There are so many streaming channels available for viewers it’s sometimes hard to figure out which ones are best for your family. There are many services that combine several channels, and for many people who are cutting the cord of cable, these are sometimes the best options. There are also several streaming channels that are absolutely free, some with ads and some without.

Unlike the “old” days of network TV with a few additional options (HBO was the first to offer consumers additional content), today a slew of additional channels are available as additions to account holders. Packages often include HBO, Cinemax, Showtime and more, including all the sports channels. If you are looking to add a special — and possibly unknown or passed over — channel, here are a few suggestions. They make great last-minute gifts for procrastinators, or if you have missed someone on your list, think about one of these streaming channels that just might fit the bill for your recipient. Channels are tailored for different viewing preferences.

Acorn TV is part of the AMC family. There are many interesting films and original series streaming on this channel. “Darby and Joan” is a cute Australian show starring Bryan Brown. “My Life is Murder” stars Lucy Lawless. “Midsomer Murders” is one of their most popular detective series with 24 seasons under its belt. Their newest original series is “Mrs. Sindhi Investigates.” There are a number of fun and intriguing mystery series and Rosamunde Pilcher fans have several movies on Acorn as well, bringing her books to the screen.

BritBox offers a variety of great original shows. “Death in Paradise” takes place in the Caribbean and has several seasons of fun antics and quirky characters who always seem to solve the cases. The spinoff, “Beyond Paradise,” is filmed on the Devon Coast of England and includes many of the cute aspects of the original, without the Caribbean flair. Both the “Father Brown” and “Sister Boniface Mysteries” detective series have interesting plots and adorable main characters leading the investigations. BritBox includes some unscripted reality shows and movies. “Archie” is the latest miniseries to air. It takes viewers into the life of entertainment icon Cary Grant, aka Archibald Leach.

Hulu has a varied offering of movies and original series. “The Gilded Age” has been one of their popular series. Besides original shows, viewers can find many older TV series too.

True Royalty TV is the best streaming service for people who enjoy learning about the U.K., its history and the royal family. With documentaries, talk shows, movies and looks at the various places and palaces, this is a channel that is all thing British.

Of course, there are always Apple TV+, Prime Video and the old standby Netflix. And families enjoy Disney+, although this channel has taken a hit recently due to the so-called “woke” agenda. Nevertheless, they still offer some fun family content.

Calm is one of many services that help viewers unwind, meditate and enjoy some short stories as well as some relaxing music and soothing scenery. They offer a free trial.

If you are looking for a service that is completely free and you enjoy older films Watch TCM is for you. This does require a login with your provider; however, the channel is free and continually updated with films from the past, both black-and-white and color.

Streaming services are the go-to option for viewers these days. Yes, they do require a subscription, but they are always on-demand so viewers are not locked into a specific time to watch their shows. The networks recognized the on-demand option is popular so they also offer their own streaming channels to go along with their original networks.

The world is changing, and quickly. It is getting more complicated in many ways, and one could argue it is getting more expensive too. Welcome to the modern age. That’s funny because when TV first started out, people considered that the modern age. Today, it is a matter of finding what fits your personal preferences and then matching a service to them. This list is just a start.

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