If one trend has taken over the streaming industry, it’s bundling. So much so that I even wrote and performed a rap about it at The StreamTV show last year.
What started as a way to save a few bucks on subscriptions and make these services a bit stickier has turned into a massive shift in how we pay for entertainment. And by entertainment, I don’t just mean movies and TV—I mean anything fighting for your attention.
Because if you’re in the video business, you’re in the attention business. And you’re competing with social media, gaming, music, Wordle, and even sleep.
Why Bundling is the Future of Streaming
According to Looper Insights’ latest report, Streaming Forward: Trends Shaping Digital Entertainment in 2025 (which I highly recommend you check out), bundling isn’t just about pairing up streaming services anymore. It’s expanding into music, retail, and telecom to create all-in-one packages that keep subscribers locked in longer.
The whole idea? Make life easier, save money, and boost retention. We wrote about this shift here.
With consumers demanding simplicity and affordability, media companies are embracing bundling as a strategy. Many believe the old “stacking” model—where people subscribe to multiple standalone services—is on its way out.
Instead, the future is all about seamless, bundled subscriptions that offer more value for less hassle.
And let’s be real—if there’s one thing that’s NOT seamless right now, it’s streaming. Between multiple apps, logins, and rising prices, the experience is anything but smooth.
How Bundling is Leveling Up in 2025
Previously, bundling was about streaming services teaming up with other streaming platforms, telecom providers, and TV operating systems to create packaged deals.
But 2025 and beyond? That’s when things start expanding into completely new industries:
🛍 Retail – Think Walmart+, Carrefour, and Costco bundling streaming perks into their memberships.
🎵 Music – Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music becoming part of entertainment bundles.
📡 All-in-one streaming, telecom, retail, and music combos—the ultimate lifestyle subscription.
One subscription to rule them all. If you want to glimpse where things are headed, just look at Apple One.
Why Bundles Work (and Where It’s Going Next)
The Looper Insights report lays out three key strategies shaping the future of bundling:
1️⃣ Teaming up with other industries for more valuable bundles
📌 Example: Spotify’s Premium Student Plan (Spotify + Hulu with ads for $5.99/month).
2️⃣ Making convenience the biggest selling point
📌 Example: Disney+ bundling Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+—offering savings while keeping users inside its ecosystem.
3️⃣ Expanding bundling to new markets and audiences
📌 Example: Netflix’s regional content partnerships, creating localized bundles to drive international growth.
At this point, bundling isn’t about “should we do it?”—it’s about “how far can we take this?”
