Disney’s popular streaming service is set to receive another price hike. It’s the fourth increase for the streamer since its launch in 2019. Disney+’s new ad-free package will soon cost $16 per month. This comes as Disney and other companies continue to try to squeeze more profit out of expensive streaming services, and before some recent hits hit the market. How Inside Out 2, arrive home this fall.
Disney+ was launched in 2019 and was the company’s answer to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The service was launched with all The Simpsons, Star Warsand most Marvel movies, as well as a large collection of classic Disney movies, shows and animated shorts. In the five years since its launch, Disney+ has continued to grow as Disney added Hulu shows, more original content, Fox-owned properties and licensed shows like Doctor Who to the service.
But all this content doesn’t come cheap, and in recent years the price of Disney+ has gone up almost every year. And that’s happening again this fall.
How much will Disney+ and Hulu cost in October?
From 17 October, Disney confirmed that most of its streaming plans including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, cost about $1 to $2 more per month. Hulu’s most expensive package, which includes live TV, costs $6 more per month.
Meanwhile, prices for Disney+ Basic (with ads) and Disney+ Premium (ad-free) are rising to $10 and $16, respectively. That means an ad-free Disney+ subscription costs twice as much as it did at launch in 2019, when Disney only offered a no-ads plan for $7 per month.
Hulu costs $10 per month with ads and $19 without ads. ESPN+ will cost $12 per month starting in October. Disney is also adding “playlists,” always-on channels within the app that stream content like news, old movies and TV shows. It will work similarly to Pluto TV and other FAST (free ad-supported television) services work.
Yes, Disney and other streaming services are essentially reinventing channel surfing and cable TV, but they’re locking it away behind numerous prices, plans, and services. Yes, the future sucks.
The timing of the price increase also does not seem to be a coincidence. like some of Disney’s recent box office successes-How Inside Out 2 And Deadpool and Wolverine– are expected to be added to the service in the next few months, and the House of Mouse probably wants to make sure it can capitalize on these recent successes by getting a few more dollars out of people’s pockets to rewatch some popular movies.
.
