Disney+ has confirmed that it will increase the price of its ad-free subscription tier later this year in the United States.
The news was part of an announcement on Disney’s May 2023 earnings call that Disney+ and Hulu content are merging into one app. However, the two brands will remain separate entities, which means Disney+ subscribers will still have to shell out additional money for Hulu if they want to access its content.
It’s a similar model to that offered by Amazon Prime Video with its channels, where users pay extra to subscribe to services like HBO Max, Lionsgate+, and MGM, but within the Prime app. Video.
This strategy differs from the international Disney+ platforms, which offer the majority of Hulu content through Star at no additional cost at the time of writing.
Here is CEO Bob Iger’s official statement on the merger:
“While we continue to offer Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ as standalone options, this is a logical progression from our DTC [direct-to-consumer] offerings that will provide greater opportunities for advertisers, while giving bundle subscribers access to more robust and streamlined content, driving greater audience engagement and ultimately leading to a more unified streaming experience.”
While Iger mentioned ESPN+ in his statement, there’s no official word on whether that service will also work on the same app as Disney+ and Hulu.
Iger didn’t specify the amount of Disney+’s price increase, and didn’t specify when exactly it will happen – just that it will arrive “later this year” and “better reflect the value of our content offerings”.
Here are the current US prices for Disney+ and Hulu as it stands:
- Ad-free Disney+ monthly subscription: $10.99 per month
- Disney+ annual subscription without advertising: $109.99 per year
- Disney+ ad-supported monthly subscription: $7.99 per month
- Ad-free monthly Hulu subscription: $14.99 per month
- Hulu ad-supported monthly subscription: $7.99 per month
- Hulu ad-supported annual subscription: $79.99 per year
- Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ plan: $14.99 per month
- Ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu plan: $9.99 per month
Disney did not say whether a price increase would also occur internationally. The UK managed to avoid the latest price hike that occurred in America, as the ad-supported tier has still not been introduced elsewhere in the world. Therefore, prices in May 2023 remain at £7.99 per month and £79.90 per year.
Disney+ is home to shows like The Mandalorian and all the MCU movies. Meanwhile, Hulu has more mature content on its platform, including Saint X and The Bear.
