Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery are joining forces to create a streaming bundle, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The two entertainment companies plan to launch the bundle this summer which will combine the streaming platforms of Disney+, Hulu and Max. Pricing details for the bundle hasn't been announced yet. However, there will be options for both ad-free and ad-supported packages.
Disney+, Hulu and Max all have budget-friendly ad-supported plans as well as more expensive ad-free ones.
Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery are bundling up
This is a significant deal for both companies since a Max and Disney+ bundle will fill a need that is currently not served in the market. In the announcement, they refer to the bundle as the “best value in entertainment.”
Previously, Disney has been reluctant to partner with companies that it is competitive with when it comes to streaming bundles. That is, until now. Instead, the company is leveraging its own Disney Bundle. The options include Disney+ and Hulu or the more comprehensive Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+.
Both Warner Bros. Discover and Disney offer their streaming services through third parties, such as Verizon. However, this deal comes directly from the companies. The other subscription streaming giant, Netflix, has also been reticent when it comes to bundles, but it does have one with Verizon that offers Netflix-Max. This bundle was created last year.
Disney and WBD are two of the three companies involved in the creation of an upcoming streaming service dedicated to sports. This will deliver live and on-demand sports feed from its partners, such as Fox.
Disney Entertainment president of direct to consumer Joey Earley said, “On the heels of the very successful launch of Hulu on Disney+, this new bundle with Max will offer subscribers even more choice and value.”
“This incredible new partnership puts subscribers first, giving them access to blockbuster films, originals, and three massive libraries featuring the very best brands and entertainment in streaming today,” he added.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO and president of global streaming and games JB Perrette stated, “This new offering delivers for consumers the greatest collection of entertainment for the best value in streaming, and will help drive incremental subscribers and much stronger retention.”
“Offering this unprecedented entertainment value for fans across all the complementary genres these three services offer, presents a powerful new roadmap for the future of the industry,” he continued.
Both Disney and WBD are expected to announce their programming to advertisers and media buyers next week, often called the upfronts. The companies' streaming services will be at the forefront.
The good and the bad of streaming bundles
This collaboration should prove to be good news to consumers. Being able to access all three streaming services with just one payment would be convenient. It could also save on costs, depending on the pricing and the package chosen. There's also the availability of enhanced features such as additional premium channels.
However, filmmaker Judd Apatow points out certain disadvantages with bundles like these.
“But it's a scary thing as a creator of television, because of all the streamers going, ‘Wait a second. We don't need to spend $200 million on a new show…'” he said.
Another concern is that the studios with their own streaming services might end up curtailing making new movies since they can just buy the rights to stream properties from other studios.
As with pretty much everything in life, there's always both the good and the bad. Personally, I think bundles make access to shows and movies very convenient. Most viewers are more concerned about that than anything else, at first blush.
As for Apatow's concern that studios would be more circumspect about making movies now that they can just buy creative property from each other, I have a different take.
Studios already have enough reasons to reduce the number of movies, but I don't think streaming would be one of them. It would be more about the money. Audiences have proven that they are willing to get out of the comfort of their homes and shell out money to watch a movie in cinemas.
There are certain movies we prefer to watch in our own homes, and that's where a variety or a bundle of streaming services come in. However, there are also movies that some of us would like to watch in the company of a large group of people to provide that communal feeling.
In the end, it all depends on how good this bundled service is. The consumers will decide if it's worth their money.
Follow Us
Subscribe