On The Rock
Happy Sunday!
I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving and Holiday weekend. It's a time for gratitude, spending time with loved ones, and creating cherished moments—a favorite holiday of mine. It's a time when major players in streaming and telecom roll out enticing promotions, offering relief from the higher costs experienced recently. Notably, this year's deals in the streaming were strategically tailored, putting a spotlight on newer, ad-supported plans.
This move aligns with consumer preferences, as highlighted by Antenna research, indicating that over half of Disney+ newcomers and 22% of new Warner Bros Discovery Max subscribers in October opted for plans that incorporate advertisements.
Streaming Services:
Disney, a prominent name in the streaming sphere, has introduced a compelling offer—a year-long subscription to Hulu with Ads for a mere $1 per month until November 28. Additionally, new customers have the option to include Disney+ with ads for an additional $2 and a six-month subscription to Starz for an extra dollar. To put this in context, the regular cost for Disney+ with ads stands at $10 per month. If purchased individually, combining Disney+ with ads and Hulu with ads would typically amount to $16 per month.
Furthermore, subscribers signing up for this promotion will get exposure to Disney's forthcoming app integration plans. The company intends to merge Disney+ and Hulu into a unified app, with a beta release scheduled for next month and an official launch expected in March.
Warner Bros Discovery is also making waves in the streaming deals arena. Both new and existing Max subscribers can avail themselves of the ad-supported plan for a remarkable $3 per month over the next six months. Contrast this with the standard $10 per month pricing, while the ad-free Max plans typically range between $16 to $20 per month. This enticing offer concludes on November 27 and comes following the streaming service's loss of over a million subscribers in Q3.
Comcast's Peacock service joins the frenzy, offering a one-year subscription for $2 per month or a $20 upfront payment until November 28. Post-promotion, Peacock Premium will revert to its usual $6 per month or $60 annually. The higher tier, Peacock Premium Plus, is priced at $12 per month or $120 annually.
Paramount+ enters the scene by slashing prices to $2 per month for its ad-supported subscription until December 3. Additionally, customers can snag the ad-free version of Paramount+ bundled with Showtime for just $4 per month. This move follows the integration of both services that began back in June.
Fox Nation's offer reduces annual plan costs to a mere $2.50 per month. This promotion, tied to the commemoration of the US' 250th birthday and a new historical series hosted by Rob Lowe, is available for a "limited time only," although specific duration details were not provided. Moreover, Fox is extending a 20% discount on merchandise on its website until November 26.
Amazon, the retail giant, is stepping into the streaming service discounts arena by offering up to 75% off select services via Amazon Channels until December 3. This offer is accessible to both new and existing customers. The roster of services included in this offer comprises MGM+, VIX Premium, Cinemax, Britbox, PBS Masterpiece, Hallmark Movies Now, Noggin, Acorn TV, PBS Kids, among others.
Additionally, Amazon is rolling out a special deal for Audible, its audio streaming service featuring access to over 80,000 audiobooks, podcasts, and stories. Until November 27, customers can avail themselves of a four-month subscription to Audible for $5.95 per month, coupled with a $20 Audible credit. Upon completion of the initial four-month period, the subscription auto-renews at $14.95 per month, though there's also a cheaper $7.95 plan available.
Netflix's promotions, however, were limited to discounts on merchandise associated with the popular series "Stranger Things." This includes price reductions on various items, such as a $17 discount on a Stranger Things Monopoly set.
Telecos:
On the telecom front, incumbents have unveiled their own matching promotions, primarily centered around trade-in deals for Samsung phones.
Verizon is offering significant "savings" ranging from $1,800 to $1,900 for individuals trading in old Samsung or Pixel models for new ones. This offer follows the company's previous initiative allowing customers to replace old iPhones with the new iPhone 15 Pro for those adding a new line on the Unlimited Ultimate plan.
AT&T has announced discounts on Samsung S23 FE, iPhones, and other devices starting November 23. Both new and existing customers are eligible to receive up to $1,000 off eligible smartphones with qualifying trade-ins. To obtain the full discount, the trade-in value of the smartphone must be $95 or higher.
T-Mobile has rolled out new "Un-Carrier" deals, including "The Ultimate Bundle," offering savings exceeding $1,300. This bundle includes a free Samsung Galaxy S23 upon adding a line or trading in an eligible device on Go5G Plus or Go5G Next, a complimentary Samsung Galaxy Watch6 when adding a watch line, and free Samsung Buds2, among other perks.
