The biggest dramas, thrillers, and comedies of 2025 are lining up for their final curtain call. But no matter how good the lineup, a frozen screen with a spinning buffer wheel can ruin the moment.
Streaming itself doesn’t demand the highest speeds — but throw in kids gaming, someone working from home with frequent video calls, or an EV downloading latest firmware from the garage, and suddenly your Wi-Fi might struggle to keep up.
With accelerated speeds now available on eligible full-fibre and HFC high-speed nbn plans, it’s the perfect time to check your home setup so you can stream, work, game, and scroll all at once with minimal interruption.
Why speed matters (especially in big households)
In a one-device household, streaming a new release is rarely an issue. But modern homes often run on dozens of devices at once — smart TVs, laptops, tablets, phones, consoles, and sometimes even fridges competing for bandwidth. That’s when buffering can strike, and nothing takes you out of a season finale faster than a frozen frame mid-plot twist.
Make the most of accelerated speeds with a great internet setup
Your Wi-Fi router is the unsung star of any binge session. Put it in the wrong place, and the whole storyline lags. To keep the stream rolling smoothly, keep your Wi-Fi router out in the open, elevated at least at waist height, and away from signal-killers like microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors, mirrors, or even fish tanks. It’s also best to avoid hiding your Wi-Fi router in cupboards or perching it near radiators, heaters, or direct sunlight.
Age makes a difference, too. If your Wi-Fi router is older than your favourite reruns, you may want to consider your current internet setup. Wi-Fi routers more than five years old may not be able to support modern Wi-Fi standards. If yours fits this description, it could be time to check out if it’s still suitable for your needs.
In larger households, mesh Wi-Fi systems or wired connections can help banish dead zones, keeping every bedroom binge-ready. And sometimes, it’s not your internet at all — older smart TVs or tablets also may not support modern Wi-Fi standards, so make sure to do a quick device check to see if your device can keep up with your current speed plan.
10 shows to stream*
Spartacus: House of Ashur
Imagine a world where Ashur never died. In House of Ashur, the gladiator-turned-traitor is instead granted control of the gladiator school he once betrayed, aiming to reshape Rome’s power structure from within. He forges an uneasy alliance with Achillia, a fierce new gladiatrix, as political rivalry, vengeance and blood-soaked spectacle unfold in this alternate history spin-off.
Slow Horses: Season 5
Gary Oldman returns as the wonderfully dishevelled Jackson Lamb in another round of sardonic espionage. The slow horses may be MI5’s outcasts, but their misfit charm keeps the spy games sharp.
Wayward
Netflix’s new thriller blends prestige drama with edge-of-your-seat suspense. Details are under wraps, but early buzz suggests it’s going to be a big hit.
Chad Powers
Chad Powers seemingly uses the arena of American football as a backdrop for a deeper exploration of identity. Beneath the helmet, this dramedy is rumoured to explore themes of reinvention, societal expectations and personal legacy — a show where the touchdown may not be the only win.
Coming soon to Disney+
Black Rabbit
This one from Netflix had us at Jason Bateman. If that’s not enough, it’s about a rising-star restaurateur who is forced into New York’s criminal underworld when his chaotic brother returns to town with loan sharks on his trail.
The Hack
A timely tech thriller that feels pulled straight from tomorrow’s headlines. Stan’s The Hack deftly interweaves two real-life stories: the uncovering of phone hacking at the News of the World, and running parallel, the investigation into the unsolved murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan.
Task
Who doesn’t love an FBI drama? Suspense and mystery drive Task, as Mark Ruffalo heads a task force to put an end to a string of violent robberies. It’s a series already being tipped as water-cooler television. There’ll be plenty to unpack after every episode, so make sure everyone in your group chat is watching along with you.
The Pitt
This is essentially a modern-day version of ER (with some of the same cast). The staff of Pittsburgh’s Trauma Medical Centre work around the clock to save lives in an overcrowded and underfunded emergency department.
The Lowdown
The Lowdown follows Tulsa “truthstorian” Lee Raybon, a citizen journalist whose relentless pursuit of corruption lands him in the crosshairs of the city’s most powerful. When his exposé on the Washberg family is followed by a suspicious death, Lee unravels a trail of secrets, lies, and dangerous liaisons that some would do anything to keep buried.
The Girlfriend
In The Girlfriend, Robin Wright plays Laura, a woman with the perfect life — until her son brings home Cherry, a new girlfriend played by Olivia Cooke. What begins as polite suspicion spirals into a psychological duel, blurring the line between paranoia and manipulation in a thriller where truth depends on who’s telling it.
How not to miss a second
Whether it’s gladiators, spies, or suburban scandals, the hype means nothing if you’re stuck buffering. With higher speed tiers now available on eligible full fibre and HFC nbn plans, now’s the time to optimise your setup, assess your devices and make the most of your plan speeds.
Ready to stream the rest of 2025 without being plagued by the buffer wheel? Check your internet setup to help get your home internet binge-ready.
*Disclaimer: nbn is not affiliated with third-party brands shown such as Netflix, Apple TV+, [etc]. References are for entertainment purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by nbn.
Produced in partnership with nbn.