As more cord-cutters realize how easily they can cycle through different streaming services, TV programmers are turning to bundles to stop them.
Disney+, Hulu, and Max, for instance, are now available in one big bundle for $17 per month, while Starz and Britbox have teamed up on a $15-per-month bundle of their own. Comcast offers a “StreamSaver” bundle with Netflix, Peacock, and Apple TV+ at $15 per month for Xfinity customers, and Spectrum is throwing in a bunch of streaming services with its traditional pay TV packages. By bundling their offerings together—even on an optional basis—streaming providers hope to discourage people from bouncing around despite rising prices and higher ad loads.
While these streaming bundles might seem compelling on the surface, they’re not always the best option. Instead of accepting the promise of savings at face value, I suggest asking yourself a handful of questions first:
Do you really need all of those services right now?
In the case of Disney+, Hulu, and Max, $17 per month for all three services is still $6 per month more expensive than just Disney+ and Hulu (which have their own $11-per-month bundle), and it’s $7 per month pricier than Max alone.
By comparison, let’s say you alternated between Disney’s “Duo” bundle and Max every couple months or so. Assuming you only subscribed to each service for half the year, you’d save $78 per year compared to paying for everything year round. Try not to pay for what you don’t actually use.
Would you save more with annual subscriptions?
Starz and Britbox claim their new $15-per-month bundle represents a 25 percent savings over their combined regular prices. But if you want both services year round, it’s $20 cheaper to pay for each of their annual plans separately, at $70 per year for Starz and $90 per year for Britbox.
Not every streaming service offers annual pricing, but those that do can be cheaper on their own than as part of a bundle—especially if you only plan to use those other services for a month or two.
Are you better off seeking out streaming deals?
Many streaming services offer discounts if you know where to look, so the value of bundling starts to diminish as you factor in promotional rates.
Starz, for instance, regularly offers deep discounts for new and returning subscribers, including a current promo that knocks the price down to $20 for six months or $3 per month for three months. That’s vastly cheaper than paying for a bundle of Starz and Britbox, even with regular pricing of $9 per month for the latter.
Another example: Comcast’s StreamSaver bundle for Xfinity customers costs $15 per month for Netflix (with ads), Peacock (with ads), and Apple TV+. But on its own, Peacock offers promo codes fairly often, including one right now (PEAPDH25CUT) that reduces the standalone price by $40 for a year. Combine that with a year-round Netflix subscription and maybe a month or two of Apple TV+ when there’s something worth watching—or better yet, an extended Apple TV+ trial through Best Buy or Target—and you’d come out ahead.
Are you okay with ads?
Programmers like bundling not just because it reduces churn, but because it can translate to more scale for their advertising businesses. With streaming bundles, you’re often getting an ad-supported service by default.
In some cases, you can upgrade to a service’s ad-free tier by paying the difference in price. Spectrum, for instance, offers this option for Disney+ if your TV package includes it. But Comcast’s StreamSaver package only offers an ad-free upgrade for Netflix, not Peacock.
Would another bundle work better?
Even after all the caveats above, streaming bundles can still be worthwhile in some circumstances. But as the number of bundled options increases, you’ll need to choose wisely and be sure not to create overlap.
Some wireless carriers, for instance, offer free or deeply discounted streaming services without your needing to bundle lots of them together. Shopping and grocery delivery providers have been bundling streaming services as well, including Instacart+ (which offers Peacock), Walmart+ (which offers Paramount+), and Kroger Boost (which offers Disney+, Hulu, or ESPN+). Don’t sign up for a basket of streaming services when they’re included with another service you already use.
Streaming bundles are not intended to save you money. Like the value meal at a fast food restaurant, their goal is to encourage you to pay for things you don’t need and might otherwise avoid. The trick, as always, is to realize when you’re better off ordering a la carte.
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