How Sign-Up Offers Have Become a Key Feature of Entertainment
When people only have one service available, they rarely need to be enticed with special offers. This simply isn’t the case in the booming online entertainment industry, though, where there are hundreds of options for people to choose from.
The online casino industry pretty much invented the sign-up bonus that’s now such a common feature of the entertainment industry. It all began with the deposit match bonus, giving players free playing money. Now, leading sites have added deals on top of that, with Slotozilla’s 25 free spins no deposit UK list highlighting the various casinos that offer free spins. This gives players the chance to play slot games such as Big Bass Bonanza and Book of Dead without staking any of their own money. It effectively allows them to try before they buy. This concept can also be found in the television streaming market.
Comparing the Main Platforms and Their Offers
To easily see the different platforms and the offers they tend to go for, it’s best to look at them in a handy table. If you need some help in choosing a service, this might be just what you need.
Streaming Service
Typical Sign-Up Offer
Netflix
Rarely offers sign-up bonuses but does have different price tiers.
Disney+
7-day free trials and bundled deals with Hulu and ESPN+.
Amazon Prime Video
30-day free trial of full Prime membership (includes video, music, books, etc.)
Apple TV+
7-day free trial or 3 months free with purchase of an Apple device.
HBO Max
Occasional free trial (7–14 days) and discounted annual plans.
Paramount+
7-day free trial and 50% off annual plans during promos.
Peacock
Free tier available. Premium trial offers for 7 days and discounts for annual sign-up.
Hulu
30-day free trial for on-demand, 7-day for Live TV, and bundled offers with Disney+/ESPN+.
YouTube Premium
1-month free trial and occasional 3-month offers with device purchases.
BritBox / Shudder
7-day or 30-day free trials, along with discounted annual subscriptions.
Choosing a Service
According to a recent piece in IGN, Netflix no longer offers its free trial. This could be because it has established itself as a leader and prefers to use its content to stand out from the crowd. From the table above, it looks like Amazon Prime Video has the best deal, as its 20-day promotion includes other Amazon products on top of streaming. Apple TV+ has a great deal for people who buy Apple devices, but their content library isn’t as large as some of its competitors.
Techradar still believes Netflix is the best streaming service on the market for most people. But the fact that it doesn’t have a sign-up deal may put some viewers off. Luckily, for those who love free entertainment, there are a few options that don’t charge at first.