Comcast says its new 'StreamSaver' bundle will save customers close to $100 a year - here's how

By Zoe Han

The new bundle offering Apple TV+, Netflix and Peacock costs $15 a month and is only available to Comcast subscribers

One more internet provider wants to help Americans save on their streaming-service expenses - to the tune of nearly $100 a year.

On Tuesday, Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) unveiled its new Xfinity StreamSaver streaming bundle, which comes with Apple TV+ (AAPL), Netflix (NFLX) Standard with ads and Comcast's own Peacock Premium service - all for the price of $15 a month.

Comcast's Xfinity internet and TV customers can add the bundle to their service starting May 29, a company spokesperson told MarketWatch. The bundle could save people more than 30%, according to Comcast, or about $95 a year.

The cost of three services when purchased separately adds up to $22.97 a month: Apple TV+ currently costs $9.99 a month; the Netflix Standard with ads plan is $6.99; and Peacock Premium, which also has ads, costs $5.99 a month.

"StreamSaver is a home run for consumers who want top-tier entertainment and live sports," said Dave Watson, chief executive of connectivity and platforms at Comcast.

Among the bundle's sports offerings, Apple TV+ broadcasts live Major League Baseball games on Friday nights, while Peacock Premium includes NBC's Sunday Night Football NFL games, the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics and more.

Comcast subscribers can also choose a bigger package that includes the streaming service NOW TV, which is operated by Comcast and the British broadcaster Sky TV, for a total of $30 a month. The NOW bundle allows subscribers to watch more than 40 popular streaming channels such as AMC, A&E and History Channel, in addition to the three streaming services. Both bundles are only available to Comcast users.

The average American household that subscribed to streaming services in October 2023 spent $61 per month for four services, according to Deloitte's 2024 Digital Media Trends report. Bundling can be an attractive money-saving option for consumers who have been dealing with higher prices for everything from groceries to car insurance.

Comcast first announced its new streaming bundle at an investor conference on May 14, just days after Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.'s (WBD) announcement of a similar bundle offering Max, Disney+ (DIS) and Hulu. Warner Bros. Discovery has not yet released pricing details but said its bundle will be available this summer, with WBD chief executive David Zaslav describing the offering as the "first of its kind."

Warner Bros. Discovery did not immediately respond to MarketWatch's request for comment.

Currently, Hulu costs $7.99 a month with ads and $17.99 ad-free; Disney+ is $7.99 with ads and $13.99 with no ads; and Max is $9.99 with ads and $15.99 without ads.

'Super-bundling' to save money

While bundles offering three streaming services all in one place are a new development, internet and phone providers have long been using streaming bundles as a tactic to attract customers, especially to their more premium plans.

T-Mobile (TMUS) offers Netflix with ads for free to some of its customers. T-Mobile's Go5G Next customers, who pay $105 per month for one line, can get Netflix, Apple TV+ and Hulu all for free, a T-Mobile spokesperson told MarketWatch.

Customers on the carrier's Go5G Plus plan, which costs $95 per month for one line, and Magenta MAX, which is $85 per month for one line, get both Netflix and Apple TV+ for free, the spokesperson said. Magenta customers get Apple TV+ for free for six months, and those with two or more lines can get Netflix for free.

Verizon (VZ) also offers streaming deals with its Unlimited plans, including the Unlimited Ultimate plan ($90 a month for one line), Unlimited Plus plan ($80 a month) and Unlimited Welcome plan ($65 a month). For an extra $10 each month, those users can get the Disney bundle, which comes with Disney+ with no ads, as well as ad-supported versions of Hulu and ESPN+.

For the same price, Verizon customers can also add two other bundles: One version comes with ad-supported versions of Netflix and Max, and the other is Verizon's Apple One bundle, which gives customers ad-free Apple TV+ together with Apple Music, Apple Arcade and iCloud+.

Only Verizon customers can get the deals, and they can add on as many bundles as they like - meaning they can get all seven subscriptions for $30 a month, a Verizon spokesperson told MarketWatch.

Also read: Can I still get Netflix with T-Mobile? Does Verizon still come with Disney+? Your guide to streaming bundles.

How have higher prices affected your life and how you think about the U.S. economy? MarketWatch would like to hear from readers about their experiences. You can write to us at readerstories@marketwatch.com. A reporter may be in touch to learn more.

-Zoe Han

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05-22-24 1005ET

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