After being in beta since 2014, Playster, an online multimedia and entertainment subscription service, officially launched December 10, says Publishers Weekly.Boasting the world’s most diverse digital catalog, Playster includes on-demand books, music, TV and films, and video games including timeless classics and the newest blockbusters. The Playster website says it is all-inclusive entertainment. “It’s the Netflix of everything. Anytime, anywhere.”Following a month-long free trial, members choose which media types they are interested in, or they can subscribe to the entire bundle for $24.95 a month with no long-term commitment.
In addition to the à la carte and bundled options, Playster offers the Playster Combobox where members can sign a one-year contract to get all four media types as well as a tablet and headphones for $24.95 a month, prepaid annually. A family plan is also available for $34.95 which includes two family members.In an interesting twist, Playster has a values page where it outlines the company’s values:
- Everything unlimited – No restrictions and endless possibilities
- Great value – Getting a lot for your money
- Making things easier – One-stop shopping
- Enjoying life – Entertainment is good for the soul.
- Discovery – New experiences and ideas are accessible and encouraged.
- The future – New technology and new devices bring us closer to people and entertainment.
- Expressing yourself – Collections reflect who they are.
- Lending a hand – The company supports UNICEF.
Though we’ve seen this on some subscription sites, usually in the About Us section, this type of value statement is rare in the streaming video world.According to the Playster site, the song catalog includes millions of titles. Publishers Weekly says Playster launched with more than 250,000 books and 50,000 audiobooks. In addition to media, Playster said it has a “vibrant community,” making the service a social experience as well as a multi-media one. With the official launch just occurring, we are skeptical that the community could be very active at this point, but we like the idea.Insider Take:
Playster offers an interesting concept – an all-inclusive media experience for those who want it, or à la carte for those who want to pick and choose their entertainment options. To provide our preliminary analysis, let’s look at the different components of the service:TV and films: Without access to the catalog, it is hard to say how this compares to other streaming video services. However, at $3.95 a month, the price point is lower than any other streaming video service. We did not see any mention of exclusive or original programming.Books: With the closure of Oyster Books, there is a void in the e-book marketplace to be filled. With deals with HarperCollins, Harlequin and Simon & Schuster, Playster could be an attractive option for voracious readers.Music: We weren’t able to access the music catalog, but with millions of titles, there is probably something for every music taste here. We don’t know how it works though – Can you build playlists? Select favorite artists? Listen to a curated station? How does it compare to existing streaming music services?Games: We don’t know which gaming systems are compatible with Playster games, but we’re guessing they cover the most popular games, and at $4.95 a month, it is more affordable than a PlayStation Now subscription.What we didn’t like is that you can’t access any of the catalog information or see how the individual services work without signing up. Sign-up is free, but you can’t view the multimedia options without starting a free trial, which requires payment details. For potential members to consider whether or not they want the free trial, Playster should provide more detail up front.Overall, we see the potential here. The only other streaming company with similar options is Amazon, and it is hard to compete with them. We love the idea of getting everything in one place, but before we’re willing to put our money out there – or even sign up for the free trial – we want to know what we’re getting first, and Playster isn’t saying.~ Dana E. Neuts, Subscription Insider
