There are Black Friday sales all over the place right now, and many of the biggest streaming providers will likely soon announce exclusive offers to draw in new users.
This could be an excellent moment to attempt cutting the cord or moving from a traditional cable provider to a streaming service.
In an email interview, Chad Gammon, a licensed financial advisor located in Iowa, stated that the upcoming offers will likely be simple plans with advertisements and will be appealing to new customers.
Gammon, the owner of Custom Fit Financial, stated that although certain streaming providers may potentially provide discounts on ad-free plans, the price will be greater. Thus, watch for the offers, but also be sure to review the terms and restrictions.
Black Friday streaming deal trends
In the days ahead, some streaming services will launch their Black Friday prices, while others have already begun to offer discounts. For instance, if members select the annual plan, ESPN+ is now giving 12 months for the price of nine. The offer is valid until December 2.
Black Friday sales from the previous year can serve as a reliable predictor of future sales.
According to a prepared statement from Clay Cary, a senior trends analyst at CouponFollow, previous Black Friday offers, such as Hulu’s $1.99/month offering, truly demonstrate the spectrum of savings.
If your family uses numerous platforms, bundles like Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ typically offer the best value, according to Cary.
We inquired about these services’ Black Friday schedules. Disney+ stated that no deals have been announced as of yet. Requests for information from ESPN+ and Hulu were not answered.
Are Black Friday streaming deals worth it?
Think over your budget, the various streaming plans, and whether one provider can offer you all the shows you desire while you wait for the bargains to come up.
Streaming services position themselves as less expensive options to cable companies that have costly monthly subscriptions, lengthy contracts, bad service, and a lot of advertisements. However, do they fulfill that commitment?
You ll need to look at the details
You may believe you are getting a fantastic deal on a streaming service, only to discover it is for the ad-supported version. Be mindful of other details as well. A streaming provider may provide a seasonal offer, but the quality of the video may vary and the number of devices that can stream simultaneously may be limited.
Password sharing crackdowns have also had a significant negative impact on the streaming industry, frustrating many users and leaving them with little options.
According to Cary, paid-sharing services like Netflix haven’t been well-liked because they seem like an unnecessary expense. These modifications may encourage users on a tight budget to switch to free ad-supported services.
You ll still need to pay for internet
You may need to reconsider your plans to sever your connection with your cable provider. Using your streaming service will still require an internet connection. Since many homes combine their internet and cable bills, you will need to obtain a quote for an internet-only plan if you decide to remove your cable.
You may discover that your outdated internet speed isn’t sufficient if several members of your home are streaming simultaneously. You must modify your budget to account for the higher expense of an internet speed enhancement.
You might need to subscribe to multiple services
You may need to join up for three different streaming services in order to access all the content you desire if you’re a sports lover with children at home and a spouse who enjoys shows from premium networks.
It can be costly and a major hassle to sign up for several streaming providers.
This phenomenon, which Gammon referred to as “subscription fatigue,” occurs when users subscribe to several services but ultimately stop using them because they are unable to identify which shows are available on which streaming service.
Instead of trying to subscribe to everything, Cary advised users to concentrate on platforms that correspond with their actual viewing habits in order to stay within their budget.
Expect a price increase later
The thrill of landing a good bargain won’t last forever.
Prices can rise sharply when special offers expire, often doubling, according to Cary.
He advised setting a reminder to check your subscription before the discounted pricing ends in order to prevent such shocks.
Check existing memberships for free subscriptions
Consider how streaming services will fit into your budget before registering. Streaming services, along with entertainment, dining out, and travel, fall into the 30% wants area on a 50/30/20 budget.
Check your existing memberships if money is tight, as some big-box stores provide substantial savings or complimentary streaming service subscriptions. For instance:
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Walmart+
members get access to the Paramount+ Essentials plan as a benefit.
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Grocery chain Kroger offers Boost members the option to get Disney+ Basic (with ads), Hulu (with ads) or ESPN+ for free as part of their yearly fee.
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Verizon offers Verizon Home Internet users free subscriptions to Netflix Standard (with ads) and Max (with ads) for a year, and then $10 per month after that. That s a savings of $203 in the first year.
Utilizing pre-existing advantages is a low-risk method to test out one of these platforms, even though the majority of these offers are for base-level plans with advertisements.
Additional Information From NerdWallet
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Best Black Friday Deals: When to Shop, What to Buy and What to Skip
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When is Cyber Monday? Everything You Need To Know
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What Dynamic Pricing Means for Black Friday Shopping
NerdWallet is written by Amanda Barroso. [email protected] is the email.
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The article
Black Friday Streaming Deals: Read the Fine Print First
originally appeared on NerdWallet.
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