In the coming weeks, subscribers to the top streaming services will be getting excited about the launch of the Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery (WDB) streaming bundle in the US, which sees Disney Plus, Hulu and Max join forces to create one combined discounted package. But while no exact date has been announced for when the new bundle will be available, one streamer has already said it wants no part of it: Netflix will not only stay out of the Disney and WBD package, it also plans to not bundle its services with rivals at all.
In a recent shareholder letter sent on July 18, the streaming giant stated that it has no plans to bundle with competing platforms as it limits its own offerings. “We have not bundled Netflix solely with other streamers like Disney Plus or Max because Netflix already functions as a go-to destination for entertainment thanks to the breadth and variety of our offerings and superior product experience,” Netflix said in the letter in apparent response to the Disney Plus, Hulu and Max bundle as noted by Deadline.
Despite Netflix’s shareholder letter, the company isn’t ruling out bundling entirely from its business model, especially if it goes through a network operator. In December 2023, an ad-supported Netflix and Max bundle became available to customers on Verizon’s new myPlan subscription tier. This marked the first time in years that Netflix had offered a discount on one of its platforms, and originally signaled to us that it could be the start of more subscription packages.
More recently, in May, Comcast announced a new StreamSaver bundle that would combine Netflix, Apple TV Plus, and Peacock all under one roof, which will only be available to Comcast customers. As a result, Netflix will be available at a “massively discounted price,” according to VarietyHowever, no news about a launch date has been announced yet.
The announcements of all the upcoming streaming bundles seem to be sparking a renaissance for cable TV, especially as Netflix considers a completely free, ad-supported service in Europe and Asia. But given recent shareholder letters, it’s highly unlikely that Netflix will consider new bundling options with other services – and that makes sense.
Netflix is keeping its cards to itself for now
It’s no surprise that Netflix remains the most popular streaming service for movie and TV lovers. In addition to the letter to investors, Netflix also revealed that it gained eight million subscribers in the second quarter by 2024 – with a global total of 277 million subscribers.
Given Netflix’s popularity in the streaming platform space, joining forces with competitors Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max could result in a major setback for Netflix’s numbers. It also wouldn’t make sense for Netflix to be part of a streaming bundle like Disney and WBD’s proposal, since its main goal is to actively compete with Netflix’s growing popularity.
While Netflix still allows “some partnerships” like those with Verizon and Comcast, they’re still only available to a very limited number of subscribers. And by the looks of it, it seems like Netflix will have to wait a while before considering offering more bundles to a broader audience.