Netflix UK

Owned by: US company Netflix

Offering: Films and TV shows

How?: Watch on your PC or connect your laptop, smartphone, tablet computer or games console to the TV

Pricing: Subscription is £5.99 a month for unlimited films and TV episodes

Blinkbox

Owned by: Majority owned by Tesco

Offering: Films and TV shows

How?: Available via computer, games consoles, iPad and internet TV sets. No download required

Pricing: No subscription required. Some shows are free, episodes of hits such as Sherlock cost from £2.99

LoveFilm

Owned by: Amazon

Offering: Films, games and TV shows

How?: Rent DVDs by post or stream shows via laptop, tablet computer, games consoles, some TVs and other internet-connected devices

Pricing: Monthly subscription packages range from £5.99 to £14.99

HMVon-demand

Owned by: HMV, Sony Pictures Television and Disney's joint-venture FilmFlex

Offering: Films

How?: Download or stream shows via a computer. Unlimited views within a specified time period

Pricing: No subscription required. New releases from £3.99. Specials from 49p

YouView (Due to launch later this year)

Owned by: BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, BT, Arqiva, TalkTalk

Offering: For homes with Freeview and Freesat – catch-up TV such as BBC iPlayer, high definition and personal video recorder, plus on-demand content via subscription

How?: Will require a set-top box that plugs into a Freeview or Freesat-enabled TV, and broadband connection

Cost: Boxes to cost about £200. No subscription for iPlayer catch up TV, but you will have to pay for on-demand films, sport and US drama