Welcome back to Subscriptions Weekly! As we close 2023, we get the first hints of what the industry holds in 2024: subscription trials and bundles–if done correctly. Several streaming companies have decided to bundle up to acquire and retain more subscribers amid the cost-of-living crisis like Netflix and Max, Disney+ and Hulu, and Apple and Paramount+. Additionally, X continues in the quest to become “an everything app.” 

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Try before you buy: How businesses can offer free trials that work

Against the backdrop of the cost-of-living crisis, a free trial is a customer-acquisition model that more companies might want to consider. However, firms should be wary of giving away too much of their product or service for nothing. Indeed, a successful free trial ⁠depends on hitting a few key marketing high notes and taking some important operational precautions. Read more on Raconteur.

Verizon’s new Netflix & Max bundle costs $10/month with ads

Starting this week, myPlan customers can get a bundled subscription to Netflix and Max for just $10 per month–$7 less than what you would pay for the two separate services. While streaming rivals typically don’t offer bundles together, it makes sense as viewers seek out cheaper ways to stream and weed out unused subscriptions amid relentless price increases. Read more on The Verge.

Disney+ adds Hulu content for bundle subscribers in beta launch

This week, most Hulu content will be available on Disney+ in the U.S. for subscribers of both services. It’s phase one of the Disney+/Hulu integration plan, followed by the launch of its integrated version in March 2024. Disney expects customers to spend more time overall watching—thereby cutting churn and customer-acquisition costs. Learn more on Variety.

Apple & Paramount discuss bundling their streaming services

More streaming services follow the trend. While Apple and Paramount are in the early stages, and it is unclear what shape the bundle could take, the companies have discussed rolling out a combined offering that would cost less than subscribing to both services separately. Read more on Reuters.

X is now licensed for payment processing in a dozen U.S. states

Elon Musk is moving forward with his plans to turn X, formerly Twitter, into an “everything app” with its own payments system. He has described it as a place where users could send money, extract their funds to authenticated bank accounts, and perhaps later, a high-yield money market account that would encourage people to keep their cash in accounts with X. Learn more on TechCrunch.

From the Recurly blog