Streaming Bundles – Get ready to bundle up! That’s the direction your favorite streaming services are nudging you towards. We’re entering a new phase in the TV industry, as major players like Netflix, Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Peacock search for ways to boost revenue and keep subscribers loyal in an increasingly crowded streaming market. Their latest strategy? Reviving the classic bundle.

If you’re old enough to remember the days when cable ruled TV, you probably recall the bundle system. You chose your package based on the number of channels you wanted—maybe you splurged on Nick Jr. and MTV2, or added HBO to the mix. Those were simpler times. But now, streaming services are bringing that concept back, hoping to offer something familiar in a new digital age.

Over the past decade, cable TV has seen a significant decline as both companies and consumers have fully embraced streaming. Today, nearly every major media conglomerate has its own streaming platform, leaving TV viewers facing a growing number of monthly subscription fees that can quickly add up to hundreds of dollars. It was only a matter of time before something had to change.

Enter the streaming bundle. Instead of shelling out $15.99 for Disney+ and $18.99 for Hulu individually, you can now get both for just $19.99 with the Disney bundle. It’s an enticing deal that’s hard to pass up!

As streaming TV continues to evolve, now is the perfect time to dive into the world of bundles and see how they can benefit you. By understanding your options, you might discover that you could be paying less for your favorite services. It’s all about making informed choices when it comes to your subscriptions!

A streaming bundle is a package deal that offers access to multiple streaming services for a single, often discounted, monthly fee. It’s a way for consumers to enjoy a variety of content without the higher costs of subscribing to each service separately. Some of the most popular bundles include:

• Disney+ and Hulu
• Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+
• Disney+, Hulu, and Max
• Xfinity Streamsaver (Peacock, Netflix with ads, and Apple TV+)

Streaming companies are bundling services to attract and retain subscribers in an increasingly competitive market, offering more value while encouraging loyalty to their platforms.

Streaming services are increasingly turning to bundles as part of a broader strategy shift in the industry. This change comes after Netflix experienced a significant subscriber loss in 2022, revealing that the previous business model—spending heavily on a vast amount of new content—was no longer sustainable. Now, streamers are focused on attracting more subscribers and keeping them for longer periods. Research shows that subscribers who opt for bundled services are less likely to cancel.

“Data indicates that bundling services can help mitigate churn (of subscribers),” says Catalina Skramstad, senior vice president of marketing and partnerships at streaming analytics firm NPAW. “Disney’s bundle offers consumers perceived value, which helps retain subscribers even as individual prices increase.”

Streaming bundles can indeed save you money, which is always a plus. However, the real question is whether you’ll get enough value from all the services included in these packages. Here’s a breakdown of the major bundle prices:

• Disney+ and Hulu: $10.99 (with ads) and $19.99 (no ads)*
• Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+: $14.99 (with ads) and $24.99 (no ads on Hulu and Disney+)*
• Disney+, Hulu, and Max: $16.99 (with ads) and $29.99 (no ads)*
• Xfinity Streamsaver (Peacock and Netflix with ads, plus Apple TV+): $15**

*Prices as of October 17. **Only available to Xfinity broadband internet subscribers.

These bundles offer significant savings, but it’s important to consider if you’ll regularly use all the services included.

What about bundling with cellphone service, Walmart+ or other purchases like that?

You can also score discounted or even free streaming services by bundling with other providers. For instance, some Verizon Wireless data plans come with the Disney bundle, and Walmart+ members can enjoy Paramount+ at no additional cost. These deals can be great money-savers, but they often come with strings attached. For example, the free or discounted streaming services may only last for a year, and the offers frequently change, so it’s important to stay informed.

Are more bundles coming?

As for new bundles, none of the major streamers have announced additional bundles just yet, but it’s likely we’ll see more in the future. The industry tends to follow trends—after Netflix cracked down on password sharing, several other streamers quickly followed suit. Looking ahead, Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox are teaming up to launch a new sports streaming service called Venu, which will essentially be a single bundled service debuting this fall.

Curious about how these trends will shape the future? Explore more on our featured section.