Bottom line: Disney has announced yet another wave of price hikes due to make landfall later this year. From October 17, 2024, new and existing subscribers in the US will see price hikes across the board as part of a strategy that's becoming far too frequent.
Both the ad-supported and ad-free Disney+ plans will increase by $2 per month, from $7.99 to $9.99 and from $13.99 to $15.99 per month, respectively. Hulu is also getting hiked. The ad-supported plan will soon cost $9.99 per month (up two bucks a month); the ad-free plan is going up a buck a month to $18.99. ESPN+, meanwhile, will increase by one dollar to $11.99 a month.
Those hoping to save some scratch with a bundle will get a bit of relief depending on which plan they choose. The duo basic plan, which includes Disney+ and Hulu (both with ads), will increase to $10.99 from the current $9.99, but the ad-free option will remain unchanged in price at $19.99 a month.
Last but certainly not least, Disney's Hulu + Live TV bundle (with ads) is going up to $82.99 a month (currently $75.99 a month) while the ad-free tier will soon command $95.99 a month.
In an attempt to justify the price hike, Disney+ said it would be adding ABC News Live and a playlist focused on preschool content to its core subscription on-demand offerings beginning September 4. Four more curated playlists will follow later in the fall, we're told, centered around seasonal content, "epic stories" from marquee brands and franchises, throwbacks, and real life stories via documentaries and biopics.
The subscription model has caught on like wildfire in recent years, and regular price increases are par for the course. Nearly a year ago to the day, Disney announced a round of price hikes that saw some tiers increase in cost by 27 percent. And it's not just a Disney issue as virtually every company offering subscription services engages in frequent price bumps.
Image credit: Craig Adderley