Verizon has confirmed that select wireless plans will now include free streaming access to Disney+, basic Hulu, and ESPN+. This marks an expansion of a deal that was already in place between Disney and Verizon, and results in a streaming saving of up to $12.99 per month.
While basic Hulu and ESPN+ were already established streaming services, Disney+ only launched in late 2019. One of the companies that partnered with Disney on the launch was Verizon, with the carrier basically giving away free Disney+ access to some of its wireless customers.
It is that deal that has now been expanded and so the inclusion of free Hulu and ESPN+ is what’s technically new. According to Verizon, customers hoping to max out the streaming freebies will need to be signed up to either the ‘Play More Unlimited’ plan (priced at $45 per line, per month) or the ‘Get More Unlimited’ plan (priced at $55 per line, per month).
Besides the Disney-related services, subscribers to either of these wireless plans also get access to Apple Music for free. Although it’s only six months of free Apple Music for Play More Unlimited customers. The improved wireless plans are set to go live on August 20, 2020.
A worthwhile deal if you’re a Verizon customer
Needless to say, the idea behind this Disney/Verizon partnership is for each of the companies to help boost the subscriber numbers of the other. From the Verizon customer standpoint, the partnership has always been beneficial, considering if they want access to Disney+ they could get it for free. Now, not only does this partnership expansion make that deal even better for Verizon customers, but it might actually start to help drive some consumers to consider switching to Verizon.
Subscribing to all three of these services separately would cost up to $18.97 per month. However, Disney does offer a bundle which provides access to Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ for $12.99 per month – which is the saving Verizon customers will now be getting. For non-Verizon customers though, $12.99 per month is a significant amount and depending on what the cost is (and perks are) of the individual’s current wireless plan, a $13 per month saving could seem like a worthwhile reason to switch.
Of course, there are some caveats to be aware of and one of the most significant is the lack of the ability to separate the subscriptions in the future. Right now, subscribers have the option to cancel any of these streaming services, or all three, with no repercussions. That’s not really an option here considering the wireless and streaming services are bundled together.
Likewise, this promotion is also unlikely to be that beneficial to any consumer who already gets some or all of these subscriptions bundled in with another package. For example, the Hulu live TV Disney bundle.
Source: Verizon
