The streaming service wars have a new alliance that is powerful enough to bring Marvel and DC together.
The rival superhero universes from Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery will now be offered to users at home in one discounted bundle as part of the studios’ new streaming bundle, launched on Thursday.
Now customers can enjoy their favorite Disney princesses, binge on “Harry Potter” on Max, and keep up with “The Kardashians” on Hulu with one plan, which the companies say will save customers up to 38% monthly.
Depending on the plan, the no-ads version costs $29.99 per month while the ads plan costs $16.99 per month, saving customers 34% monthly on the three streaming services.
Separately, Hulu with Disney+ has an ad-supported plan for $9.99 per month and a no-ad plan for $19.99 per month. Max’s ad-supported plan is $9.99 monthly, while its two ad-free plans are $16.99 or $20.99 monthly.
Even though the three apps will remain separate, the bundle brings together entertainment brands like ABC, Discovery, Food Network, FX, HBO, HGTV, Pixar, Searchlight, Star Wars, CNN, and more.
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When the plan was announced in May, Warner Bros. Discovery’s CEO and president of global streaming and games mentioned that the grouping will “help drive incremental subscribers and much stronger retention.”
This is crucial in today’s consumer streaming market, as Deloitte’s most recent Digital Media Trends report indicates that 40% of Americans with a subscription have canceled at least one in the past six months, according to Forbes. Another Deloitte report from 2022 found that 60% of consumers were interested in bundles to save money on streaming.
Disney already offers a combination of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Warner Bros. Discovery, ESPN, and FOX also announced a partnership to launch a sports streaming app in the fall, which will include coverage of the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college football, the FIFA World Cup, as well as golf, tennis, and cycling events.
