Verizon Adds News Streaming Service discovery+ to Select Plans

Discovery launched their new streaming service discovery+, and Verizon customers on select plans will get the service for free for either six or twelve months, depending on their plan.

Video of Story

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel 

discovery+ Overview

discovery+ is a new streaming service launched by the Discovery Network on January 4, 2021.

Discovery is promoting this service as the "largest-ever content library for a new streaming service."

It includes over 55,000 episodes from the Discovery and A&E networks plus BBC's Natural History collection. Networks in the Discovery lineup include HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID, OWN, Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, and Animal Planet.

They will also offer original programming. More details on their offerings can be read in their official announcement.

Normal pricing for discovery+ is $4.99/month (with ads) or $6.99/month (no ads).

Verizon Partnership

As part of the discovery+ launch, a partnership with Verizon was also announced. Verizon customers on select plans can get the service included with their plans.

The Get More and Play More Unlimited plans both come with 12 months of discovery+ included. The Do More and Start Plans include 6 months of the service.

If you are an existing customer already on one of these plans, Verizon's website indicates that you will need to have discovery+ added to your account. If you are a new customer signing up for one of these plans, or an existing customer switching to one of these plans, the discovery+ service will be automatically included.

Some older, retired plans are also eligible to receive discovery+. Customers on the Verizon Unlimited, Go Unlimited, Beyond Unlimited, and Above Unlimited plans will all also be able to receive it.

Business Plans, however, are not eligible.

discovery+ is also available to customers who sign up for Verizon 5G Home Internet or Fios Gigabit Connection. New Fios customers may also be eligible for either 3 months or 6 months of discovery+, depending on their plan.

Verizon customers eligible to receive the service via Verizon will receive the ad-free version. After the 12-month or 6-month free period is up, customers will be charged $6.99/month. You will have the option to either cancel the service or switch to the $4.99 ads-included plan at that time.

How to Watch discovery+

discovery+ can be accessed on a number of different platforms. You can watch it on your mobile device, tablet, computer, game console, or connected TV. There are apps for both iOS and Android, and it can also be accessed via Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, XBox, and more! You can get all the details on how to watch it here.

The discovery+ mobile app supports screen mirroring in our testing. This means you can stream from your mobile phone or tablet with an unlimited plan to a larger TV screen with an HDMI or other appropriate adapter, protecting often capped mobile hotspot data.  Details on how to do this are in our TV & Entertainment guide. 

Unfortunately, the mobile app currently does not allow you to download content to watch at a later time, which is another great way to utilize data when you have access to it.

The mobile app includes only one data-saving option for mobile users - the ability to prevent streaming over cellular on your device and restrict it only to times when you have a Wi-Fi connection.

Summary

discovery+ seems like a great new streaming service, with a huge amount of content. If you're a Verizon customer with an eligible plan, it's definitely worth exploring. While we wish it had the option for allowing content download for viewing at a later date, it is nice that it offers the option for screen mirroring, so you can use your device with unlimited data while watching on a big screen.

Bookmark