- Discovery Plus was launched today as the selection of streaming services continues to grow.
- Starting at $ 4.99, the Discovery Plus subscription includes programs from brands like Food Network, HGTV, TLC, BBC and Discovery Channel, which airs the popular Shark Week program.
- It will also include a reboot of “Fixer Upper” with house renovators Chip and Joanna Gaines from January 29, as well as additional shows as part of the couple’s Magnolia Network.
- Discovery Plus is the first new streaming service to be launched in 2021, as cable TV appears to be in decline and more viewers signal their preference for streaming platforms.
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What can I watch on Discovery Plus?
As USA Today notes, Discovery Plus will offer “real life” content instead of original scripted programs like Netflix’s “The Queen’s Gambit”. Think about wildlife documentaries, cooking programs and home renovation programs.
Discovery Plus is home to “55,000 episodes” of shows from a variety of brands like HGTV, Food Network, TLC, A&E, History Channel and, of course, Discovery Channel, which airs the popular Shark Week series every year. Discovery Plus will also feature BBC content, including “A Perfect Planet”, with David Attenborough’s unmistakable narration.
You’ll recognize titles like “Dance Moms” and “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” by Guy Fieri on the platform. “Bobby e Giada na Itália”, by Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis, will also start broadcasting with the release of Discovery Plus.
A feature called Discovery Plus Channels will be launched on January 29, featuring programs like “90 Day Fiance” and a reboot of “Fixer Upper”, the popular home renovation program with Chip and Joanna Gaines. The couple will also air additional shows as part of their Magnolia Network offerings, such as a cooking show called “Mesa Magnolia with Joanna Gaines”.
How does the cost compare to other streaming platforms like Netflix?
It costs $ 4.99 for a Discovery Plus subscription with commercials. The ad-free option costs $ 6.99. Compare that to the prices of the biggest streaming platform: the basic Netflix package costs $ 8.99, while the most expensive premium option costs $ 17.99.
How can I watch?
You can download the app on your smartphone, watch it on a laptop or desktop or add it to your repertoire via Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and more.
What does Discovery’s streaming service mean?
This signals another step away from traditional cable TV and another to what is becoming a crowded streaming market.
Discovery Plus is the first new streaming service to be launched in 2021. Last year, HBO Max and Peacock joined the race, and Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus were introduced in November 2019. The so-called “streaming wars” started around the same time that viewers showed an increasing tendency to opt for streaming platforms instead of paying for expensive cable bundles.
This trend was only exacerbated by the pandemic, as people remained in their homes and theaters and other means of entertainment closed largely. The combined number of subscribers in the United States for the largest streaming platforms has increased by 50% compared to last year, according to a recent analysis by the Wall Street Journal, with the average of American families subscribing about three services.
Read More: The head of HBO Max analyzes the seismic decision to broadcast all Warner Bros. films. 2021 as they hit theaters and responds to speculation about 2022 and beyond
Some studios have even chosen to take theatrical releases directly to streaming platforms. Disney Plus debuted “Mulan” in September and was available for free to all subscribers starting in December. And “Wonder Woman 1984” was released simultaneously on HBO Max and in theaters on Christmas Day.
Warner Bros. announced in early December that he would release not only “Wonder Woman 1984”, but all of his films in 2021 on the HBO Max platform, as well as in theaters. The move signaled greater investment in its streaming business, but it angered many in the film world as directors and critics speculated on the future of traditional cinemas.
Disclosure: Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Business Insider’s parent company, Axel Springer, is a board member of Netflix.