Netflix’s new rival

» Shomi good content, free media, and a fun interface

| Cazzy Lewchuk Staff Writer

[? the age of the Internet, instant streaming has consumed a large portion of

the media market, particularly with movies and TV shows. Traditional cable and DVDs have been overshadowed by Internet streaming services. The market has been dominated by Netflix, especially in Canada, where services such as Hulu and Amazon Video are unavailable.

In the past year, competitors to Netflix have been emerging into the Canadian public’s view. One of these subscription services, Shomi, is owned by media companies Rogers and Shaw. Shomi follows a very similar model to Netflix: after a free trial month, subscribers pay $8.99 a month (the same cost as Netflix) in exchange for unlimited, commercial-free streaming of over 1,200 movies and TV shows.

Originally, and controversially, Shomi was only available to subscribers who already had an Internet or cable subscription to Rogers or Shaw. As of August, this restriction was lifted, making Shomi accessible to every Canadian and seriously increasing its potential market presence. Shomi has the

: potential to become a large rival : to Netflix, particularly with its : content selection.

Shomi has a wide variety of

: shows and movies not available

: on Netflix, including original

: content not otherwise available

: in Canada such as the shows

: Transparent and Catastrophe.

: Shomi has a much more current : content library of recent TV

: shows in comparison to Netflix, : particularly in the drama and

: comedy categories. Big shows

: like American Horror Story, Sons : of Anarchy, New Girl, Outlander, : Modern Family, and 2 Broke Girls : are all exclusive to Shomi for streaming.

The movie selection on

: Shomi is more extensive when

: it comes to older titles. While

: Netflix often has popular films

: from the last year available,

: Shomi’s selection is focused on

: movies from all eras. Collections : of movies by legendary directors : The Coen Brothers, Tim Burton, : Woody Allen, Alfred Hitchcock, : and even Stanley Kubrick are

: available. However, many of

: the films—particularly recent

: ones—are also found on Netflix, : so it’s the TV show category

: where Shomi has the clear

: advantage.

The user features and

: interface of Shomi are personable : : and more specific compared

: to Netflix. Instead of strictly

: genres, Shomi also features

: playlists based on a particular

: director, season, or theme, with

playlist names like “Comic-Con Hangover,” “Conspiracies, Cults, and Cover-Ups,” and “Donuts and Disorder.” The playlist descriptions and site guidance are often quite funny in their writing style, making it much more light-hearted and friendly than Netflix. For example, “Sports movies: they all end the same way, but we still love ’em!” or describing the horror section as “Stuff you can’t unsee.”

In terms of actual usage, Shomi lags behind on Netflix’s model. One notable aspect is the lack of an autoplay feature when streaming shows, forcing the user to take 10 whole seconds to proceed in their binge-watching.

: Shomi’s app and accessibility

: for device standards aren't very : good. For example, multiple

: user profiles can’t be created on : asmart TV or tablet. Instead it : has to be manually done ona

: computer.

Some smaller issues can

: alienate some users. Shomi

: does not have Roku support or

: payment support for Visa Debit, : for example. Shomi is also a

: service that’s less than a year

: old, so the features and content : will almost certainly grow and

: improve as time goes on.

Shomi is an excellent alternative to cable and a great

: addition to home media habits.

: While it has its flaws, the content : selection is well worth $8.99 a

: month and it is likely to be a firm : competitor with Netflix soon.

Image via Thinkstock

Hathaway's latest 1s pleasing but predictable

» ‘The Intern’ review

Lauren Paulsen, Senior Columnist

OOOO

l is inevitable that people are going to think of one of Anne Hathaway’s previous roles as an intern in The Devil Wears Prada when they hear about her most recently released movie, The Intern. But in this movie Hathaway plays Jules Ostin, the founder and CEO of an online fashion company who gets her own senior intern. No, not a senior in high school or college, but a senior in life.

Robert De Niro plays Ben, a retired widower who finds he no longer has purpose in life. He notices a flyer advertising the new senior intern program at Jules’ company and decides to apply. He manages to get the job and wins over everyone at the company with his old-fashioned charm—everyone except his

: boss, Jules.

Jules is highly overworked and finding it hard to manage her company after its huge, successful start. She needs guidance and help, and who

: better to give it to her than her : congenial, experienced, new : intern?

If I were describing this

: movie to someone, I would call : it a “heartfelt comedy.” It was a : feel-good movie that I enjoyed

: watching, but it wasn’t one that : | would say really had an impact : on me. It was pretty predictable : and used stereotypical

: characters, such as the seniors

: not knowing anything about

: modern technology. There were : some funny moments, however, : that had the whole theatre

: audience laughing, such as

: when Ben meets the company’s : Masseuse.

Overall, I think The Intern

: is a pleasant movie to watch if : you enjoy this genre. Just don’t : expect it to have a major impact.

Still of Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway in The Intern (2015)