Comcast streaming bundle to include Netflix, Apple TV+, and Peacock at "vastly reduced price"

[Shawn Knight]

The next big thing? Comcast is preparing to launch a streaming subscription package that'll be vastly cheaper than any comparable bundle currently on the market. During a recent speaking engagement at an industry conference in New York, Comcast CEO Brain Roberts said the upcoming bundle will be available to Comcast TV, broadband, or mobile customers.

Dubbed StreamSaver, the package will include access to Netflix, Apple TV+, and Peacock at a deep discount compared to what you'd pay for subscribing to each service individually. Roberts stopped short of revealing specifics on pricing, but it could be an interesting proposition if Comcast is able to deliver a compelling bundle.

As Variety highlights, the cheapest path to all three services today looks like this: Netflix Basic with ads for $6.99 a month, Apple TV+ at $9.99 a month, and Peacock Premium with ads for $5.99. That works out to $22.97 a month for all three, but Peacock will receive a $2 price hike to $7.99 per month starting in mid-July. How low could Comcast cut this down to? And are we talking ad-supported plans or ad-free memberships, because that'll make a huge difference.

Ultimately, it will all come down to pricing. If Comcast can price StreamSaver at a monthly rate that is truly unbelievable (something in the ballpark of $9.99 per month, like MoviePass, for example), then they have a good shot at being truly disruptive and shaking up the existing model. If it's a mild discount we're looking at, well then, move along as there's nothing to see here.

We've already seen that streaming bundles can work, and the Disney bundle is a good example of this. Newcomers can get Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ starting at $14.99 per month – a 44 percent savings over individual rates. Comcast could make waves by undercutting Disney, although I doubt very many broadband or mobile customers are going to make the switch to Comcast just for the bundle.

Comcast is expected to launch StreamSaver later this month.

Image credit: Glenn Carstens-Peters

Permalink to story:

Comcast streaming bundle to include Netflix, Apple TV+, and Peacock at "vastly reduced price"

 

[Neatfeatguy]

Comcast has been jacking prices up every year for the past 3-4 years. I wouldn't trust them to offering any kind of "service" they claim will save you money. They'll just screw you over down the road.

 

[wiyosaya]

IF this is true, then it will be interesting; however, I have yet to see any streaming service that gets why people started streaming in the first place - and to me, that is vastly over-priced subscription TV.

The interesting this about this is that Comcast was one of those vastly over-prices subscription TV services that drove streamers away from Subscription TV. So, it is nearly certain that the reason Comcast is getting into streaming is because they are losing and have lost money on their subscription TV service. Thus, they have a hole in their profit stream that they are trying to plug and they see the streaming FAD as a way to plug that hole.

Thus, while Comcast may start the pricing at an attractive enough rate to lure a sufficient number of subscribers to their streaming service, my bet is that their "inexpensive" pricing, if any, will not last beyond the first year or so.

The short version of this - I don't trust Comcast the streaming service any more than I would Comcast the subscription TV provider.

 

[maxxcool7421]

Given how popular shows get bought and sold to other streamers this is useless

 

[Uncle Al]

While it's an interesting concept it will still be COMCAST, which has never been reasonable or beneficial to it's customers. I would have to believe this is just a ploy to gather more customers that will get slammed later on.

 

[TomSEA]

No doubt these streaming services will be of the "with ads" flavor. No thanks.

 

[BabaYaga]

The problem is canceling. I can cancel Netflix the same way I sign up - online and instantenously. Comcast lures you in with intro offers and makes it impossible to cancel. Even navigating their website takes ages. It's done like this purposefully. Every page takes minutes to load. I have a link saved to the cancelation form I got from search engine because I could not find it on their website. You can't cancel yourself. You can inform them you want to cancel but it won't be canceled until they reach out to you. They never reach out. I went through this last year with the internet and will be going through this again once my 12 month intro offer expires.

And yes to all those that think Comcast will jack up the rates until the bundle doesn't save you any money. That's definitely an intro rate.

 

[scavengerspc]

The problem is canceling. I can cancel Netflix the same way I sign up - online and instantenously. Comcast lures you in with intro offers and makes it impossible to cancel. Even navigating their website takes ages. It's done like this purposefully. Every page takes minutes to load. I have a link saved to the cancelation form I got from search engine because I could not find it on their website. You can't cancel yourself. You can inform them you want to cancel but it won't be canceled until they reach out to you. They never reach out. I went through this last year with the internet and will be going through this again once my 12 month intro offer expires.

Just cancel your payment method. If they make that a PITA, then just let your bank\CC company know not to process a payment from them again. You can probably do it online.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

If they can offer them in a bundle for a lower price, that proves how overpriced they were in the first place.