Disney+ Announces Ad-Supported Plan, Hikes Prices to Remove Ads
Published on August 13, 2022
- Disney+ will expand its offerings and launch an ad-supported tier in the US later this year.
- At the same time, Hulu, the Disney Bundle, and ESPN+ will also increase monthly subscription fees.
- Recently, Disney+ reported 152.1 million paid subscribers, surpassing quarterly expectations.
Unless you're game to watch ads, Disney+ just got pricier. The much-awaited Disney+ ad-supported plan will debut in the US on December 8, 2022, and it will cost you $7.99 per month. Consumers currently pay the same amount for Disney+ without the advertisements, but it will change very soon with a 38% hike in pricing.
The ad-free version of Disney+, which will be known as Disney+ Premium, will cost $10.99 monthly or $109.99 annually. The Disney+ ad-supported plan will be called Disney+ Basic, and its content library will be the same as that of Premium.
That's not all. Hulu, which is majority-owned by The Walt Disney Company, will also see a price bump. Hulu with ads will increase from $6.99 a month to $7.99 a month, and Hulu without ads will see a $2 hike, from $12.99 to $14.99 per month, effective October 10, 2022.
Furthermore, the Disney Bundle in the US that has Hulu (with ads), Disney+ (without ads), and ESPN+ will go from $13.99 to $14.99 per month. On the other hand, the Premium version of the bundle that has Hulu (without ads), Disney+ (without ads), and ESPN+ will cost the same ($19.99 per month.)
It was also previously reported that ESPN+ will raise its subscription fee by $3 per month - going from $6.99 to $9.99 per month or $69.99 to $99.99 per year on August 23, 2022, with a whopping 43% price hike.
The streaming service recently disclosed that the number of Disney+ subscribers increased to 152.1 million in the company’s third quarter, surpassing expectations. According to the company, 14.4 million new subscribers were added to the streaming service during the quarter, exceeding expectations of 10 million. It also intends to roll out Disney+ with ads internationally in 2023.
Marvel Studios, Pixar, Disney Animation, and Star Wars are just a few of the most well-known brands that can be found on Disney+. Along with other popular material, Hulu offers feature films from 20th Century Studios and TV series from FX. At the same time, ESPN+ has the rights to the NFL, LaLiga, Premier Lacrosse League, National Lacrosse League, FA Cup, Major League Baseball, Wimbledon, the Australian Open, and more.
Check out the new prices for Disney’s direct-to-consumer streaming services below:
Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ Standalone Plans
- Disney+ Basic (with ads): $7.99 per month; no annual option (effective December 8)
- Disney + Premium (no ads): $10.99 per month; $109.99 annually (effective December 8)
- Hulu Basic (with ads): $7.99 per month; $79.99 annually (effective October 10)
- Hulu Premium (no ads): $14.99 per month; no annual option (effective October 10)
- ESPN+: $9.99 per month; $99.99 annually (effective August 23)
Disney Bundle Plans
- Basic (with ads): Disney+, Hulu: $9.99 per month
- Basic (with ads): Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+: $12.99 per month
- Legacy: Disney+ (no ads), Hulu (with ads), ESPN+ (with ads): $14.99 per month (only for existing customers)
- Premium: Disney+ (no ads), Hulu (no ads), ESPN+ (with ads): $19.99 per month
Hulu + Live TV
- Basic: Includes Hulu SVOD with ads, Disney+ with ads, ESPN+: $69.99 per month
- Legacy: Includes Hulu SVOD with ads, Disney+ no ads, ESPN+: $74.99 per month (only for existing customers)
- Premium: Includes Hulu SVOD without ads, Disney+ no ads, ESPN+: $82.99 per month
Also read: Disney Plus Review