Shopping, in general, can be a confounding experience and holiday shopping just ratchets up the pressure and confusion even further, turning what should be a relaxing time of year filled with family into a potential nightmare of standing in line or obsessively checking a tracking number to see if packages are on their way.
The Streamable is here to help take some of the stress out of the holiday shopping season as Black Friday and Cyber Monday approach. We have been covering the best deals on streaming services and players, as well as smart TVs and other streaming accessories, since 2017. Our honest and thorough reviews and opinions are why millions come to The Streamable every year for news, product recommendations, and more, so here are our collective thoughts and expertise on what is to come on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
When Are Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023?
This year, Thanksgiving is set for Thursday, Nov. 23, so that means that Black Friday falls on Friday, Nov. 24, and Cyber Monday will be Nov. 27. While the name “Black Friday” might lead some to think of the terror of crowded stores and mile-long lines, the term actually refers to the balance sheets of retailers who rely on the busiest shopping day of the year to take their profits from the red to the black.
Related: What Are the Best Early Black Friday Deals on Streaming Players and Services?
With the advent of online shopping, Cyber Monday has sprung up over the past decade as another quasi-American holiday. On the first day that people head back to work following a short Thanksgiving break, many find themselves surfing the internet and getting their shopping done while they otherwise should be working.
Which Streaming Services Traditionally Offer Big Deals on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
Hulu
Hulu loves to offer a great promo price on Black Friday. Price increases on the service have changed the terms of the deal in the past few years; in 2021, for example, users got an offer to sign up for Hulu for $0.99 per month for an entire year, but in 2022 the price on the offer rose to $1.99 per month. Also in 2022, new customers could grab a bundle of Disney+ and Hulu together for $4.98 per month for an entire year. Traditionally, ESPN+ has not offered a Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal.
Max
Max has experimented with differing holiday sale strategies in the recent past. In 2020 and 2021, HBO Max did not offer any direct discounts, but instead gave customers the opportunity to sign onto the service through third parties like American Express and save. In 2022, its first year under the ownership of Warner Bros. Discovery, Max offered three months of its ad-supported plan for just $1.99 each. WBD’s other streaming service discovery+ has offered a $0.99 for three months deal for each of the last two years.
Peacock
Peacock offered a unique holiday bundle with Google's Chromecast device in 2021, but did not provide customers with a unique deal of its own. That changed in 2022, when the NBCUniversal streamer allowed new customers to sign up for just $1.99 per month for a full year.
Paramount+
Although its strategy has also changed in recent holiday seasons, Paramount+ has also traditionally had something to offer new subscribers during the giving season. In 2021, it offered a promo code that allowed users to stream the service free for a full month. Last year's offer was far different, as customers got to bundle Paramount+ and SHOWTIME together for $4.99 per month for the entire year, or $1.99 per month for two months of Paramount+ by itself for customers who signed up through Prime Video.
Prime Video
Speaking of Prime Video, while that service doesn’t typically offer any deals itself, it can be counted on to offer third-party streaming platforms like AMC+, BritBox, STARZ, and many others for a steep discount, often as little as $0.99 for a month or two.
DIRECTV STREAM
Live TV services love to offer great deals around this time of year. DIRECTV STREAM is currently offering its best price of the year, with new customers able to save $25 per month for each of their first two months. The streamer didn’t offer a dedicated Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal last year, so grab this one now if you want it!
Sling TV
Sling TV has had some creative holiday deals in the past, mostly centered on pairing the service with a streaming device. In 2021, Sling TV gave away free Google Chromecast devices with one month of service thrown in; in 2022, the streamer gave new users $10 off their first month, plus a free Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite.
Philo
Philo has offered the same great holiday bargain two years in a row: $5 for a new user’s first month, after a seven-day free trial.
Fubo
Fubo is probably offering its best deal of the holiday season right now: $20 off any Fubo plan for the first two months of service.
What Black Friday/Cyber Monday Streaming Deals to Expect in 2023
Hulu
Hulu will almost certainly offer a big discount on a year of service, but it remains to be seen what price will be charged. The streamer’s ad-supported tier has not increased in price since last year, when it offered a year’s subscription for $1.99 per month. Sadly for sports fans, there won’t be any deals on ESPN+ this season, but there’s a good bet a deal on a bundle of Disney+ and Hulu will be on sale once again.
Peacock
Peacock will likely offer a deal along the lines of last year’s offer, as it looks to continue building scale and improving on its customer base of 28 million users. While nothing has been announced thus far for the 2023 holiday season, in our opinion, given Peacock’s holiday history, coupled with the removal of its free option, it is likely that the up-and-coming service will offer another significant deal this season.
Max
Similarly, The Streamable expects Max to offer a significant discount for a period of a few months, and that WBD’s other streamer discovery+ will bring back the same deal it has offered in years past.
Prime Video
Prime Video will almost certainly be bringing back a series of offers on streaming services that use its platform to allow customers to sign up for their content. Prime customers can expect a list of services to be on sale for a big discount come Black Friday/Cyber Monday.
How to Be Prepared for Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deals
The best way to stay up-to-date on all the best streaming offers available for the holidays this year would be to follow The Streamable all season long. We’ll have up-to-date information on all the best streaming offers, and how/where you can sign up to save big money on your favorite streaming platforms.
Please note, The Streamable’s expert list of expected deals in 2023 is not necessarily complete. The Streamable will be sure to update it with more information ahead of Black Friday/Cyber Monday as more deals become public, or as companies update us on their planned offerings.