HDTV Streaming Content Compared

updated August 20, 2010...

Televisions aren't just getting their content through the coax cable anymore. Just as the internet has slowly moved towards a video-rich space – YouTube, Hulu, Vimeo, etc. – those same sorts of features are creeping into your TV sets. Like it or not, those 1000+ channels of direct cable are not enough anymore.

The next phase of television is on-demand content, and not just from your cable provider. Sony, Samsung, and others have realized that content partnerships with third parties can be mutually beneficial. As long as the TV manufacturers provide an ethernet port or WiFi, all those web-based content providers like Hulu can deliver video direct to your screen (and earn all that handsome, ad-supported revenue).

The natural question is this: why don't all the manufacturers have good, if not great, streaming content packages? We don't know, but the conclusion is invariable. They don't. Some have great packages, and some are terrible. Other manufacturers have promised a robust line-up of partnerships in the future, but have yet to deliver.

Below is a breakdown of every manufacturer and what their top-end TVs offer. This page will be updated periodically (check the date at the top).

Streaming Video

When you're talking about streaming anything to your big screen TV, the most important content type is video. Whether it's Hollywood movies, independent internet movies, or just cats playing with Roombas, most TV manufacturers are offering something. Some are manufacturer-specific, like the Sony-owned Crackle and Sony Digital Cinema. Others are topic-oriented, like Epicurious, which focuses on cooking, and Ford Models which focuses on... models employed by Ford Models. There's laundry list of similarly useful features listed below.

The big feature that every manufacturer wants to take to the dance is Netflix, and fortunately for them, Netflix appears to be an easy date. It appears on almost every TV with streaming video. Amazon and Blockbuster are similar, but you may not have or want yet another subscription service bill.

Streaming Video
	Sony	Samsung	Panasonic	LG	Vizio	Sharp
YouTube	x	x	x	x
Netflix	x	x	x	x	x	x
Hulu
Vimeo
Vudu		x		x	x
Amazon on Demand	x	x	x		x
Blockbuster		x
Crackle	x
Yahoo	x	x		x	x
Qriocity	x
Dailymotion	x
Fox Sports			x
Wired	x
Epicurious	x
Concierge.com	x
Style.com	x
FEARnet	x
Blip.tv	x
Style.com	x
Howcast.com	x
On Networks	x
Golflinks.com	x
Livestrong.com	x
eHow.com	x
Video Detective	x
Singing Fool	x
Videocast.com	x
Ford Models	x
CBS	x
Slacker	x
Michael Jackson channel	x
Sony Digital Cinema Concert Series	x
MyPlay Music	x
Inside Sony Pictures	x
FIFA World Cup Collection	x
Dr. Oz (Health)	x
Pongalo.com	x
Many more random channels of video...	x				x

Streaming Audio

Less expansive but perhaps no less useful is the option for streaming music and radio programs through your TV. The irony of using your expensive, enormous-screen display device as a glorified Victrola is not lost on us, but here's what the manufacturers offer.

Streaming Audio
	Sony	Samsung	Panasonic	LG	Vizio	Sharp
Pandora	x	x	x		x
Slacker	x
Rhapsody					x
National Public Radio	x
Berliner Phliharmoniker	x

Social Networking / Shared Online Content

It wouldn't really be the internet if the TVs didn't offer you access to your time-sucking social networking sites.  TVs are offering Facebook, Twitter, Picasa, and more.

Skype is probably the most exciting feature in this grouping, coming as close to the Jetsons as we'll get before the advent of flying cars. Because Skype is a two-way communication service, you'll need to purchase an add-on camera/microphone before you can make calls.

Shared Online Content
	Sony	Samsung	Panasonic	LG	Vizio	Sharp
Facebook	x				x
Picasa	x	x	x	x
Flickr	x				x
Twitter	x	x	x		x	x
Skype	x	x	x
eBay	x				x
Photobucket	x
Shutterfly	x

Games, Text-based News Feeders, & Et Cetera

And then the rest. Almost all TVs with streaming content have some also-rans. Sadly, in the case of Sharp, they make up the bulk of the feature set. Most of these widgets offer information that you could get better, faster, or more detailed on your phone of computer. Honestly... astrology reports on your TV?

Games, Text-based News Feeders, & Et Cetera
	Sony	Samsung	Panasonic	LG	Vizio	Sharp
TV Guide					x
Bloomberg financial news			x
Weather		x	x
MSNBC.com						x
Rovi TV Listings		x				x
Traffic reports		x				x
NASDAQ						x
Access Hollywood						x
Astrology						x
GoComics						x
NBC Sports						x
NBA Game Time					x
Google Maps		x				x
USA Today		x				x
Assorted news feeders, etc.			x		x
Assorted games		x			x	x

Of course, technology changes, and new content partnerships will inevitably be struck, while others fall by the wayside. As such, this document will be updated occasionally.

Also, we're aware that additional manufacturers offer internet features. If you don't see a manufacturer here, it just means that we haven't collected enough data yet.