In early 2024, the company signed a major deal with Netflix, followed shortly by an alliance with Disney+.
The Canadian streaming landscape is undergoing a major transformation, and Bell Canada, the country’s major telecommunications provider and the parent company of Crave, is the charge. Instead of competing head-on with global giants, Bell has strategically partnered with major players like Disney+ and Netflix to expand its market presence and enhance customer loyalty in the streaming space.
In early 2024, Bell signed a landmark agreement with Netflix, followed soon after by a partnership with Disney+. These deals allow the company to offer bundled streaming plans combining Crave, Netflix and Disney+ for USD 15.76 (CAD 49) per month — a 56% savings compared to subscribing to each service separately, which would total USD 36. Bell’s collaboration with Starz further enriches its content offering, positioning the company as one of Canada’s major super-aggregators in the streaming ecosystem.
The era of “streaming wars” is evolving from fierce rivalry to strategic cooperation. Bell’s collaboration with Disney+ demonstrates how partnerships can deliver greater value to audiences while streamlining access. Instead of fragmenting the market, Bell and Disney+ have created a unified entertainment experience appealing to diverse audiences— from families and film lovers to avid sports fans. For Disney+, the partnership provides a crucial gateway to reach new subscribers through Bell’s extensive customer base and capitalise on Canada’s strong sports culture.
Sports remain a key driver of streaming engagement in Canada, with 24% of households showing a preference for live sports. Ice hockey dominates as the country’s favourite sport, followed by NFL football and soccer. Bell’s sports arm, TSN (The Sports Network), complements this holding exclusive broadcasting rights to major North American leagues such as the NHL, NBA, CFL, NFL and MLB. Disney+, meanwhile, maintains telecom-exclusive partnerships in Canada with Bell, Rogers, and Telus, integrating its services directly into internet and TV bundles.
Bell’s new bundled pricing strategy offers savings of up to 38% compared to individual subscriptions. Ad-supported versions of Disney+ and Crave include promotional content, while TSN continues to feature traditional advertising. This aligns with Canadian consumer habits, 64% of households prefer lower-cost, ad-supported plans over premium ad-free options— ensuring that Bell’s bundles reflect both viewing and spending preferences across the country.
While the bundles are unified under Bell Media, subscribers still access each app, Disney+, Crave and TSN, separately. However, all accounts are managed through a central Bell Media login, simplifying payment and subscription management.
These partnerships also help telecom operators reduce customer churn. Disney+’s churn rate of just 4%— one of the lowest in the industry— highlights the retention power of bundled services. For customers, canceling means losing significant discounts and the convenience of consolidated billing, creating an incentive to stay subscribed and increasing lifetime customer value.
Beyond Canada, streaming alliances are gaining traction globally. In the United States, Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max launched a joint bundle in 2024, priced at USD 16.99 per month with ads or USD 29.99 without ads, offering access to more than 19,000 unique titles. This global shift toward collaboration suggests that the future of streaming will be defined by partnerships, not competition.
