In a move that might give Netflix and T-Mobile subscriber counts a bump, T-Mobile announced Wednesday that it has forged an exclusive partnership in which it will include the Netflix “Standard” tier of service for no added cost.
The catch is that the promo, which starts on Sept. 12, is for T-Mobile customers on the “ONE” family unlimited plan, with two or more voice lines.
Though the promo could lure in new subs, T-Mobile stressed that the “Netflix On Us” aims to boost customer loyalty and “is not expected to impact previously announced company guidance or expectations.”
Update: Speaking on a press call, T-Mobile execs said the “vast majority” of its U.S. post-paid subs are already on family plans, and that the Netflix arrangement has already been built into previous guidance.
“Our company sells T-Mobile ONE. That’s who we are. We are all-in on unlimited,” John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile, said.
The offer, which T-Mobile claims is “breaking the carrier bundle” and a shot at Verizon and AT&T as they snap up content players, centers on Netflix’s Standard level of service, which regularly sells for $9.99 per month and lets subs stream on two devices at the same time in HD (when available).
T-Mobile subs can also get the Netflix Premium service (up to four devices at the same time, plus access to 4K content for $11.99 per month), but they’ll pay the difference on their T-Mobile bill.
To take advantage of the promo, existing T-Mobile subs can sign up and activate it via the company’s app, web site, retail store or put in a call to T-Mobile customer care. Existing Netflix subs will be given a URL to link their T-Mobile account to their Netflix account. Those without Netflix accounts will receive an SMS linking to their T-Mobile account.
“The future of mobile entertainment is not about bolting a satellite dish to the side of your house or resuscitating faded 90s dotcoms. The future is mobile, over-the-top and unlimited,” Legere said in a statement. “While the carriers spend billions on their franken-strategies to cobble together carrier–cable–content mashups, the Un-carrier just leapfrogged them all by partnering with the best and giving it to customers at no extra charge. Because that’s what we always do. Give more to you without asking more from you.”
