Verizon’s subscription service aggregation platform +play introduced a new bundle Thursday that combines Netflix and Paramount+ with Showtime for $25.99 per month.
The offer starts tomorrow and is for a limited time. All told the bundle shaves off just under $6 per month compared to buying the services independently, as the offer includes Netflix’s ad-free Premium Plan (normally priced at $19.99 per month) and Paramount+ with Showtime (regularly priced at $11.99 per month – except for new and returning subscribers who are currently eligible for a 3-month $5.99 per month promotion).
And Verizon is boosting the profile of its recently launched customizable myPlan mobile plans, as it offers additional streaming savings on top. The +play platform comes with monthly perks through myPlan, which offers dollar credits to subscription services of users’ choice and if applied to the new streaming offer, reduces the streaming bundle price to just $10.99 per month.
According to Verizon this is the first time major SVODs Netflix and Paramount+ have been offered together. Verizon first introduced +play in March 2022 followed by a beta launch last December. The aggregation platform is available to all Verizon mobile, 5G Home and LTE Home Internet customers.
But it’s not the first time Verizon’s offered deals for Netflix, which is one of over 30 services available on the +play platform (and just last week the streamer rolled out paid sharing charges and policies that crack down on password sharing among different households.) Coinciding with its December beta launch, +play introduced a free year of Netflix Premium subscription when customers buy another service on the aggregator.
“With partners like Netflix and Paramount+ with Showtime on +play, we’re leading the industry in offering customers the content they want, with never-before-seen bundles they can’t get anywhere else,” said Erin McPherson, chief content officer at Verizon Consumer Group. “And now with +play as a perk offered with myPlan, we’re looking forward to even more customers taking advantage of the savings we have to offer. This marks a milestone for both Verizon and the streaming industry, and we’re grateful and excited to be in it with these partners.”
Verizon launched +play as a single platform for customers to sign up for, keep track of current subscription services and payments, discover new content and get perks. Among some of the other services offered are Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, discovery+, AMC+, Max, NFL+, NBA League Pass, AT+E Networks, and Starz.
Paramount Streaming CSO and Chief Business Development Officer Jeff Shultz pointed to the company’s strategy of casting a wide distribution net, including through partners.
“This new and distinctive streaming bundle on Verizon’s +play is yet another example of our commitment to offering consumers universal distribution and industry-leading deals,” Shultz commented in a statement. “By partnering with Verizon, we are making our broad and popular streaming offering on Paramount+ with Showtime just that more accessible.”
Paramount has taken other steps to pursue bundles and partners, both domestically and internationally when it comes to ensuring broad consumer access to its streaming services. Last August it partnered with Walmart to include the ad-supported version of Paramount+ (normally priced at $4.99 per month) in the retail giant’s Walmart+ membership program for no additional cost. This January it teamed up with Delta, giving members of the airline’s loyalty program free access to the premium tier of Paramount+ every time they fly on U.S.-originating flights.
As for Verizon, it’s push of mobile with value adds like content comes at time when the company is facing challenges itself – such as churn, leadership changes and questions by some as to whether its premium price for a premium network value proposition still holds as T-Mobile continues to gain network prowess.