Walt Disney and Warner Bros Discovery have announced plans to introduce a bundle of their streaming services, including Disney+, Hulu, and Max, to US customers starting this summer.
The new package will offer access to all three streaming platforms, with options for plans with and without advertisements. However, specific pricing details have not yet been disclosed.
This strategic move comes as both Disney and Warner Bros face stiff competition from rivals such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in the streaming industry.
Warner Bros Discovery executive JB Perrette expressed optimism about the new offering, stating, “This new offering… will help drive incremental subscribers and much stronger retention.”
Further details about the plans will be unveiled by the two media giants in the coming weeks.
With the shift away from traditional television, companies like Disney and Warner Bros are under pressure to attract and retain more subscribers for their streaming services. The combined offering is expected to complement each other, catering to diverse audience preferences.
While Disney+ is renowned for its family-friendly content, Warner’s Max boasts HBO’s more adult-focused programming.
In recent years, streaming companies have increasingly joined forces to offer bundled services. In February, Walt Disney’s ESPN, Fox Corp, and Warner Bros Discovery announced plans for a new sports platform to launch in the autumn, leveraging their extensive portfolios of sports rights.
Disney reported in its quarterly financial results released on Tuesday that Disney+ had gained over six million subscribers globally between January and March, excluding India, bringing its total subscriber base to over 117 million. This growth is crucial for Disney’s future, particularly as it faces a plateau in growth in recent months.
Disney also informed investors that a forthcoming password crackdown, scheduled to commence in the summer, is expected to bolster subscriber numbers.
The growing saturation of the streaming market has led to customer dissatisfaction with having to subscribe to multiple services. Bundling offers a solution by simplifying payments and potentially reducing costs for users.
