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The Amex Platinum Card – How To Use the Monthly Digital $20 Entertainment Credit [2021]

BY 

Christine Krzyszton

- UPDATED: September 1, 2021

1. Credit Cards

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We’ve all respected The Platinum Card® from American Express as a premier player in the travel rewards card arena. With premium travel benefits a traveler would love, statement credits that serve to help offset that annual fee, and a long list of benefits, it’s no wonder the card has been so popular.

One of the card’s most recently added benefits is the monthly digital entertainment credit of up to $20 (up to $240 per year). While the credit isn’t applicable to all digital entertainment expenses, we’re going to dig deeper into which services trigger this credit, some little-known pricing options, and how to make sure you’ll receive the maximum value.

If you have the Amex Platinum card or are considering it, you’ll want to be sure to explore your options for using your monthly entertainment credit. Note that terms apply and enrollment may be required, so be sure to check your American Express account.

Let’s take a look at how the credit works, which services and products are eligible, some information on each of those providers, and some typical pricing to help you decide how to use your credits.

How Does the Amex $20 Digital Entertainment Credit Work?

The digital entertainment credit of up to $20 per month is valid only for specific purchases and subscriptions. You’ll receive up to $20 in credits each month for Audible, The New York Times, SiriusXM, or Peacock purchases made with your card.

You must enroll for the entertainment credit benefit prior to signing up for a subscription or making a purchase. Register by logging into your Amex Platinum card account online. Under the Benefits tab, select the $240 Digital Entertainment Credit option, and click on Get Started.

You may make your purchase of a weekly, monthly, or annual subscription with 1 eligible vendor or several eligible providers, but the maximum credit is $20 per calendar month and $240 in a calendar year. If you do not use the credit each month, the amount for that month will be forfeited.

Purchases made with a mobile app do not qualify.

Now let’s look closer at your options for using the credit with the partner providers.

Bottom Line: The up to $20 monthly (up to $240 annually) Amex digital entertainment credit is only valid for subscriptions and purchases via 4 eligible vendors. Make your purchase with Audible, The New York Times, SiriusXM, or Peacock and receive up to $20 in statement credits each month. If the credit is not used in any given month, it is forfeited.

Audible

While there’s a lot to be said for cozying up with a good book and a cup of coffee on a rainy day, listening to an intriguing novel while on a long-haul flight without having to carry a heavy book certainly has its benefits.

Leading digital platform company Overdrive tells us that over 430 million digital magazines and books were checked out from libraries and schools in 2020, a 33% increase over 2019 — and this is just a portion of the digital literary marketplace.

That’s why digital media company Audible is so popular. It’s a subscription-based service that allows Amazon account members to download an app and listen to podcasts, audiobooks, guided wellness, and original content.

Here are your options for a subscription to Audible:

• Plus — $7.95 per month for unlimited access to thousands of titles in the Plus Catalog
• Premium Plus — $14.95 per month for the Plus Catalog + 1 premium credit
• Premium Plus with Extra Credits — $22.95 per month for the Plus Catalog + 2 premium credits
• Premium Plus Annual — $149.50 per year for the Plus Catalog + 12 premium credits
• Premium Plus Annual with Extra Credits — $229.50 per year for the Plus Catalog + 24 premium credits

Individual audiobook purchases on Audible are also eligible for the digital entertainment credit.

Not sure if you’ll use Audible frequently enough to warrant subscribing? Sign up for a 30-day free trial of Audible Premium Plus to test it out.

Hot Tip: If you have an Amazon Prime account, you will have additional access to Audible Originals and some Prime audiobooks (via Prime Reading). Prime members also receive 2 free premium selection titles when signing up for a free 30-day trial of Audible Premium Plus. 

The New York Times

The New York Times has been around since 1851, won 130 Pulitzer Prizes, and is read throughout the world.

With such widespread readership, it can be quite annoying to find an NYT article quoted online and when you try to access it, you discover that only subscribers can view it. This scenario won’t happen to you anymore!

A digital subscription to the NYT is affordable and even more so with your Amex digital entertainment credit. Here are your options for subscribing to the publication either digitally and/or in print:

• Digital Version — Frequently offered at $1 per week for the first year, then the price increases to $17 every 4 weeks.

Delivery of The New York Times newspaper includes unlimited access to the digital version and 2 subscriptions to share. Here are your options for having the publication delivered:

• Weekend — Saturday and Sunday delivery, regular price $10 per week, 50% off = $5 per week
• Three-Day — Friday, Saturday, and Sunday delivery, regular price $15 per week, 50% off = $7.50 per week
• Weekday — Monday through Friday delivery, regular price $15 per week, 50% off = $7.50 per week
• Daily — Monday through Sunday delivery, regular price $20 per week, 50% off = $10 per week

Hot Tip: If you love The New York Times Cooking or The New York Times Games, you can subscribe to unlimited access for just $40 per year. Pay with your Amex Platinum card, receive just 1 of your $20 monthly Amex digital entertainment credits and get an entire year’s subscription for a net $20. 

SiriusXM

If you’re a road warrior, take a lot of road trips, or just spend a lot of time commuting to/from work in your vehicle, having quality radio programming could be of value to you. SiriusXM radio is known mostly for its premium programming sans commercial interruption.

In addition to its popular entertainment subscriptions, you may not know that SiriusXM also offers specialty subscriptions for mariners and those in aviation.

Here are your options for subscribing to SiriusXM radio:

Personal Subscription Options

• Streaming Platinum — Free 3-month trial, then $10.99 per month, for those without a car radio
• Car + Streaming Select — Special offer of $4.99 per month for 1 year, then $16.99 per month
• Car + Streaming All Access — Special offer of $8.25 per month for 1 year, then $21.95 per month

All packages come with access to over 300 channels. Car + Streaming Select All Access includes the ability to customize your own stations with your own selected content/music plus 2 dedicated Howard Stern channels.

Specialty Subscription Options

• SiriusXM Marine — Starts at $14.99 per month; receive weather radar, forecasts, surface temps, fish mapping, and more
• SiriusXM Aviation — Starts at just $29.99 per month; receive satellite-based weather with coast to coast coverage

Eligible purchases do not include SiriusXM Safety, Telematics Connected Vehicle services, SiriusXM Business subscriptions, ads, or Pandora.

Hot Tip: Active military, their spouses and dependents, veterans, retirees, and reserves receive a 25% discount off full current rates. Students can sign up for a Streaming Platinum subscription for just $4 per month. Terms and conditions apply. 

Peacock

Let’s wind down our Amex digital entertainment credit options by looking at Peacock TV and its offerings. Peacock is owned and operated by NBC, so it’s no surprise the streaming service is named after the NBC logo.

While you can access basic Peacock TV streaming for free, for the premium versions you’ll need to purchase a subscription.

Here are your options for signing up with Peacock:

• Free Access — Watch thousands of hours of TV, exclusive programs, news, sports, kids shows, and Spanish language TV with complimentary access
• Premium Access — $4.99 per month; includes all the basic viewing access plus live sports, hit movies, live events, and expanded access to kids’ shows and movies
• Premium Plus Access — $9.99 per month; enjoy your Peacock TV subscription ad-free and watch select streaming on your mobile device

If you’re currently a customer of COX or Xfinity, you may have access to Peacock TV for free.

Hot Tip: Check out Peacock TV’s annual plans — at $49.99 for an entire year, you could use just 1 of your $20 digital entertainment monthly credits and be paying a net $29.99 for an annual Peacock Premium Access subscription. 

Securing the Amex Platinum Card

Credit Card

Benefits & Info

New 100k Welcome Offer The Platinum Card® from American Express Learn More (at Amex's secure site)

Earn 60,000 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn 10x points on eligible purchases on the Card at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status available to Basic Card Member only. $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $25 back each month on select Equinox memberships. Enrollment required. $179 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR® membership. Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850) Annual Fee: $695 Terms Apply. For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here. UP's Bonus Valuation*: $2,200 Must Reads: For more info on the Amex Platinum, see our thoughts on the cards incredible benefits and perks, which includes travel insurance coverage, car rental insurance and so much more. Check out our full review to see why it's one of the best travel credit cards.

If you don’t yet have the Amex Platinum card, those who have excellent credit may qualify and receive a generous welcome bonus once meeting minimum spending requirements after card approval.

The Amex Platinum card is packed with valuable premium benefits that can save money, make your travel more comfortable, and provide protection when you need it. We estimate the value of the card to be nearly $5,000 each year if you utilize all the perks.

Final Thoughts

The digital entertainment credit of up to $20 monthly is great if you’re already paying for 1 or more of these subscriptions. If you’re not currently subscribed to any of these services, you might translate the benefit as getting a complimentary Audible Plus subscription, free digital access to The New York Times, a SiriusXM radio subscription, and premium Peacock TV access, all for around $2 net per month.

Let’s break down the economics.

• Audible Plus subscription — $7.95 per month
• Unlimited digital access to The New York Times — $1 per week (approximately $4 per month)
• SiriusXM Car + Streaming Select subscription — $4.99 per month
• Peacock TV Premium Access subscription — $4.99 per month

That’s a total of around $22 per month. If you utilize the $20 credit, you’re paying about $2 per month for all of those services.

Additionally, don’t forget to check out any discounted annual plans that may be offered with these digital entertainment providers. Just 1 of the $20 monthly digital entertainment credits could potentially make an annual plan a greater value.

Of course, there are a number of combinations for which you could subscribe, but the bottom line is that you find value when using the credit for a subscription service you’ll actually use and enjoy.

For rates and fees The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.