How to make the most of the Amex Platinum digital entertainment credit

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premier premium travel rewards card with an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees).

At first glance, this amount may seem substantial for a single card. However, the wide array of lifestyle-focused benefits makes it easier for cardholders to see the value in keeping the Amex Platinum.

One notable perk is a monthly statement credit for qualifying digital entertainment subscriptions.

What does the Amex Platinum digital entertainment credit entail?

The Amex Platinum provides up to $240 in annual "digital entertainment" statement credits, distributed in monthly increments of $20. Enrollment is necessary, and terms apply. You can apply these credits toward the following subscriptions:

• Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ — or the Disney Bundle (which may include all three services)
• Peacock
• The New York Times
• The Wall Street Journal

American Express occasionally updates the services covered by this statement credit, so be sure to check the list of eligible subscriptions regularly.

How to make the most of the Amex Platinum digital entertainment credit

First, be sure to enroll your card before making any qualifying purchases. Without this enrollment, you won’t receive any statement credits.

Visit your Amex Platinum home page and select the "Benefits" tab located at the top of the page.

You will see a variety of tiles displaying each of your card benefits. Scroll until you find "$240 Digital Entertainment Credit," and click either the "Get Started" or "Learn More" button.

Scroll down past the information and tips until you see an image of your card. Confirm that you accept the terms and conditions of the card benefit, then click "Enroll Now."

That's all there is to it — you're now set to start saving.

Now, let’s examine the costs associated with each digital entertainment subscription. Keep in mind that you must enroll directly with the provider for your Amex credit to activate; signing up through a mobile app or third party won’t work.

Pricing for plans eligible under the digital entertainment credit

Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+

Known as "The Disney Bundle," this package covers all your movie, TV show, and sports viewing needs with Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+. You also have the option to subscribe to these services individually, and the digital entertainment credit will reimburse you for each one monthly.

There are different tiers of services within each plan, but here are some current monthly prices we've discovered:

• Disney Bundle Duo Basic: $10.99 per month — includes access to Disney+ and Hulu (both with ads).
• Disney Bundle Duo Premium: $19.99 per month — includes Disney+ and Hulu (both without ads).
• Disney Bundle Trio Basic: $16.99 per month — includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ (all with ads).
• Disney Bundle Trio Premium: $26.99/month — includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ (all without ads).
• Legacy Disney Bundle: $21.99 per month — features Disney+ (no ads), Hulu (with ads), and ESPN+ (with ads). Note: This plan is no longer available for new purchases or switches on Disney+; existing subscribers may retain it as long as they do not cancel or change their plan.
• Hulu with ads: $9.99 per month.
• Hulu without ads: $18.99 per month.
• Hulu with ads, plus Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN+: $76.99 per month.
• Hulu without ads, plus Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN+: $89.99 per month.
• Disney+ Basic: $9.99 per month (with ads).
• Disney+ Premium: $15.99 per month or $159.99 per year (no ads).
• ESPN+: $11.99 per month.

You can easily select a plan that meets your requirements. Regardless of the option you pick, ensure you purchase the monthly subscriptions directly from the provider's websites after enrolling for the benefit with Amex.

Pro tip: The Disney Bundle is likely your best bet for value. It will make the most of your up to $20 monthly digital entertainment credit, providing a comprehensive solution for your viewing needs.

Peacock

Peacock has two paid subscription options available:

• Premium: $7.99 per month
• Premium Plus: $13.99 per month

Subscriptions that are part of cable packages or other bundles will not qualify for reimbursement, and the credit cannot be applied to gift cards of any kind.

Pro tip: I personally use Peacock Premium and find it quite beneficial, but the free version might work just as well for you. The main difference lies in the amount of content available and live sports coverage. If the shows you're looking for are offered on the free version, the Amex Platinum credit won't provide much value. Opting for the ad-free Premium Plus subscription could be a game changer, as it allows you to download content for offline viewing.

The New York Times

Barring any limited-time or introductory promotions, here’s what you can expect to pay for a subscription to The New York Times:

• Digital subscription: $25 every four weeks
• Paper edition: Starting at $10 per week (Sunday edition)
• NYT Cooking: $1.50 per week
• New York Times Games: $1.50 per week

To activate the Amex Platinum credit, you’ll need to visit The New York Times' website. Unfortunately, this credit cannot be used for advertising services, The New York Times conferences, gift cards, TimesDigest, or purchases from The New York Times company store.

Pro tip: Many subscriptions offer discounts when you choose an annual payment over monthly installments. For instance, NYT Cooking is $72 annually if billed monthly, but only $50 if paid upfront. This significantly reduces the value of the digital entertainment credit.

The Wall Street Journal

Here’s what to expect when subscribing to The Wall Street Journal:

• The Wall Street Journal Digital Bundle (including WSJ, Barron's, MarketWatch): $12.50 per week
• The Wall Street Journal Digital: $9.75 per week
• Weekend print edition plus The Wall Street Journal Digital: $10.25 per week
• Monday to Friday print edition plus The Wall Street Journal Digital: $12.00 per week
• Monday to Friday and weekend print editions plus The Wall Street Journal Digital: $13.75 per week

Pro tip: The Wall Street Journal frequently offers special pricing for its digital and print services. These promotional periods are the perfect opportunity to combine the Amex Platinum Digital Credit with other subscriptions, allowing you to fully utilize the $20 monthly credit.

FAQs about the Amex Platinum digital entertainment credit

Is the Amex Platinum digital entertainment credit worth it?

It can be advantageous. The drawback is that many individuals opt for annual memberships due to significant discounts. This approach may not align well with the Amex Platinum statement credit. To maximize this benefit, you should consider paying for subscriptions on a monthly basis, which could increase the overall cost of your annual memberships.

For instance, making a one-time payment for an annual subscription to various offerings from The New York Times could save you 33% compared to monthly payments. Thus, you shouldn't automatically value the digital entertainment credit at $240 annually.

Which digital entertainment providers are included?

The services eligible for the Amex Platinum statement credit reimbursement include Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Peacock, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. We anticipate that Amex will expand this list to include more popular platforms like Netflix and Spotify in the future.

What is the optimal way to utilize the Amex Platinum digital entertainment credit?

This credit is somewhat restrictive, so there aren't many unconventional ways to redeem it. If you already subscribe to any of these services, this credit is a great benefit. If you don't, it might just be the nudge you need to explore something new. However, don’t factor this credit into your yearly savings unless it’s an expense you would have incurred anyway.

When can I expect to receive my Amex Platinum digital entertainment credit?

Once you charge the monthly recurring fee to your Amex Platinum, you should see the reimbursement within six to eight weeks. However, many TPG team members report that the credit typically appears on their statements in just a few business days.

In conclusion

American Express provides up to $240 in digital entertainment statement credits as part of the Amex Platinum benefits, alongside other credits for Equinox, Walmart Plus, and Saks. Be sure to enroll your card before making any qualifying purchases; otherwise, the credits won't be applied.

For more details, check out our comprehensive review of the Amex Platinum.