How ad-free streaming became so much less affordable
Jared Newman | 
Ad-free streaming used to be one of the biggest benefits of cutting the cable TV cord. Now it’s become a luxury.
Inspired by some new research into the growing price gap between ad-supported and ad-free streaming, I decided to calculate how much the cost to avoid commercials has increased over time. Depending on which services you have, you could be paying an extra $42.50 just to skip ads, up 60% from a few years ago.
Not all hope is lost for affordable ad-free TV, but you might have to a bit creative to get it.
Advisorator: Last call for discounts!
My summer sale on Advisorator memberships ends Sunday, September 6. Sign up by then to get a year for $37.50, which is 25% off the regular price.
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Weekly rewind
Apple TV (and Peacock bundle) price hikes: So much for my request last week to send out a single newsletter without news of another price hike. Now it’s Apple TV’s turn, with the cost rising from $13 to $15 per month or $99 to $119 per year.
The bundle of Apple TV and Peacock has also increased, from $15 to $18 per month with ads and $20 to $23 per month without ads, with the higher jump likely accounting for Peacock’s own recent price hikes. If you have an Apple One Individual plan (which bundles Apple TV, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and 50 MB of iCloud+ storage, that’s gone up from $20 to $22 per month.
The good news is that you can still use this link to get a month of Apple TV for free. Consider timing your redemptions strategically with Family Sharing group members to avoid paying for the service at all.
Disney streaming settlement: If you subscribed to YouTube TV or DirecTV’s streaming services between April 2019 and March 2026, you might’ve gotten an email last week about a class action settlement. Disney is paying $50 million to settle the lawsuit, which accused the company of violating antitrust and consumer protection laws by forcing live TV providers to carry large and expensive bundles of channels in their base packages. The company denies wrongdoing.
To get a share of the settlement, head to the class action website and enter the confirmation code in your email by September 8. The final settlement hearing is set for January 14, 2027, so don’t expect to get a payment or find out how much it’ll be until then.
More catch-up
- YouTube TV starts integrating extra ESPN Unlimited content into its app, including multiview support.
- Amazon claims in-market streaming rights for six more NHL teams: Hurricanes, Ducks, Blue Jackets, Stars, Wild, and Blues. (The Kraken have been on Prime since 2024.) They’ll be on Prime Video at no extra charge.
- This also marks the end for Victory+, which previously carried the Ducks and Stars.
- Google joins Roku, Amazon, and Apple in raising the price of its streaming box, from $100 to $150. (Walmart’s Onn 4K Pro is a better buy at $60 anyway.)
- Sony launches free streaming channels (with ads) on the Playstation 5. (I still miss PlayStation Vue.)
Save more money
This part of the newsletter has some affiliate links, which earn me a commission if you wind up buying or subscribing to something.
I’ve mentioned on occasion how AARP members can take $40 off an annual Walmart+ membership. What I did not realize, though, is that AARP is open to anyone 18 years or older, not just those of retirement age.
This is all relevant to streaming because Walmart+ includes free access to your choice of either Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential, with the option to switch between them every three months. Peacock alone now costs $130 per year, so a combination of AARP ($20 per year) and Walmart+ ($58 after the AARP discount) would save you $52 annually.
Thanks to Paul for pointing this out.
Other notable deals:
- Paramount+: Two months of Premium is still $1 per month with promo code P2MCS26PREM. Or, get half-off a year of Premium with code SAVEANNUAL50. New and returning subscribers only.
- Tablo over-the-air DVRs: Save $20 on the dual-tuner model or quad-tuner model.
- CNN All Access: $2 per month for two months, directly through CNN or via Prime Video, ends Sept. 7.
As always, I keep a full list of up-to-date streaming deals on this page.
Thanks for reading!
And thanks again for considering an Advisorator membership, on sale for just a few more days. Get started here.
Got cord cutting questions for me? Reply to this email and I’ll do my best to answer.
Until next week,
Jared