Topline
Subscription prices for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ plans will be slightly increased later this year, Disney announced Tuesday, as the company appears to push customers toward bundled streaming plans.
The move comes after a new bundle including Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max was launched.
Key Facts
The price of Disney+’s ad-free and ad-supported plans will each be increased by $2 to $15.99 per month and $9.99 per month, respectively, starting on Oct. 17 for customers in the U.S., Disney said.
Hulu, which Disney also owns, will raise the price of its ad-supported tier by $2 to $9.99 per month and its ad-free plan by $1 to $18.99 per month, while the platform’s bundle with live, linear TV will be increased by $6 to $82.99 per month for the ad-supported plan and by $6 to $95.99 for the ad-free plan.
A bundle of Disney+ and Hulu will be increased by $1 to $10.99 per month for the ad-supported tier, though Disney won’t increase the bundle’s ad-free price from $19.99 per month.
Disney will also raise the monthly cost for ESPN+ by $1 to $11.99.
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Are New Features Coming To Disney+?
New features will be added to Disney+ starting Sept. 4, including a live broadcast of ABC News and a playlist featuring content for preschoolers, Disney said.
What To Watch For
Disney will release its third-quarter earnings report Wednesday.
Key Background
Disney last raised the rates for its streaming platforms in August of 2023, with the monthly price of most plans increasing by up to $3. The company announced a partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery in May, which would include ad-supported and ad-free plans for a bundle that includes Disney+, Hulu and Max. Last month, the companies launched the new bundle with an ad-supported plan for $16.99 per month and an ad-free plan for $29.99 per month. Disney reported in its most recent earnings report a $47 million quarterly operating profit for its Hulu and Disney+ streaming services, while Warner Bros. reported $103 million in profit through its direct-to-consumer division, which includes Max.
Further Reading
Exxon acquiring Pioneer for nearly $60 billion, a mysterious respiratory illness affecting dogs across the U.S. and the challenges against transgender health care. Before joining Forbes, he covered the Black Mountain, North Carolina community for the Asheville Citizen Times. Ty earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Auburn University and his master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Email him at troush@forbes.com.
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