use the term "multi-channel" kind of loosely here. As we discovered post-launch, Discovery+ doesn't have any live TV streaming, although it does plan to offer 24/7 channels for popular shows before the end of January 2021.

That said, you can get full episodes and full seasons of its content from across its entire TV channel library. That includes:
  • HGTV
  • Food Network
  • TLC
  • ID
  • OWN
  • Animal Planet
  • Discovery
  • Discovery Originals
  • Magnolia Network Preview
  • BBC Planet Earth
  • A&E
  • Lifetime
  • History
  • Travel Channel
  • DIY Network
  • The Dodo
 

How Much Does Discovery+ Cost?

There are two pricing options available: $4.99/month with ads, or $6.99/month ad-free.  It offers a 7-day free trial.


What Devices Can I Use with Discover+?

The service launched with a great selection of available apps. Watch it on:

 

  • Amazon Fire TV
  • Apple TV
  • Android TV
  • Chromecast
  • Roku
  • Samsung Smart TV
  • Android and iOS smartphones and tablets
  • Xbox One, Series S, and Series S
  • Chrome OS, macOS and Windows PC browsers
 

Discovery+ Limitations


Note that Discovery+ is an on-demand streaming service. You cannot use it to access live streams of any Discovery Inc. channel. That means if you need or want to watch live streams of any content, your best option for Discovery Inc. channels is still Philo
 

Discovery+ First Impressions


I'd classify the Discovery+ UI as "good, not great". It follows a very similar aesthetic to most services on the market right now, with categorization options based on channel/service and on fairly narrowed themes, such as "Originals", "Trending Shows", "Lifestyle", "Adventure & Exploration", etc. 

Categorization happens in three ways: a left-right scroll panel on the top of the app for categories, a left-right scroll panel for channels, and a series of left-right scroll panels at the bottom based on other criteria, such as "Favorite Personalities" nad "Thought-Provoking Documentaries".

Streaming quality is great, and you can add closed-captioning. Beyond that, the app has very limited features. You can download and watch later, for example, and while you can turn off streaming over cellular data, you can't do much else to adjust the settings for the app. There's also no parental restriction features, although there is some (not much) TV-MA content. 

Overall, Discovery+ is a decent launch and quick, cheap access to some of the most popular entertainment and lifestyle networks available on cable TV. It's a bit of a no-brainer for cord-cutters who want to downsize, and likely pairs well with Sling TV.

This Week's Streaming Guide

1. !@#@ With 'History of Swear Words" on Netflix

What the !@#! is History of Swear Words? Stream the full first season on Netflix. - Stream on Netflix

2. 'This Is Us' Returns from Hiatus

Season 5 returns to NBC this tonight (January 5) at 9 PM EST. - NBC Without Cable

3. 'Obsessed with the Babysitter' Streaming on Lifetime

Illicit passions lead to drama. Watch Obsessed with the Babysitter on Lifetime this Saturday (Jan. 9) at 8 PM EST. - Lifetime Without Cable

4. NBC's 'Weakest Link' Returns from Hiatus

The holiday break is over, and so is your wait for more Weakest Link episodes. Season 1 continues this Monday (Jan 11) at 10 PM EST. - NBC Without Cable

News and Industry Developments

1. Discovery+ Will Debut in 12 European Markets

A critical Vodafone deal will see the new service branch internationally in short order. - Deadline

2. Discovery+ Will Get Live Olympics Broadcasts...in Europe

Not so much for US fans, who will be stuck with NBC yet again. -  Financial Times

3. Slate of ViacomCBS Channels Coming to Hulu Live TV

That price increase just got justified (slightly). - TheVerge

4. 'Die Hard' Among Mature Content Coming to Disney+ Star

The new Star content will be segmented and offered at no additional cost. - Yahoo!
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