Been doing the free preview thing for a few months now. Actually kept BritBox and Acorn for quite a

[Floyd R. Turbo]

while before canceling. Canceled PBS after three days. Canceled Sundance Now after two. Currently on Starz which isn’t going to make the cut either. Finding that each service has a half dozen or so programs that are worthwhile. The rest are typically available elsewhere and/or total crap.

[Demsrule86]

1. And you can sign on during those times, there is something you want to watch...I like

Ms. Fischer and the spinoff...love British mysteries so I am still working on Acorn. I also have a channel that has the discovery of witches series on...there is a third series...loved the books. My point is that you can come and go based on what is available on the channel.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

2. I too like the no subscription thing!

[Demsrule86]

16. It works well. I have been very pleased with streaming content. It allows me to choose my content.

With cable it is this package or that package...the last time I tried Direct TV after they installed it...they tried to charge me for local channels. I took the box back that day and never looked back. With cheap apps like Paramount and Locast which is free, we can watch football...Cleveland plays the Giants tomorrow.

[CurtEastPoint]

5. PBS: Unforgotten and Halifax Retribution and Grantchester and Durrells on Corfu and...

I could go on. There is a TON of stuff on PBS and it's 5/month

[Demsrule86]

12. Also, the new All Creatures Great and Small...I am a huge James Herriot fan.

Also, Frankie Drake...love that show. I have also watched a number of Cleveland Broadway series shows. Since our Playhouse Square has been cancelled, I have enjoyed that. I love PBS and have always contributed to it...since cutting the cord I got a passport and they have excellent content as you pointed out.

[CurtEastPoint]

17. Yes! Creatures... I forgot that one. And isn't Last Tango on PBS?

[hlthe2b]

3. It irks me that I pay for Prime and yet more and more content requires an additional subscription

--which would be bad enough, except they don't discount those subscriptions. Whether you view via Prime or through the individual apps for each, it is the same price. Sure, they offer a week-long free trial, but so does everyone else. This trend of Amazon Prime showing zero or maybe one season of a show before requiring you to subscribe to another service definitely has me wondering if I will continue. I don't order that much anymore and that which I DO order no longer seems to ship in the time frame promised by PRIME.

At least I got Bezos to outer space, I suppose. So I served my purpose.

[csziggy]

8. Yeah, for some things I believe Prime TV is bait & switch

They show enough to get you hooked then switch it to pay per view or another subscription. It's annoying but so far not quite enough for me to cancel.

[Demsrule86]

13. The content you refer to is from seperate channels and can be purchased elsewhere...for example

Roku has the same subscriptions...this is not Prime charging for their content. I like to get other channels from Amazon as you can cancel it and it stays cancelled no fighting to end any subscription. But Prime merely offers paid channels that you can subscribe to in a number of places if you like and have your content in one place which is convenient...they have nothing to do with it otherwise.

[hlthe2b]

14. Fully aware. When Prime video started, Amazon obtained rights to all the seasons shows content

they were promoting on PRIME. Now, they obtain a season at most and then send you to subscribe to one of the channels. As the earliest of Prime members, I'm very much aware of the scam. And yes, I do have ROKU and if I do an Acorn or other subscription, I will download the app and watch it on ROKU. There is nothing to be gained by doing so through Amazon.

[Demsrule86]

15. It is not a scam...I have had prime pretty much since the beginning and they didn't get

new shows back then...I like Prime and find it convenient...no one gives that content away for free..are they all scammers?

[hlthe2b]

18. It is not free. Your prime membership, now $119/year pays for it.

Amazon, like Netflix negotiated short-term rights to programming--well before they started up their own original productions. Now, they minimize the non-original content over their own programming and get paid by BritBox, Acorn, HBO, Starz, Showtime, MHZchoice, and countless others to promote their subscriptions and subscribed content.

Do you honestly not realize they are getting a kickback for doing so--in addition to your $119/year? So is ROKU, but at least it is clearly and distinctly separate.

[yellowdogintexas]

20. I enjoy Prime especially their original content

and now they are bundling IMBD TV shows. I have enjoyed some of the shows from IMDB.

I sort my system by "free to me" to avoid the rent or buy programming

When I first got Prime, I got hooked on "The Good WIfe" When a new season came out, it was not available as Prime - there was a rental fee. After about 6 months or so it would drop into Prime.

I have found that a series which starts with one season will eventually add a second season - it is all about the contract they have with the producers. If a supplier won't allow a film or series to be offered on the Prime list, it will be a rent or buy.

Hulu gets the latest version of several shows the day after it plays on TV, Netflix gets the full season after the next season starts.

[CrispyQ]

4. Yeah, streaming didn't turn out quite like they sold it to us.

I hate when I finally find a service that has a show I want to watch, & after a few episodes, the service no longer has the show—some other service does! This happens a lot!

[pnwest]

6. I have found dozens and dozens of enjoyable

shows on Britbox and Acorn. I’m 💯 addicted to British crime dramas, and there’s loads. Discovered plenty of good comedies and dramas as well. They keep adding new shows all the time.

One way I’ve found to find shows that don’t come up in their algorithm’s offerings, though, is to Google the lead actors of a show I’ve enjoyed and see what other shows they’re in, and then look for those shows. That’s how I discovered the amazing Nicola Walker.

But, I totally agree that the rest of the services - Netflix, Hulu - have just a few shows I like and then I’m done. Even Amazon Prime itself is petering out of great shows (Goliath, Sneaky Pete). But Brutbox and Acorn just keep delivering the goods for me.

[yellowdogintexas]

19. So which one do you recommend if I only want one? Acorn or Britbox?

We have been thinking about getting one of them but not sure which one is better for us

[pnwest]

21. Britbox has a bigger selection, but

Acorn also carries some good Aussie shows. But if only one, I’d pick Britbox.

[highplainsdem]

22. Have you watched 'Lovejoy' on Acorn?

https://acorn.tv/lovejoy/

[pnwest]

23. Have not gotten around to that one yet...

But it’s going on the list! Thx!

[displacedtexan]

7. My main reasons for subscribing to Acorn & BritBox

Agatha Raisin, Rosemary & Thyme, and Jonathan Creek.

[csziggy]

9. Mine was the Murdoch Mysteries

Set in Canada, beginning about 1895. Fourteen seasons so that will keep you busy for a while.

And Vera, some seasons on Acorn, some on BritBox - which is sort of annoying, but since I have both, I just got to where the next season is.

[gratuitous]

10. It's kind of old

But the two mini-series starring Alec Guinness as George Smiley (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People), were enjoyable for me. Pre-Star Trek Patrick Stewart as the Soviet spymaster Karla (a nearly silent role) holds his own in his brief scenes.

[JanMichael]

11. Those were awesome. I was rooting for Karla but it was still great. nt

Edit - I can watch Smileys' People twice a year every year. It is that good.

[yellowdogintexas]

24. a number of British programs we were watching on Netflix, Amazon etc have

been pulled and moved to Britbox or Acorn. I am sure there bunches of show we have never seen