Disney is set to increase subscription costs for its popular streaming services beginning in mid-October. This move impacts Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, with price adjustments ranging from $1 to $2 per month for most plans. For Hulu’s premium live TV offerings, the hike will be more substantial at $6 extra per month.
Subscription Rate Changes
Disney+ will see its basic plan rise to $9.99 monthly, while the premium plan will be priced at $15.99. Hulu’s plans are also affected: the version with ads will now cost $9.99, and the ad-free plan will jump to $18.99. ESPN+, featuring ads, will cost $11.99 per month. These changes come as Disney encourages customers to opt for bundles to maximize their value.
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Disney has long promoted bundles of its streaming services. The combination of Hulu and Disney+ will see an increase to $10.99 per month for the ad-supported version, up by $1. The no-ads bundle will remain steady at $19.99 per month.
New Bundles and Additions
In addition to its existing bundles, Disney has teamed up with Warner Bros. Discovery to offer a new package that includes Disney+, Hulu, and Max. Set to launch in July, this bundle will be priced at $16.99 with ads and $29.99 without, offering a 38% savings compared to purchasing the services separately.
To enhance subscriber experience, Disney is introducing ABC News Live and a preschool content playlist for all Disney+ subscribers starting September 4. Additionally, the company plans to roll out four more curated playlists exclusively for premium subscribers.
“Playlists are the latest example of how we’re providing the best value and experience for our subscribers every time they open Disney+,” said Alisa Bowen, President of the streaming platform, in a statement.
Disney is also preparing to report its fiscal third-quarter earnings, scheduled for release before the market opens on Wednesday.