Disney has recently announced that it will be increasing prices on its streaming platforms, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. These price hikes are set to take effect in mid-October, with most plans seeing an increase of $1 to $2 per month. The most expensive plans on Hulu, which include live TV, will see a significant increase of $6 per month. The basic and premium plans for Disney+ will be priced at $9.99 and $15.99, respectively. Additionally, Hulu with ads will now cost $9.99 per month, while the ad-free version will be priced at $18.99 per month. ESPN+ will cost $11.99 per month for the ad-supported version.
The price hikes come as Disney is trying to direct its customers towards bundle options in order to provide a better value for their money. Disney has been offering bundles of its own services for some time now, including a package with Hulu and Disney+, or the two streaming services along with ESPN+. The existing bundle of Hulu and Disney+ with ads will also see a price increase, going up $1 to $10.99 per month. However, the bundle without ads will remain the same price at $19.99 per month. In addition, Disney has announced a partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery to offer a bundle that includes Disney+, Hulu, and Max, at a lower price than if the services were purchased separately.
New Content Offerings
In an effort to entice subscribers, Disney is introducing new content options such as ABC News Live and a playlist featuring preschool content. These offerings will be available to all subscribers starting September 4. The company also plans to introduce four more curated playlists for premium subscribers. The addition of playlists is part of Disney’s strategy to enhance the overall subscriber experience and provide the best value for their money, as stated by Alisa Bowen, the president of the streaming platform.
Disney is set to report its fiscal third-quarter earnings before the opening bell on Wednesday. This comes at a time when the company is making changes to its streaming platform pricing and offerings in an effort to attract and retain subscribers in an increasingly competitive streaming market. As Disney continues to evolve and expand its streaming services, it will be interesting to see how these changes impact the company’s financial performance moving forward.
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