NFL games for this season and CBS show premieres may have you thinking about a Paramount Plus subscription. The platform houses films, popular cartoons, TV series like NCIS and live sports, making it feel like a mashup of streaming services past and present. And now that Showtime shows and movies are part of the app, you can even upgrade your experience for a few extra dollars.

Like Netflix, Paramount Plus has an extensive library of familiar, binge-worthy series and reality shows, but with a small bucket of originals. Like Hulu, you can choose from ad-supported or more expensive ad-free plans. Like Peacock, there’s a live TV component. Like Disney Plus, you’ll find a lot of content for kids, in this case from Nickelodeon. And like HBO Max, you’ll get major movie releases that appear shortly after their theatrical premiere. All of this should add up to an exciting service with a lot to offer — especially for the low $5 entry price — but ends up feeling like parts of all the ones you already have.

7.2

Paramount Plus

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Like

• Wide catalog of familiar shows and movies
• Strong stable of kids’ content from Nickelodeon
• Live NFL football games
• Will stream some major movies soon after theater release

Don’t Like

• Outside of Star Trek, Evil and 1883, not many must-see originals
• Must have premium to get local CBS stations

By the numbers, Paramount Plus has a ton of content — 30,000 episodes of TV and 2,500 movies, plus more than three dozen original series. Yellowstone spinoff 1883 is already a major hit, and it’s backed up by audience favorites SEAL Team and Evil. Upcoming shows include Yellowstone spinoff 1932, a new Star Trek series and another show based on Halo. 

Parents can assure their kids that more SpongeBob, Blue’s Clues, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Monster High content is on the horizon, and new movies like Mission: Impossible 7 will be arriving 45 days after theaters. This September, Paramount Plus merged Showtime content into the app, giving you access to more than 600 titles if you sign up for a bundled plan. 

Even with all those additions, much of Paramount Plus’ value lies in nostalgia. You can watch just about every old Nickelodeon show, including All That, Comedy Central standup specials and popular series ranging from Frasier and Cheers to SpongeBob SquarePants and Young Sheldon. And, of course, you get existing originals like Star Trek Discovery and The Good Fight, as well as the live feed of your local CBS station if you spring for the $10-per-month ad-free option. 

On the other hand, many shows you might expect, including the Paramount Network hit Yellowstone (it’s on Peacock), CBS staples The Big Bang Theory (HBO Max) and Two and a Half Men (Peacock again) are not available on Paramount Plus. It’s the case with South Park, too, but the streaming service will soon bring it back to its home base. Blame licensing.

If you’re already a fan of any of the CBS or Viacom shows that are available — or you’re just looking to change up your streaming options — the Paramount Plus $5-a-month plan is not a bad option. But if you’re looking to cut back on your streaming services, it isn’t a must-have on the same level as Hulu, for example, which costs nearly the same and has much more variety and original programming.

How much is Paramount Plus?

Paramount Plus offers live news and sports as well as on-demand shows and movies, including originals, leaning on parent company Paramount Global brands like CBS, MTV, BET, VH1, Nickelodeon and Paramount Network, plus the Paramount Pictures movie studio. There are also more than one dozen live channels that stream curated content 24/7 and Showtime titles.

Paramount Plus costs $10 a month for the ad-free Premium subscription, or $5 a month for the ad-based Essential plan, which does not have access to your local CBS stations. For that, you’ll need to subscribe to the $10-a-month plan. The service is available in the US, Canada and 18 Latin American countries. 

Showtime content is now available directly in the app, but you must pay for the Paramount Plus Showtime bundle to watch it. Right now, the bundle is available at a discount but typically costs $12 monthly for the Essential plan, and $15 a month for Premium. 

What you can stream on Paramount Plus

Anecdotally, most people I know seem to have signed up for the service for two reasons: Star Trek or The Good Fight. With the addition of Yellowstone prequel 1883, Evil and the iCarly reboot, they’re among the most popular originals exclusive to Paramount Plus.

At launch, there were 20 exclusive originals — far more than the nine titles available at Apple TV’s start. Most are from familiar properties that first appeared on CBS All Access, including Jordan Peele’s reboot of The Twilight Zone and The Stand. The full Star Trek catalog, including every show in the various series and originals like Discovery, Picard and Lower Decks, will likely remain a major draw for the platform. With the integration of Showtime content into the app, viewers who pay for the Paramount Plus Showtime bundle can access even more TV shows. If you skip the bundle, you’ll notice Showtime titles are marked with a padlock within the app. 

The Real World: Homecoming debuted at launch, based on the seminal MTV reality show and starring the original seven cast members. The Hills, Love & Hip-Hop, Behind the Music and MTV Unplugged have also landed on the streamer. But Paramount Plus promises new reality series including All Star Shore, The Challenge: War of the Worlds and international versions of The Shore.

One of the biggest draws might be for kids. Nickelodeon’s library of nearly 7,000 episodes of kids and family shows includes SpongeBob’s CG-animated spinoff, Kamp Koral, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Paw Patrol and iCarly. Its 24-hour live channels have five selections that are kiddie-themed and feature content for preschoolers up to teens. Millennials will also find seasons of ’90s shows like All That, Kenan & Kel and Are You Afraid of the Dark? It’s not Disney Plus, but it’s a pretty impressive collection if you’re into anything Nickelodeon past or present. 

Paramount Plus also integrated CBS Sports HQ, streaming more than 1,000 live sporting events per year, including the NFL on CBS, The Masters and the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. AFC fans should know that you need a Premium subscription to watch NFL games on Sundays through your local CBS affiliate. Check here to see if your region is covered for live broadcasts.

Due to the Comedy Central connection, you’ll find a large selection of standup specials. Easily navigate to this content by clicking the “Brands” menu, where you’ll also see designated tiles for BET, CBS, Smithsonian, Nickelodeon and MTV programming.

In terms of other movies, the Paramount Plus collection is… varied. You have classics like the Beverly Hills Cop franchise and the Mission Impossibles, but also a whole lot of titles I’d forgotten that were in theaters in the ’90s and early aughts (hello, The Addams Family and Superstar). I did enjoy the trip down memory lane that scrolling through the available movies gave me, but I wouldn’t say it’s a must-have selection. Also, it’s important to note that movies like The Godfather are now available through Showtime, but you need to have the Paramount Plus Showtime bundle to receive access to more titles. 

Coming soon: More originals, theatrical releases, revivals and spinoffs 

If you aren’t a fan of any of those shows or movies (or sports), Paramount Plus may bring you in with some of its upcoming originals, including more Beavis and Butt-Head, a revival of ’90s sitcom Frasier, and a long-awaited new animated Avatar: The Last Airbender movie. The service will also launch a new NCIS series, original films for SEAL Team and Teen Wolf, and another spinoff of popular Paramount series Yellowstone. (Note NBC’s streaming service Peacock has the rights to the first three seasons of the show). 

Another bonus: Some major Paramount movies will arrive on the streaming service about a month and a half after they premiere in theaters. Mission: Impossible 7 will arrive on Paramount Plus to stream 45 days after it first hits theaters, and other titles include A Quiet Place Part III and Top Gun: Maverick.

What’s it like to use Paramount Plus? 

I tested the app across an Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV Stick, along with an iPhone ($285 at Amazon) and Android phone, and found the experience to be largely the same across all platforms in terms of layout and content. 

Paramount Plus looks very similar to other streaming services: At the top, you’ll see a few featured titles, and, like on Disney Plus and HBO Max, tiles for each brand of content where every network is listed: CBS, BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and Smithsonian Channel. 

Next is continue watching, trending shows, shows recommended for you and recently added shows. What’s a bit different is the On Now row, where you can see what’s currently playing on your local CBS networks. For me, that includes my local CBS affiliate station, CBSN (CBS’s 24-hour streaming news channel), CBS Sports HQ (CBS’s 24-hour streaming sports channel) and ET Live. 

Below that, you’ll find other rows such as Sci-Fi TV, Sports, Horror Franchises, Comedy Shows, Nick Jr., Dramas, News and Daytime. 

If you scroll to the navigation sidebar, you’ll see Search and Home, along with the ability to search through movies, TV shows, live TV, Showtime, news and all of the different brands. If you navigate this way, you’ll find some nested menus that can be a little tricky depending on what streaming device you’re using (for example, when you use the sidebar to check movies, another nested menu lets you choose popular, action, comedy, etc., and then toggle over again to the actual choices). But overall, using the platform is straightforward and simple. Paramount Plus is available to stream at ParamountPlus.com and on most mobile devices, gaming consoles and media players.

Let’s talk 4K, downloads and parental controls

Paramount Plus supports 4K and HDR for some content if you’re a Premium subscriber, which costs more. Select Roku devices support the 4K format, but Paramount Plus does not offer it for Roku version 10.5.

You can download up to 25 shows to your mobile device — if you have a Premium account — and stream on three devices at once. You can create up to six separate profiles per account, including profiles with Kids Mode turned on, and decide if you want content for younger kids (rated TV-Y) or older kids (up to TV-PG). Be sure to activate the parental controls to filter content for younger viewers. Adding a PIN will allow you to lock content based on its maturity rating, but you’ll be required to enter that PIN to switch out of the kids’ profile or to access restricted streams, including live channels.

Basically, this is a functional service, but there aren’t a ton of bells and whistles. For example, at launch, there was no watchlist to let you bookmark shows and movies to watch later. However, the service did finally add a My List feature.

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Paramount Plus: First look

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Should you try Paramount Plus? 

If you’re a fan of Star Trek, reality shows, CBS mainstays or Paramount Plus originals, having a subscription is a no-brainer — you’ll get the same content plus a whole lot more. The addition of Showtime content in the app may be worth paying the bundle price if you’re a fan of the network’s content.

If you haven’t subscribed and already have Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video or Disney Plus, know that this probably won’t replace any of those for you. But if you are looking for some new shows or want to revisit old favorites, the $5-a-month ad-supported tier is toward the lower end of streaming service prices. It’s also a content playground if you have children. And once more originals and major movie releases arrive, it could be worth your while. 

In the meantime, if you’re curious and sign up as a new member, you can try out Paramount Plus with a one-week free trial.

The post Paramount Plus Review: Nostalgia first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

The PSVR 2 is light. Surprisingly light. If there’s one thing that immediately hits me when trying on the PlayStation VR 2 – Sony’s upcoming immersive headset for its still hard-to-buy PlayStation 5 – it’s that compared with the popular Meta Quest 2, it feels like barely anything at all.

The other big thing I notice comes later. Riding down a river through sun-dappled trees in the world of Horizon Call of the Mountain, as I see a massive, brachiosaurus-size Tallneck march its mechanical robot legs over me, my hand moves past dangling plants. I feel them brush against me, lightly. The vibrating haptics on the PSVR 2 Sense controllers feel so subtle, sometimes I don’t recognize them. But the rumblings of the Tallneck don’t just rumble through my hands – I feel it all around my head too. This headset has helmet haptics.

At Sony’s PlayStation headquarters in San Mateo, California, I got a full-day look at a headset I’d been waiting to try for over a year.

Sony’s first PlayStation VR debuted in 2016, the same year the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift arrived. Next year could end up being a similarly big one for VR, with Meta prepping new consumer headsets (following a pro model expected in late 2022), and Apple’s long-expected headset. The PlayStation VR 2 is right up there among the contenders if you already have a PlayStation 5.

We still don’t know the price of the PlayStation VR 2, or its specific release date beyond “early 2023,” or what all the launch games will be. But I did get to play four games and try the headset on for hours over the course of a day, and I came away impressed.

PlayStation 5

$500 at Best Buy

The headset

The PSVR 2 isn’t a self-contained, standalone device like the Quest 2. Instead, it tethers to the PlayStation 5 with a USB-C cable. That may turn some people off, but it’s still standard-issue for PC VR gaming. The PSVR 2’s simpler, one-cable setup is far easier than the bulkier breakout box of the original PSVR, and it doesn’t need any extra tracking cameras: Four in-headset cameras enable full room walkabouts, as long as the cable’s long enough. There’s passthrough black-and-white video of the room around me, too, much like the Quest has.

The visor-like headset attaches similarly to the first PSVR, with the back pulling out when you press a button to fit over your head, then tightening with a small knob on the back. The display is surrounded by a rubbery shield that blocks light. My wide glasses, which don’t fit easily in a Quest 2, worked just fine with the PSVR 2. 

At 110 degrees, the OLED display has a wider field of view than the Quest 2, and the field of view looks less like a porthole from the inside. The display is vivid, too: Blacks are truly black, and the HDR effects create bold contrasts between bright sunlight and shady corners. Games I played showed off surprising levels of detail when I looked closely at objects and textures. The 2,000×2,040-pixel per eye display is higher resolution than the Quest 2, but also, the PlayStation 5’s graphics capability is very high. 

This headset also features foveated rendering using eye tracking. Foveated rendering is a technique where only the things in the middle of where your eye is looking are rendered in the sharpest detail. It mirrors how our eyes actually work, to some degree, and can squeeze better graphics performance by reducing the workload on the processor. Basically, it meant the games I played looked really, really nice.

The Sense controllers

Sony has finally made a pair of real VR controllers. It only took six years. They also might be my favorite VR controllers right now.

The 2016 PSVR borrowed older PlayStation Move controllers that lacked analog sticks and felt primitive compared with other VR gear, but the PSVR 2’s controllers, just called Sense, have a design borrowed from newer input devices like the Oculus Touch. An analog stick and two buttons line each one, in a smaller layout than the way things are placed on the Quest 2 controllers. Triggers are on each, plus secondary clickable grip buttons below that. 

The controllers feel light too: The rings that are part of their design sit back behind my hands, and I feel like they float around my knuckles. The grips become things I grab or let go of. Sometimes the controllers feel like Valve’s Index “knuckle” controllers, that way, where I start gripping my entire hand versus just three fingers to do things on the Quest 2. When holding weapons or climbing VR cliffs, it feels convincing.

But the killer part is the haptics. Sony has adopted the same rich haptics tech on the PS5 DualSense controllers, which can register small taps, rippling rumblings and all sorts of convincing vibrations that are far more advanced than the generic buzzes of the Quest 2 controllers. The triggers also have feedback – again, based on the adaptive trigger tech on the DualSense. Pressing a trigger on different weapons in Star Wars: Tales From the Galaxy’s Edge means some have resistance early on, and others feel easier to pull. Some have kickback you can feel in the trigger and the haptics. Grabbing ledges can start to feel slippery or firm. Through all the games I played, I realized this was where VR haptics needed to be from now on. It’s set the table.

The games

I played four games over my full day with the PlayStation VR 2. Three of them were sequels, ports or adaptations of existing games. The other was a brand-new game based on a known property (Sony’s Horizon games). None of the games reinvented VR in any massive way, and in a lot of ways the controls for most of the games matched familiar interfaces I’ve gotten used to in other games over the years. The PSVR 2 isn’t expected to arrive until early 2023, so I’m sure other games will emerge, although Sony has confirmed that the PSVR 2 won’t be backward-compatible with older PSVR games. What these demos offered, more than anything, was a chance to see how Sony’s new headset and controllers compare with what I’ve played before. 

Horizon: Call of the Mountain, Guerilla/Sony

Sony’s flagship exclusive PSVR 2 game was announced earlier this year. Set in the same far-future universe as Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, this one’s a standalone game that’s made for newcomers to enjoy, too, with some overlap with the PS4/PS5 games. 

The demo put me on a boat heading on a Jurassic Park-like river ride past familiar Horizon creatures: raptor-like Watchers, and a massive lumbering Tallneck that towers overhead. The game then becomes about wandering around wilderness camps, climbing cliffs by grabbing ledges in a similar way to the VR game The Climb, and shooting arrows at enemies and secret targets with a bow and arrow. The landscapes are gorgeous, colors vivid. I notice the impressive controller feedback when climbing ledges and shooting arrows, and the rumbling headset haptics kick off when large creatures move around me. The sensation I get is massive and theatrical, and while the demo ends sooner than I’d like, Call of the Mountain is clearly an experience to get lost in.

According to the developers, eye tracking is used subtly later on in the game (perhaps to allow characters to make eye contact with me), but the advantages of eye tracking only show up otherwise to create enhanced graphics with foveated rendering – something the other games I played also have in common.

Resident Evil Village, Capcom

I kept away from Resident Evil 7 in VR because I was terrified of it. I’ve since played Resident Evil 4 on the Quest 2, and gotten less worried about VR jump scares. I also never played Resident Evil Village before my VR demo experience (sorry!), but Capcom’s PSVR 2-exclusive adaptation truly feels like a video game fully adapted to VR without any loss. I was particularly impressed, again, by the headset’s graphics output. Environments look vast and moody, but full of detail. Entering the tremendous castle, I’m immediately drawn to the paintings on the wall and the carvings on doors. Lighting from nearby windows or candle-lit halls looks convincing and rich. I meet Lady Dimitrescu, who leans over and sucks on my hand in a way that makes me cringe.

The scale of the world works wonderfully, and it comes across like immersive theater, some sort of Sleep No More horror experience. Sometimes the game’s motion tracking doesn’t line up with my body (there were a few game glitches in my demo), but the speed of the gameplay and the richness of the graphics gave this game an almost non-VR feel. I stopped thinking about the controllers, too: It’s almost like they melted away, which was a credit to the design.

Also, I panic when a bunch of freaky monsters surround me, and I just stab them relentlessly before realizing I could have been reloading my pistol this whole time.

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, ILMxLab

One of my favorite games for the Meta Quest 2 is being ported over to PlayStation VR 2. This was a surprise game, but ILMxLab did the same with Star Wars: Vader Immortal a few years ago. It’s a shooter with interludes at a cantina, all of it set on Batuu (the same world that Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge theme park exists in). The game’s graphics and controller haptics have been upgraded, and besides all the characters looking far more vivid, all the weapons now have an uncanny sense of vibrational realism. I notice that small blasters have different-feeling triggers and recoil than a large pulsing shotgun. I could identify weapons from how they feel via haptics.

The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners Chapter 2, Skydance

Again, one of my favorite Quest games makes an appearance on PSVR 2. This new chapter isn’t available anywhere yet, but the gameplay (lots of zombies, lots of weapons to load up and so many areas of my body to pin flashlights and tools and other things) remains the same as other versions. Again, it’s the subtle haptics and the improved graphics that make the biggest impression.

A few drawbacks: Tethering, tracking

The PSVR 2 does have a single USB-C cable that tethers it to the PS5, and it’s unfortunate. But I’ve had the same tether when playing PC games in VR. At least it’s just one cable, and even though it sometimes wrapped around me when I turned a lot in some active games, it was bearable.

One other thing I noticed a handful of times was the headset lost tracking: either my headset, or the controllers. I’m playing on a very early version of the hardware, and a camera person filming me at close range while playing may have thrown off the in-headset tracking cameras. Still, any loss of tracking isn’t ideal.

Will any games truly take advantage of eye tracking?

The games I tried didn’t really use eye tracking in any unique ways during my demos, which was a little surprising. That might be because many of these games are being adapted from VR platforms that don’t have eye tracking. The PSVR 2 is the first mainstream headset with the feature, although many more may be on the way. 

There are possibilities for eye tracking to improve game controls, allowing your eyes to lock in on an object and target it without needing to move your head or the controller. Eye contact with characters could provide a theatrical level of intimacy. Games could also start recording heat maps of your attention and become better able to suggest ideas or hints based on where it knows you’re not looking.

Talking to some of the developers during my day of demos, they all seemed excited by the possibilities. Maybe, as eye tracking becomes more of a norm for VR and AR, more games will add support for it. I didn’t get to see enough yet to know how big an impact it could make.

2023 can’t come soon enough

The PlayStation VR 2 doesn’t have a price yet, or an official release date, or a larger list of launch games. Even though this isn’t a standalone headset, it’s clearly the VR experience I’ve always wanted on a PlayStation. The new controllers and improved and advanced haptics and triggers alone push this hardware into new gaming territory. I much prefer the lighter-weight, larger field-of-view, higher-res, OLED display-equipped PSVR 2 headset to the Quest 2. While the Quest 2 is still the best self-contained VR system around, the PSVR 2 looks like it could be the destination for a whole new wave of more impressive VR games. 

All I know is I want to play more. When I got home after my weekend in California, I saw my unplugged pile of PlayStation VR cables sitting on my desk. I look at the old, heavy headset, and the ancient controllers. The PlayStation VR 2, in retrospect, feels even more amazing in comparison.

Game console reviews

• Sony PlayStation 5 Review
• Microsoft Xbox Series X Review
• Microsoft Xbox Series S Review
• Nintendo Switch OLED Review
• Meta Quest 2 Review
• Valve Steam Deck Review

See the latest CNET gaming coverage here. 

The post PlayStation VR 2 Hands first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

The Showtime app could be coming to an end, with a report Tuesday saying there are plans to make it accessible only via the Paramount Plus streaming app.

Currently, movie streaming service Showtime is available as a stand-alone app. But as of last month, you could already access Showtime content in Paramount Plus with a bundled discount rate of $8 per month, ad-supported, or $13 a month for the ad-free Premium Plan.

Plans to end Showtime’s app are still early, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed sources. 

Paramount Plus didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more: Best Streaming Service of 2022: Netflix, HBO Max, Disney Plus and More

The post Paramount Could Be Shuttering Showtime App first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

Max Verstappen appears unstoppable. The Red Bull superstar won last week’s Dutch GP and has now won four consecutive races and is well on his way to his second consecutive championship. His dominance has taken the wind out of the sails of his competitors: He now holds a commanding 109-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship standings over both Sergio Perez, his Red Bull teammate, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who are tied on points. Red Bull also leads Ferrari and Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship as F1 heads to Monza for Ferrari’s home race, the 2022 Italian Grand Prix. 

Meanwhile, F1 megastar Lewis Hamilton placed fourth last week, while George Russell, his Mercedes teammate, placed second. Hamilton remains in sixth place in the overall standings, while Russell has moved up to fourth.

Can Leclerc grab some wins to push Verstappen at the top of the standings? Will Hamilton be able to help Mercedes overtake Ferrari for second place in the Constructors’ Championship? 

The Italian Grand Prix airs today, Sept. 11, at 8:55 a.m. ET (5:55 a.m. PT) on ESPN 2.

Those looking to follow all the drama will need access to ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2 and ESPNews to catch every second of the action all season long. The entire race weekend, including practice sessions and qualifying, will be shown in the US on ESPN’s family of television networks.

No single provider has exclusive rights to the network, so there are plenty of ways to get ESPN and watch the races without cable. We’ve broken down everything you need to know in order to stream today’s race, and all the other F1 races this season. 

What is F1 and how is it different from IndyCar?

Both IndyCar and F1 are open-wheeled, single-seater racing formats. This means that the cars can only fit one person and have uncovered wheels that protrude from the body of the vehicle. Despite their basic similarities, F1 and IndyCar offer very different experiences. 

In F1, there are only 10 teams, with two drivers apiece for a total of 20 drivers. Most races must go for 305 km, which is about 190 miles. Each driver needs to use two different tires in the race, so a pit stop is mandatory, though cars are not allowed to refuel. Races average around two hours in length and are held at venues all over the world. 

Teams spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year developing their cars. All cars must have certain elements — for example, gearboxes must have eight gears plus a reverse and last for six consecutive races — but teams have leeway to tweak and change some parts of their car, including their engines, in the pursuit of speed. 

In contrast, the cars featured in IndyCar are more standardized. They all have the same aerodynamic kit and chassis and can only be powered by one of two engines — either a Honda or a Chevrolet. That said, teams are allowed to develop some of their own parts, like dampers and some of their suspensions. 

IndyCar races occur on a wide range of tracks, from fast ovals to road and street courses. The length of the races also varies, with some, like the Indianapolis 500, lasting 500 laps and taking over three hours to complete. Not surprisingly, refueling during pit stops is a big part of the strategy during IndyCar races. Teams can field more than two cars, meaning that the amount of drivers on the grid fluctuates from race to race. 

IndyCar is mostly considered an American sport and does not have the same level of money and glamour associated with it compared to the globe-hopping F1 circuit. 

Why should I care about F1?

F1 races might best be described as a sort of action-packed chess match that takes place while drivers are throttling around a track at close to 200 mph. Teams need both strategy and skill to compete against some of the best minds in motorsports. 

F1 is also full of strong personalities. The Netflix documentary series F1: Drive to Survive follows many of the teams and drivers over the course of a year and has helped raise the profile of the sport in the US. Released in March, season four of the series chronicles last year’s tight championship race between rivals Verstappen and Hamilton. It also focuses on the internal battles between drivers on the same team, while giving viewers a peek into the tense, pressurized world of elite racing.

Does F1 stream on ESPN Plus?

ESPN does not air any F1 coverage on its ESPN Plus streaming service. If you want to watch the practices or races you will need a television provider of some kind or to pay for F1’s $80 per season TV Pro subscription.

When, where and what time are the races?

Races are held on Sunday and are usually spaced two weeks apart. Here’s the entire schedule, all times ET: 

Best options for streaming without cable

Race weekends normally start on Friday with multiple practice runs and continue on Saturday with qualifying. The races themselves take place Sunday. ESPN typically airs practices and qualifying on a mix of ESPN 2 and ESPNews, while the races tend to air on ESPN. F1 events in North America often land on ABC. 

Here are some of the best ways to catch the entire race weekend without cable.

YouTube TV

Carries ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews

You can catch the entire race weekend with a subscription to YouTube TV. ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2 and ESPNews are all included in the package, which means you’ll have all the channels you need in order to watch every second of the action.

Read our YouTube TV review.

$65 at YouTube TV

Hulu Plus Live TV

Carries ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews

Hulu Plus Live TV is a little more expensive than YouTube TV, but it also offers all the channels you need to watch every second of race weekend. As an added bonus, Hulu Plus Live TV comes with the rest of the Disney Bundle, which includes a subscription to Disney Plus, as well as ESPN Plus. F1 races don’t air on ESPN Plus, but the service offers a ton of other content for die-hard sports fans.

Read our Hulu Plus Live TV review.

$70 at Hulu with Live TV

Sling TV Orange

Carries ESPN, ESPN2

Sling TV’s $35 Orange plan might be a good choice for F1 fans who are primarily looking to just watch the races on Sundays. This plan is one of the cheapest ways to get access to ESPN and ESPN 2. Those looking for ESPNews will have to opt for the $11 Sports Extra ad-on. Sling TV lacks ABC, which could be a problem for fans hoping to catch the F1 races in North America.

Read our Sling TV review.

$35 at Sling TV Orange

FuboTV

Carries ABC, ESPN, ESPN2

FuboTV costs $70 per month and includes ABC, ESPN and ESPN 2. The base package lacks ESPNews, but you can add it for an extra $8 a month with the Fubo Extra Package or pay for the $80-a-month Elite streaming tier that includes Fubo Extra. Check out which local networks FuboTV offers here.

Read our FuboTV review.

$70 at Fubo TV

DirecTV Stream

Carries ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2

DirecTV Stream is the most expensive live TV streaming service. Its cheapest, $70-a-month Plus package includes ESPN, ESPN 2 and ABC, but you’ll need to move up to the $90-a-month Choice plan to get ESPNews. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels are available in your area.

Read our DirecTV Stream review.

$70 at DirecTV Stream

F1 TV Pro

Livestreams all F1, F2, F3 and Porsche Supercup races

For gearheads looking to get every angle on the action, F1 offers its own streaming service. F1 TV Pro costs $80 per season and gives fans access to all races from F1, F2, F3 and Porsche Supercup. You’ll be able to livestream every track session from all F1 grand prix and have access to all driver onboard cameras and team radios. You’ll also be able to watch full on-demand races, replays and highlights, along with F1’s historic race archive.

F1 also offers a TV Access Plan for $27 per year, which only gives you on-demand access to races once they have been completed. Users will still be able to view all F1 onboard cameras, along with full replays of F1, F2, F3 and Porsche Supercup. It also includes the historic race archive.

$80 at F1

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Can’t get enough of Spy x Family, Bleach or One-Punch Man? With a ton of great anime out there that it can be hard to decide what to watch. But an anime streaming service can help you find the shows and movies that fit your preferences. We’ve rounded up the best anime streaming platforms available right now so you can quickly get to watching nearly countless hours of entertainment. 

These days, adaptations of popular Japanese manga and Hollywood properties (like Rick and Morty) are hitting the small screen. You’ll find high school melodramas, sci-fi anthologies, horror tales, rom-coms and superhero quests in this storytelling landscape. Longtime favorites such as One Piece and Dragon Ball prove that audiences will stick with classics while still making room for popular shows like My Hero Academia and worldwide phenomenon Attack on Titan.

Anime is an expanding genre with major players in the streaming game dedicated to meeting demand. It doesn’t matter if you’re a bona fide otaku with specific tastes, a casual viewer or a newbie, look no further than these streaming services to satisfy your anime cravings. 

Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll

Best anime streaming service overall

Because of its robust stable of content, Crunchyroll has become the global destination for anime streaming. The brand boasts over 100 million registered users and more than 5 million subscribers. Crunchyroll merged its vast lineup with fellow genre titan Funimation to deliver thousands of titles 24/7. All that anime is under one umbrella, which includes Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen and To Your Eternity. According to Crunchyroll, it’s now “the world’s largest anime library of more than 40,000 episodes and over 16,000 hours of content.” 

The biggest selling points? New episodes land on the streamer one hour after they premiere in Japan. Viewers can also count on surprise releases like the eight special episodes of Attack on Titan that dropped weeks before the final season premiere.

Anime fans love the variety and appreciate that for some content, they can watch the uncut Japanese versions of their favorite series on this service. Additionally, there’s a carousel of original, in-house creations that spin alongside the freshest releases out of Japan. 

You can sign up for a free account to stream ad-supported content on the service. Just note that not all titles are available with this version, and there is a wait for new releases. However, anime watchers who prefer immediate viewing access to new episodes should opt for Crunchyroll’s basic $8 ad-free subscription.

$8 at Crunchyroll

Hajime Isayama, Kodansha/Crunchyroll

Hulu

Features dedicated anime hub

If you’re on the fence about a Crunchyroll subscription, Hulu boasts more than 300 anime titles and is a prime stop to watch hits My Hero Academia, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, Attack on Titan, Soul Eater, Bleach and more. There are also simulcasts that stream each season, treating viewers to the newest releases from Japan. This is an area where Hulu one-ups Netflix. Fans will find Pokemon films and oldies but goodies like Sailor Moon and Akira, too.

Hulu also has partnerships with Crunchyroll and Funimation to carry some titles, but not their entire catalog. The Crunchyroll and Adult Swim original series, Blade Runner: Black Lotus is available along with favorites such as Assassination Classroom. However, new subtitled episodes may arrive immediately on the streamer while dubbed versions take longer. Debut times vary depending on the series.

An added benefit is the dedicated Anime Hub where you’ll find content organized into categories such as classic, A-Z or simulcasts. Hulu starts at $7 a month.

$7 at Hulu

Netflix

Netflix

Mix of popular anime and original creations

Netflix has grown its anime offerings though it lacks the fresh installments and simulcasts of Hulu. Currently, there are dozens of Japanese imports on the platform as well as Netflix originals Castlevania, Yasuke and Devilman Crybaby.

Though it’s not the go-to for more obscure titles, Netflix has a reliable selection of popular anime that includes Demon Slayer, Hunter x Hunter, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and nine glorious seasons of Naruto. Its newest releases for 2022 include Kotaro Lives Alone, a small-screen version of Spriggan and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, a spinoff of the Cyberpunk 2077 video game. 

Another major plus for the streamer is the absence of ads — for now. But subscribers should be aware they’ll need to take the extra step of nixing the skip function when episodes end to see if there are post-credits scenes in their favorite show.

Viewers can look out for upcoming anime movies and shows like The Seven Deadly Sins: The Grudge of Edinburgh, Skull Island and Terminator. Netflix starts at $10 a month.

$10 at Netflix

Netflix

Hidive

Inexpensive and carries uncensored content, anime movies

A cheap option for viewers, Hidive streams content to fans around the globe, including simulcasts. Not only will you find curated anime from all subgenres, but there’s an assortment of live-action adaptations too. And though the service has family-friendly titles, it caters to the 18-and-older crowd.

Hidive prides itself on its customizable subtitle option, in-episode live chats, and exclusive catalog. You can even choose between censored and uncensored anime. An independent service, the company encourages fans to request their favorite titles if they can’t find them on the platform.

Hidive is supported on iOS, Android and smart TVs, and it runs content directly through its site. There’s no free subscription option, and the monthly rate is $5 after the 14-day free trial.

$5 at Hidive

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Anime streaming FAQs

What’s the difference between dub and sub?

In the anime community, the terms dubbed and subbed are used to describe the difference between a piece of content that streams in Japanese with subtitles or an English-dubbed (or other language) version. It’s a matter of personal preference, but some fans like one type over the other. Among diehard fans, Funimation is known for its extensive dubbed collection.

Why can’t I find certain anime content on some streaming services?

Due to licensing agreements, some streaming providers’ anime lineups will change. This also depends on which country you live in, as various content may only be available in Japan, the US, or other regions.

Timing plays a role and can determine whether a series’ new season or movie hits a platform the same day, month or year of its original release. However, viewers will notice that some shows are streaming on multiple platforms at the same time.

What is the meaning of OAD and OVA in anime and does it matter?

From time to time, you may see streaming services refer to OAD or OVA as special promotions. Generally, OAD and OVA are extra episodes that did not air on television, but are part of the story and may or may not be canon. They can be prequel episodes or storylines that happen during or after what’s seen in a series and act as cool additions for anime lovers.

Which devices support these apps?

Each of these anime streaming providers are accessible via their standalone websites, smart TVs, Roku, iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon FireTV, Apple TV and Xbox One devices. You can watch it on your phone, tablet, PC or TV. 

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UFC superstar Nate Diaz is returning to the Octagon for the first time in over a year to face the up-and-coming unbeaten welterweight Khamzat Chimaev in UFC 279.

The pay-per-view match will be available today exclusively for ESPN Plus subscribers, which means that you’ll need a $10-a-month ESPN Plus subscription to even sign up for the event. The service comes included in the $14 Disney bundle, which includes Disney Plus and Hulu. UFC 279 will then be a one-time purchase of $75.

ESPN Plus offers live out-of-market NHL hockey games, along with plenty of other live sports like MLS soccer (until Apple’s deal takes effect in 2023), baseball and golf. It’s also home to exclusive shows, such as Peyton’s Places starring Peyton Manning, and the vast 30 for 30 library. Some UFC matches are included as part of the subscription, but many of the biggest fights are PPV and usually require an extra fee. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to signing up for ESPN Plus so you can watch every second of UFC 279.

Step 1: Go to the ESPN Plus website

See at ESPN Plus

Heading over to ESPN Plus will likely lead you to a signup page that pushes the Disney bundle. If you just want ESPN Plus, click on the small Subscribe to ESPN+ only link, or look for a similar link on the site if you’re taken elsewhere.

Step 2: Create your ESPN Plus account

You’ll be taken to a page where you’ll fill out your name and email address. You’ll also need to create a password that you’ll use to sign in to the service. Fill out your information and click the yellow Sign Up button.

Step 3: Pick a plan and enter your credit card information

Now you’ll be taken to a page where you’ll need to pick either a monthly or yearly subscription. While both types of subscriptions offer full access to all the live sports and other programming on ESPN Plus, only the $10 monthly plan comes with exclusive articles and fantasy tools on the ESPN website and app. 

The $100 annual subscription plan will already be highlighted when you land on the page, so make sure to click over to the monthly subscription if that’s what you want. 

Enter your credit card information, hit the Acknowledge button and click on Buy ESPN Plus.

Step 4: Sign up and pay for UFC 279

A confirmation of your purchase will pop up to thank you for signing up. Hit the yellow Get Started button to begin streaming on ESPN Plus. Now you should be good to watch all the action of ESPN Plus. 

From here, you’ll need to sign up for UFC 279. Despite the fact that ESPN Plus currently has a large portion of its homepage dedicated to an advertisement for the fight, there’s no easy way to sign up for UFC 279 directly from the ESPN Plus website when using a browser online.

We were able to find the signup page on a Roku device and on iOS by heading to Settings in the ESPN Plus tab of the ESPN app. From there, scroll down and click on Subscriptions. You should now see a yellow button to purchase UFC 279. Clicking on it will lead you to a screen with the date, time and price of the event, along with another yellow button to Buy UFC 279. Clicking this will charge your account and give you access to the event.

ESPN Plus has yet to comment on how to purchase the subscription through a web browser.

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Apple fans on Verizon who would prefer an Apple One subscription as a perk now have a new option: the One Unlimited for iPhone plan. On Wednesday, ahead of Apple’s iPhone 14 event, the wireless carrier’s website revealed that it is adding a new plan to its lineup to cater to people with iPhones. 

You can see the new option on Verizon’s app and website when you log in to change plans. Compared to its other offerings, the One Unlimited plan isn’t cheap, slotting between Verizon’s priciest Get More and Play More/Do More plans. One line will run $90 a month, two lines will be $150 a month ($75 per line), three lines will be $180 monthly ($60 per line), four lines is $200 a month ($50 per line) and five lines is $225 a month ($45 per line). All prices are with automatic payments. 

With that higher monthly price, you will get Apple One included, which means access to Apple TV, Apple Arcade, Apple Music and iCloud storage. Those with one line will get 50GB of iCloud storage included and be on the Apple One Individual plan (normally around $15 a month), while people with two or more lines will have 200GB of iCloud storage included and be on Apple One Family (which runs around $20 a month).

As with a regular Apple One subscription, those on Apple One Family will be able to share access to the features with up to five other people through Apple’s Family Sharing feature. 

Verizon says that those looking to upgrade to Apple One’s priciest plan (Premier, which includes News Plus, Fitness Plus and 2TB of storage) will need to do so separately through Apple. If you do that, you are on the hook for the full $30 per month. 

Unlike Verizon’s other plans, those looking to be on the One Unlimited will need to have every line on their account on this plan. So you can’t “mix and match” one line on One Unlimited and the others on cheaper Start or Play More packages and save money as you would on most of Verizon’s other unlimited offerings (or “mix and match” one line on One Unlimited and another on Play More to get both the Disney Bundle and Apple One and maximize your subscriptions). 

There’s no “Disney Bundle” with this plan, though you do appear to get six-month free trials for Disney Plus, Discovery Plus and Google Play Pass (which is like Apple Arcade for Android devices and gives you access to a collection of apps and games). 

While iCloud and Apple Arcade are features more optimized for Apple devices, those on Android devices who are on this plan could potentially benefit from using Apple Music or being able to log into Apple TV Plus on a web browser (Apple does not have an Android phone or tablet app for Apple TV Plus). 

Apple’s Newest Releases

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As with its other pricier unlimited plans, those on One Unlimited will have unlimited talk, text and data and get access to Verizon’s faster 5G Ultra Wideband network. There is 25GB hotspot access per line and if you wanted to add a connected device such as a cellular Apple Watch or iPad, you could save 50% off the monthly plan charge for one of those devices. 

The new plan comes amid increased competition between wireless carriers looking to attract and retain subscribers, and the latest move involving Apple’s services. In a bid to bolster its own plan perks, T-Mobile last week added Apple TV Plus to its premium Magenta Max plan. Verizon, for its part, has long included Apple Music with some of its pricier unlimited plans like Get More, and last year began offering Apple Arcade as part of its Get More and Play More plans. 

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A pricey cable subscription isn’t the only way to get access to live TV these days. Tons of streaming services offer a live TV streaming membership for those who are looking to cut the cord, and right now you can sign up for one of our favorites, Hulu plus Live TV, at a discount. Now through Oct. 5, when you sign up for a Hulu plus Live TV subscription, you’ll get your first three months for $20 off — dropping the monthly price down to $50 instead of $70. However, it’s also worth noting that Hulu is raising its prices after Dec. 8, which will increase the cost to $75 a month.  

See at Hulu

With the kickoff of the 2022 NFL season just one day away, this deal has come through just in time. With Hulu plus Live TV, you’ll have access to any and all games that air on NBC, CBS, Fox, ESPN or the NFL Network. It even allows you to record games with its Cloud DVR service in case you can’t catch them live. Hulu plus Live TV also includes access to ESPN Plus, so you can stream tons of NHL games and UFC fights, as well as original ESPN content, as well. It’s also bundled with Disney Plus, and of course you get access to Hulu’s regular streaming library, so you’ll have plenty of shows and movies available in case you can’t find anything to watch on live TV. According to Hulu, this is the best deal offered yet on the Live TV package, so don’t miss you chance to take advantage of these savings. 

Looking for a deal on your next movie night?

Compare prices or add promo codes to your next streaming service subscription with a single click when using the CNET Shopping extension.

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Disney Plus is offering a $2 subscription for one month of its streaming service for any new members who sign up starting at 9 p.m. PT Wednesday through 11:59 p.m. PT on Sept. 19. That cuts $6 off a single month of Disney Plus; any members who keep the service will be charged $8 starting with their second bill. 

But the deal comes just three months before Disney Plus is set to hike its prices. Starting Dec. 8, the current, ad-free subscription will go up $3 a month, to $11. Simultaneously, a new ad-based membership will launch at $8 a month, the same price that Disney Plus subscribers are paying now to watch ad free. (Disney has published tables detailing all the new rates.)

The launch of the $2 deal also coincides with what’s dubbed Disney Plus Day, an annual marketing event for the service that typically includes adding big new titles to stream as well as some discounts and perks across Disney’s businesses. Disney Plus is also releasing its big-screen Marvel movie Thor: Love and Thunder to stream starting Thursday for Disney Plus Day, as well as debuting its live-action reimagining of Pinocchio on the service too. 

Disney Plus has been a breakaway success among a wave of new streaming services in the last two-plus years, thanks in part to its large library of shows, movies and exclusive originals. Disney Plus has 152 million subscribers, quickly putting it in the same league as Netflix — the industry leader with more than 220 million paying members worldwide.

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Thor: Love and Thunder hit theaters July 8, but with middling reviews (“disappointingly shallow” was the reaction of CNET reviewer Sean Keane), you may have been holding out until the movie made its way to Disney Plus. 

But Disney’s streaming strategy for its theatrical releases has been all over the map. Encanto spent a month in theaters before streaming. For Marvel’s Eternals, it was two months. West Side Story, Steven Spielberg’s reimagining of the musical, hit Disney Plus about three months after it played exclusively in cinemas. 

Up until Thor: Love and Thunder, Disney seemed finally to be settling into a pattern for releasing its big films on its streaming service. But with Thor’s Disney Plus date two weeks later than expected, the streaming-release timing for upcoming big movies — like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Avatar: The Way of Water and others — may be unpredictable.

When did Thor: Love and Thunder start streaming on Disney Plus?

Disney Plus began streaming Thor: Love and Thunder early Thursday morning, starting at 12:01 a.m. PT/3:01 a.m. ET. 

The release date coincided with what Disney calls Disney Plus Day, an annual marketing event for the service, which typically includes adding big new titles to stream as well as some discounts and perks across Disney’s other businesses. 

Is Thor available to stream ‘free’ on Disney Plus? 

Thor: Love and Thunder is part of the standard Disney Plus catalog, available to watch at no added cost. Some people refer to this being “free” to stream, but everything on Disney Plus still requires a paid subscription.

Was the CGI in the movie altered for the Disney Plus release? 

Fans have posted comparisons of at least one scene in which computer-generated imagery in the film appears to have been changed versus the theatrical release. 

Disney and Marvel previously have tweaked elements of other shows and movies while they’ve been on Disney Plus. 

But with Thor, director Taika Waititi, in a video interview breaking down a scene in the film not long after its theatrical release, made some deadpan remarks about the realism of a CGI character in the shot. The offhand comments became a flashpoint for complaints by visual effects artists about Marvel working conditions. 

However, the scene with seemingly altered CGI on Disney Plus is different than the one that sparked the outcry. 

When will Thor be available on DVD?

Disney has set Sept. 27 as the date Thor: Love and Thunder will be be released on DVD, 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. 

When was Thor’s previously expected Disney Plus release date? 

Thor was previously expected to hit Disney Plus two weeks earlier than it did. 

During the pandemic lockdown, Disney let many movies stream on Disney Plus the same day they were released in cinemas. But for more than a year, Disney has been giving its live-action theatrical releases long stints of exclusivity in theaters before making streaming an option. Disney hasn’t officially declared a standard length for these theatrical exclusives. 

However, up until Thor, the company appeared to have settled on giving its theatrical films 47 days in theaters before streaming them on Disney Plus.

Disney’s previous two films both spent 47 days in theaters before hitting Disney Plus: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness became available to stream 47 days after its wide release in theaters, and then Pixar’s Lightyear started streaming on Disney Plus on Aug. 3 — also 47 days after its theatrical release. 

But Thor: Love and Thunder’s release kicks the streaming release date to 62 days after it hit theaters.

What does the timing mean for streaming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and other Disney movies? 

For future Disney theatrical releases, predicting streaming release dates is going to be guesswork again.  

Thor: Love and Thunder is hitting Disney Plus 62 days after its theatrical release. That’s weeks later than the 47-day period that appeared to be becoming Disney’s standard. It’s closer to the length of time for theatrical exclusives last year: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was in theaters for 70 days before streaming on Disney Plus; for Eternals, it was 68 days. 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, for example, will hit cinemas Nov. 11. If it were sticking with the 47-day timeline, it would be on Disney Plus on Dec. 28, tucked into the week after Christmas but before New Year’s Day. Every year, that week is an extraordinarily popular time for streaming — and for going out to the movies. Now that Thor’s Disney Plus release reiterates there’s really no telling when movies will start streaming, you could be able to stream the Black Panther sequel just a month and a half after it’s out — or you could have to wait until next year. 

Disney’s timing decisions for Black Panther and other upcoming movies — the new Avatar movie, the next Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy films and the live-action reboot of The Little Mermaid, to name a few — are going to hinge on how much the company wants to generate box-office dollars versus how much it wants to reel in new streaming subscribers and keep the ones it has. And lately, big Hollywood companies like Disney aren’t prioritizing streaming-subscriber growth nearly as much as they did. 

See also

• 10 Ways to Save Money on Streaming
• How to Cut the Cable TV Cord in 2022
• See More at Streaming TV Insider

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