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Max and Starz are joining forces in a new streaming bundle launching on Prime Video in the U.S.
The offering will cost $20.99 a month, about 25% less than the price of signing up to each one individually. Given the sizable movie catalogs on each service and the legacy of HBO and Starz as premium cable networks, the duo makes for an interesting “back to the future” proposition. Along with Roku, Amazon’s Prime Video is one of the primary gateways for streaming in the U.S.
The streaming services’ parent companies, Warner Bros. Discovery (Max) and Lionsgate (Starz) have been pursuing bundled offerings as they seek greater scale. Max, Disney+ and Hulu are available in a combo rolled out last year, and Starz set a bundle with AMC+ via smart-TV maker Vizio, among many other recent deals. As prices have risen for both consumers and streaming operators, consolidation via bundling has been a more frequent response, though few of the bundled packages involve full, single-app integrations.
“We are thrilled to team with Prime Video and Max to deliver this new offering of critically acclaimed programming to an even broader customer base,” said Alison Hoffman, President, Starz Networks. “Together, our world-class libraries provide an unparalleled viewing experience, offering a diverse selection of high-quality series and films across multiple genres.”
A press release announcing the bundle said it would be available in the U.S. “for a limited time,” without adding any specifics.
When the Max-Disney bundle was announced in May 2024, WBD chief David Zaslav said, “It does feel like this is a moment, in terms of what the next year, two years, will bring.” A “restructuring” is under way in streaming, he added, and “the business will look a lot different in two to three years. It will be a lot better for consumers.”
Netflix, notably, doesn’t seem to be planning to hop aboard the bundle train anytime soon. The streaming leader, which surged to 301.6 million global subscribers at the end of 2024, told investors last summer why it was remaining on the sidelines.
“We haven’t bundled Netflix solely with other streamers like Disney+ or Max because Netflix already operates as a go-to destination for entertainment thanks to the breadth and variety of our slate and superior product experience. This has driven industry leading penetration, engagement and retention for us, which limits the benefit to Netflix of bundling directly with other streamers,” the company wrote in its quarterly letter to shareholders.
