The Walt Disney Company will increase prices across its three owned or operated streaming television services — Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus — with the adjusted prices taking effect for new and existing subscribers in mid-October.
The cost of the streaming services will increase to:
- Disney Plus (with ads): $10 per month
- Disney Plus (without ads): $16 per month
- Hulu (with ads): $10 per month
- Hulu (without ads): $18 per month
- ESPN Plus: $12 per month
- Disney Plus Duo bundle (with ads): $11 per month
- Disney Plus Trio bundle (with ads): $17 per month
- Disney Plus Trio bundle (no ads): $27 per month
- Hulu with Live TV: $83 per month
The Disney Plus Duo bundle includes access to Disney Plus and Hulu, and must be purchased through Disney Plus itself. The cost of the Disney Plus Duo bundle without ads will remain at $20 per month, the company said. The Disney Plus Trio bundle includes the two streaming services as well as ESPN Plus, and can be purchased through Disney Plus or Hulu.
The price increase is meant to push frugal customers toward the lower-priced, ad-supported options, which helps Disney earn revenue off subscribers through two pipelines (subscription fees and advertising), while earning more money from direct subscriptions when customers choose the ad-free tiers of service.
Disney says it will introduce its free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) news channel ABC News Live to all Disney Plus subscribers in the next few weeks. The channel is already available through Hulu. Additionally, Disney Plus will introduce curated “playlists” that will feature groups of content that fall under a specific theme. The first playlist will include content aimed at preschoolers.
“Playlists are the latest example of how we’re providing the best value and experience for our subscribers every time they open Disney Plus,” Disney executive Alisa Bowen said in a statement on Tuesday.
Disney reports its latest financial earnings early Wednesday morning.
