What is online entertainment?
Online entertainment basically comprises accessing material, such as music and movies, over the Internet. This can be either watching or listening to programs as they happen (live streaming) or to keep them on your device to enjoy at a later time of your own choosing (downloading).
What forms of online entertainment are available?
There are many different forms of online entertainment, such as online books (e-books), online music (streaming or downloading), online TV, online movies (streaming or downloading) and online games.
Online TV
These services are available for most major channels and there are a few different ways in which you can stream the content. You can either watch recorded TV shows which are stored online after their original broadcast or watch live TV which shows programs in real time.
YouTube is possibly the easiest streaming service to use. It is free and massively popular for everything from music videos, full TV programs and movies as well as silly clips.
Music
Music can be accessed online using various means and there are a vast range of genres available at your fingertips. You get the possibility of listening to specific songs online, searching for particular songs, albums or artists using streaming services. You can also create your own playlists to listen to your favorite songs, purchase and download music online to enjoy at your home.
Spotify is currently the most popular site for streaming music and it offers both free and paid-for accounts.
Apple’s iTunes is the biggest online music store but it also offers films and TV programs, as well as apps and books.
Soundcloud is a place where up and coming artists and existing stars upload their music, providing you with an opportunity to find new sounds across many different genres.
Movies
Those with subscriptions to services such as Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Now, Apple TV+ and Google Play can also access a range of films online. You will be able to watch recent releases and old films online via streaming.
Similar services are also available to subscribers of digital TV packages (such as Virgin Media or Sky) and allow users to log in to their account and view films online.
E-books
They can be accessed online to provide users with the chance to read from devices. You can search for popular titles, new releases or old books, enjoy a range of free downloadable books with certain services (e.g., Kindle), purchase new books to read on apps downloaded on your computer or specific e-reader devices and/or download purchased books to your e-reader to enjoy on the move.
Google Play is the official outlet to download films, TV shows and much more if you have tablets or smartphones which use the Android operating system.
Windows Phone App Store is designed for use with Windows Phone devices and also offers access to a great range of content to download on your device.
Radio
As well as accessing music in the form of individual files, you can also access online radio stations to enjoy recent or old hits. You just have to visit the Website of the radio station you want to listen to and you’ll find live broadcasts to hear the latest music, news and commentary, and also listen to podcasts or interviews stored on the radio Website.
Online Games
Once upon a time, playing games with friends meant inviting them over and crowding onto a sofa. Now, most multiplayer gaming is done online, connecting us with both friends and strangers around the world from our desks or living rooms. There are thousands of online games to choose from.
The 7 current most popular online games are Destiny 2, Rainbow Six Siege, Sea of Thieves, Apex Legends, Minecraft, Monster Hunter World and Fortnite.
Ángel García.