Which Streaming Bundle Is Right for You?

The streaming wars have gone on for years, but it looks like it’s now time for some streaming solidarity. Comcast, which owns NBCUniversal, recently unveiled its new streaming bundle StreamSaver. Now expected to launch in late May, the package includes Peacock, Netflix, and Apple TV+, and will be available to Comcast broadband and TV customers. On May 21, Variety reported that StreamSaver will cost $15 per month.

In February, Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery announced that they would be joining forces to create a sports-focused bundle combining ESPN+ with 14 linear networks (including Fox, TNT, TBS, Big Ten Network, and more). They also just revealed the bundle’s name: Venu Sports. Pricing is still unknown at this time, but it’s slated to launch sometime this fall. However, the Justice Department is reportedly reviewing the venture over concerns that it may violate antitrust laws.

On top of all this, Warner Bros. Discovery is also teaming up with Disney to launch another streaming service bundle: one that packages Max, Disney+, and Hulu together. It’s expected to debut at some point this summer and will offer both ad and ad-free tiers (the service fee is, you guessed it, still unknown). 

Despite the wave of recent announcements, streaming bundles aren’t a new invention. There’s already several smaller packages available to consumers: Hulu (with or without Live TV), Disney+, and ESPN; Hulu and Disney+; Hulu with the option of adding on HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, or Starz. Prime Video lets you add Max, Paramount+, Britbox, AMC+, BBC Select, and more, while Verizon offers its myPlan customers a discounted (albeit with ads) Netflix and Max bundle. 

If you’re thinking that this all sounds an awful lot like cable, you’re not alone. Still, it feels like we’ve entered a new phase of the streaming wars. Given how expensive streaming has become for both viewers and the companies themselves — nearly every streamer raised their prices this past year, and there’s been a shift toward chasing profit over subscriber growth — it’s not surprising that cost-saving bundles are in style. 

All of these options can feel pretty overwhelming to navigate, so we’ve put together a guide to help you determine which of the three new streaming bundles is right for your TV tastes. Below, we break down each package’s “personality” and what they have to offer. 

StreamSaver (Peacock, Netflix, Apple TV+)

If you’re craving comfort fare, StreamSaver might be the bundle for you. When picking a new show feels daunting, it’s convenient to be able to rewatch The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Law & Order on Peacock for the millionth time. Alternatively, you can hop over to Netflix for familiar favorites like Suits, Sex and the City, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Gilmore Girls. This bundle includes a lot of shows simply feel like a warm hug, from Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso to Netflix’s YA hit Heartstopper — or if you just need a laugh, there’s tons of standup specials available on Netflix (John Mulaney marathon, anyone?), plus more edgy fare like Peacock’s Ted.

Reality TV enthusiasts could potentially get a lot of value out of this bundle. For starters, Peacock is home to the Bravo-verse, which hosts the Real Housewives franchise (including spin-off Vanderpump Rules), Below Deck, Southern Charm, Summer House, and more — plus, the streamer has reality competition shows like The Traitors. Netflix has also accumulated a solid reality collection with titles like Love Is Blind, Selling Sunset, The Ultimatum, and whatever the heck this upcoming Willy Wonka reality show is. 

There’s also plenty here for sci-fi fans. Apple TV+ has built a steady stream of titles in the genre, including Severance, Silo, Dark Matter, Foundation, Invasion, and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Additionally, Netflix boasts the massively popular sci-fi horror drama series Stranger Things, along with hits like Black Mirror, The Umbrella Academy, and the recently renewed 3 Body Problem. If sci-fi isn’t your thing, perhaps a period piece instead? This might be the right package for history lovers  — there’s Netflix’s period drama romance Bridgerton, of course, but Apple TV+ also has The Buccaneers, Dickinson, and more.

If you’re the kind of viewer who loves to rewatch comfort shows while still staying on top of the latest big titles — like Netflix hits Squid Game, Ginny & Georgia, and Wednesday, Apple TV+’s Sugar, or Peacock’s Poker Face — this may be the package for you.

Max/Disney+/Hulu

Out of all the upcoming options, this one may have the broadest range of content to offer. Per the joint press release, the bundle includes access to “ABC, CNN, DC, Discovery, Disney, Food Network, FX, HBO, HGTV, Hulu, Marvel, Pixar, Searchlight, Warner Bros., and many more.” WBD’s streaming service Max, which combines HBO with Discovery, already encompasses a huge library alone. If you are choosing a bundle for the whole family or just looking for variety, this yet-to-be-named package may make the most sense for you.

On the kids’ front, there’s obviously plenty of great options on Disney+, from Bluey to Disney Channel classics such as Hannah Montana, That’s So Raven, and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody as well as the channel’s more recent fare like The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder and Hailey’s On It!. Max includes access to Sesame Street, Cartoon Network shows, and iconic throwbacks like Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, and The Flintstones. Teen drama enthusiasts may be interested in the massive collection available, including 2000s hits like One Tree Hill and The O.C. on Max (as well as newer fare like Pretty Little Liars: Summer School); on Hulu, there’s a backlog of Freeform shows like The Fosters and Shadowhunters as well as MTV’s Teen Wolf.

For superhero fans, Disney+ is home to all things Marvel (even if we’re only getting a couple new shows a year from now on) from WandaVision to Loki to X-Men '97. Plus, there’s the ever-expanding Star Wars franchise, which includes The Mandalorian, The Bad Batch, Andor, and the upcoming Acolyte, just to name a few shows — and let’s not forget about Doctor Who on Disney+ too. Meanwhile, Max has Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon (and the original series), as well as the popular video game adaptation The Last of Us. Through Hulu, FX offers access to multiple Ryan Murphy anthology series and epic dramas like Shōgun. 

True-crime lovers could also get a lot from this package. On Max, HBO has some of the best documentaries in the business, from The Jinx to The Vow, while Discovery offers binge-worthy viewing like Mean Girl Murders and People Magazine Investigates. Hulu has also developed an impressive library for true-crime adaptations, including Under the Bridge, Candy, The Girl from Plainville, and The Act. 

With this bundle, you can also access prestige fare like The Bear, Succession, and The Sopranos, while still being able to indulge in HGTV, the Food Network, and acclaimed comedies like Hacks and Only Murders in the Building. So, for those who watch a wide variety of shows, this might be the best bang for your buck. That being said, we’ll have to wait and see the actual price point.

Venu Sports (ESPN+ and Sports-Focused Linear Networks)

If you’re a sports fan first and foremost, this seems like an obvious choice. WBD, Fox, and Disney’s joint package Venu Sports is slated to include ESPN+ and access to the companies’ linear networks ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, TNT, TBS and truTV. This means viewers can tune into games and events for the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB, plus many top college teams. 

This venture, which was initially dubbed “Spulu” (R.I.P.), is different from the other bundles in that it will be available on new one-stop platform that consolidates all viewing into a single app. “Welcome to the future home of sports streaming,” Venu’s newly launched website reads. “Venu will bring the most sought-after live sports from the top leagues and teams, together in one place. All in a new app built from the ground up for sports fans.

To break it down further, per Yahoo Sports, NFL and MLB coverage will be broadcast through Fox and ESPN, NHL matches via TNT and ABC/ESPN, and NBA and WNBA (as well as NCAA men’s and women’s basketball) games will come through ESPN/ABC. Fox will offer the Big Ten football games, while ESPN holds the rights to SEC football. Additionally, Fox and FS1 are slated to broadcast a number of men’s and women’s college basketball matches.

While this is obviously big news for sports fans, the bundle could also prove useful for fans of network TV. ABC has staples such as Grey’s Anatomy, procedurals like 9-1-1 and The Rookie, and the hit mockumentary Abbott Elementary. Fox has some of the best animation around, including The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy, and The Great North, as well as popular shows like The Cleaning Lady and Animal Control. So, if you’re into procedurals, sitcoms, or medical dramas, this may be the package for you, even if you’re not a huge sports lover. Or maybe someone in your household only cares about sports while you mostly have cable just for Grey’s Anatomy and its spin-offs?

Ultimately, if you’re a fan of watching TV live — whether it’s football Sundays or 9-1-1 Thursdays — this could be an appealing option. That is, assuming Fubo’s antitrust lawsuit doesn’t block the service from launch.

Kelly Martinez is a TV Reporter based in Los Angeles. Her previous work can be found at BuzzFeed and People Magazine, among other outlets. She enjoys reading, spending time with her cat, and explaining the plot of Riverdale to people.