In a move that could send shockwaves through the streaming industry, Apple TV Plus and Paramount Plus are about to join forces to take on Netflix.
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), two of the world's most underrated streamers have been in talks about creating a cost-effective bundle to end Netflix's dominance of the streaming landscape.
People familiar with the discussions reportedly told the WSJ that Apple TV Plus and Paramount Plus aren't just looking to end Netflix's reign as the world's top streaming service. According to the US outlet's sources, the duo would also like to offer their services as a joint venture in an effort to save people money. It is believed that the two companies have had a meaningful dialogue about offering the said bundle at a lower price than if they subscribed to both streamers separately – a deal that would certainly pique the interest of customers working on a budget .
Ny Breaking has reached out to Apple and Paramount for comment, but has not yet received a response from either party. If we hear anything, we will update this article.
Another potentially big shift in the streaming landscape
If the WSJ's report is correct — the network is keen to emphasize that talks are still in the early stages — the potential bundling of Paramount Plus and Apple TV Plus into one package could have a major impact on the broader streaming industry.
First, the world's eight biggest streamers have all increased their prices in the last 12 months – some, like Disney Plus and Max, have done so twice in less than a year in the US. That has put unnecessary pressure on people who subscribe to multiple services, with many forced to choose which one (or, at the push of a button), they want to stay on as the cost of living continues to rise.
The bundling of the Paramount and Apple platforms would therefore be seen as an important step. Like their rivals, the pair have increased their subscription costs in 2023 – I found the big Apple TV Plus price hike particularly annoying – and while they both have great content to offer customers, their back catalogs aren't on par with Netflix, Prime Video or even Hulu. Apple TV Plus's library consists only of first-party (albeit mostly great) offerings, while Paramount Plus doesn't have the power to compete with the world's most popular services from either a first- or third-party perspective.
Therefore, it makes sense for Apple and Paramount to combine their efforts and bring their streaming products to consumers. Doing this at a lower price makes the bundle even better, as you get two platforms for (potentially) the price of one. In an age when studios and entertainment companies are looking to undercut each other in a fiercely competitive market, an Apple TV Plus-Paramount Plus bundle sounds like a no-brainer.
It is also not such a radical plan, when you consider that similar mergers and bundles have already taken place. Disney is currently offering a Disney Plus-Hulu bundle to US customers at a lower price than subscribing to the streamers separately. Sometime in 2024, the entertainment giant is expected to fully merge Disney Plus and Hulu into one superstreamer, in an attempt to take on Netflix itself. That merger is all the more likely following the full acquisition of Hulu by the Walt Disney Company from Comcast in early November.
Max, Warner Bros.'s very own super streamer. Discovery, was born after Warner Bros. and Discovery previously joined forces in mid-2022. Previously, HBO Max and Discovery Plus existed as separate entities, but merged in May 2023 to give audiences more choice at a more affordable price. Well, until Max's price rose in October.
It remains to be seen whether the combined forces of Apple and Paramount will be enough to overhaul Netflix. Blasting the best Apple TV Plus shows and the best Paramount Plus movies to more homes will be a success in itself, but if the duo ever wants to have a shot at beating Netflix, it may first take a concerted effort to to do that.