TL;DR
Engadget has rounded up current streaming promotions that include a 50% annual discount on MasterClass and price cuts on services like Starz, Audible and Crunchyroll. Many offers are limited-time and favor annual or introductory commitments and ad-supported tiers.
What happened
Engadget published a rundown of active streaming promotions aimed at helping subscribers cut costs as service prices rise. The list highlights MasterClass’s holiday promotion that halves the price of most annual subscriptions — the Premium tier is cited at $120 for one year — alongside a range of other short-term discounts. Audio and music deals include Audible at three months for $3, Spotify Premium offering four months free for new users, and Amazon Music Unlimited free for three months. Video services on sale include Crunchyroll annual plans (Fan at $67 and Mega Fan at $100), Starz at $12 for a year, and first-month discounts for Philo, Fubo and DirecTV packages. Engadget also details bundle pricing options from Disney (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN and HBO Max permutations), Peacock annual pricing, Paramount+ tiers, and a set of student discounts for services such as HBO Max, Hulu and Spotify, noting that most real savings appear on limited-time, ad-supported or annual plans.
Why it matters
- Rising subscription prices mean targeted discounts can meaningfully lower your annual entertainment spend.
- Many promotions favor upfront annual payment or introductory periods, so timing a subscription purchase can increase savings.
- Ad-supported tiers and first-month or limited-term trials are the most commonly discounted options.
- Bundles may sound like a deal but can cost more if you only use a single service in the package.
Key facts
- MasterClass is offering 50% off most annual subscriptions; Premium is shown at $120 for one year (normally $240).
- Starz annual subscription is promoted at $12 for one year, with an alternate month-to-month deal of $3/month for the first three months.
- Audible has a promotion of three months for $3 (effectively $1/month for that period).
- Crunchyroll annual options are discounted: Fan tier at $67/year and Mega Fan at $100/year (Mega Fan adds offline access and up to four streams).
- Spotify Premium Individual: four months free for new subscribers (auto-renews at standard rate afterward).
- Amazon Music Unlimited: three months free for new subscribers.
- Philo Core: first month for $25 (then auto-renews at $33/month).
- Fubo Pro: $55 for the first month, includes 224 channels, unlimited cloud DVR and up to 10 simultaneous streams (per Engadget’s listing).
- DirecTV promotional pricing starts at $50 for the first month for the 'Entertainment' package, with discounts up to $45 off for the first month.
- ESPN Unlimited bundle is listed at $30/month with Disney+ and Hulu included free for one year in the promotional period described.
What to watch next
- Monitor deal end dates and auto-renewal terms closely — many promotions revert to full price after the introductory period.
- Compare the total annual cost of bundles versus single services if you mainly use one provider; bundles can be more expensive overall.
- Watch for whether a discounted tier is ad-supported or ad-free, as many deeper discounts apply to ad-supported plans.
- not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Ad-supported tier: A subscription level that offers lower prices in exchange for periodic advertisements during content playback.
- Annual subscription: A payment option where a user pays once for 12 months of service, often at a lower effective monthly cost than month-to-month billing.
- Bundle: A package that combines two or more streaming services for a single subscription price, which can be cheaper or more expensive depending on usage.
- Offline viewing: The ability to download shows, movies or audio to a device for playback without an internet connection.
- Simultaneous streams: The number of devices that can play content from the same account at the same time.
Reader FAQ
Are these discounts permanent?
Most of the promotions listed are limited-time offers and typically revert to the regular price afterward; the source frames many as holiday or introductory deals.
Do bundles always save money?
Not necessarily; the piece notes bundles can be more expensive if you only use one of the included services, so compare your usage before buying.
Are student discounts available?
Yes — the source lists student pricing for services such as HBO Max ($5/month via Unidays), Hulu ($2/month) and Spotify’s student bundle ($6/month).
Does the MasterClass discount apply to all tiers?
The source says most subscription tiers are discounted by 50% with annual prepayment and specifically cites the Premium annual price at $120.
If you’ve been shocked by how much you spend on streaming services lately, you’re not alone. Companies like Netflix, Disney, HBO Max and others have been consistently raising prices to…
Sources
- The best streaming deals: Get 50 percent off MasterClass subscriptions, plus save on Starz, Audible, Crunchyroll and others
- Level Up Your 2026 With a MasterClass Subscription …
- MasterClass deal: Get 50 percent off subscriptions for the …
- MasterClass sale: 50% off online courses and certificates
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