More details emerge about Disney+, Hulu 4th price increase in 4 years
More details emerge about Disney+, Hulu 4th price increase in 4 years
The streamers have opted to increase the price of their ad-free tiers, following the lead of services like Apple TV and Peacock.
Another streaming service has opted to make price increases an annual tradition. Disney+ and Hulu are both raising the rates of their ad-free subscription, according to a new report, and the rate hike could go into effect as early as Wednesday for new customers.
Key Details:
- Up we go: Disney+ and Hulu are raising prices by $2.50 per month on ad-free plans.
- Bundle, too: The bundle of the Disney+ and Hulu Premium bundle is jumping to $22 per month.
- Ad plans, as well: Ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu plans are jumping in price by around $0.50 per month.
As first reported by Bloomberg on Sept. 23, Disney is increasing the price of Disney+ and Hulu’s ad-free plans by 13%, or $2.50 per month. After the price increase, each service will cost $21.49 per month for an individual ad-free subscription.
The price change is live for new subscribers, with current Disney+ customers seeing the change reflected in their next monthly bill. Disney will also increase the price of the Disney+ and Hulu ad-free bundle from $20 per month to $22 per month. The Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max with ads bundle is jumping from $20 to $22 per month, and its ad-free counterpart is rising from $33 to $35 monthly.
Elsewhere in the Disney streaming ecosystem, the price of the ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu tiers is increasing from $12 per month to $12.49. The Hulu + Live TV bundle is jumping from $90 per month to $100, or $110 per month if viewers want to remove ads from on-demand content on Disney+ and Hulu.
Disney clearly still wants viewers to participate in these bundles, as customers who purchase such subscriptions are usually more reluctant to cancel. The Disney+ and Hulu with ads bundle is staying at the $13 per month price, retaining a low-cost entry point for Disney streaming that may induce customers to upgrade to more premium offerings.
Streamflation is going on unabated across the industry; Peacock announced its fourth annual price increase in August, and Apple TV did likewise a couple of weeks later. Customers are continuing to feel the pinch, and rising rates are likely to make viewers even more stingy about signing up for non-essential streamers outside of major special events.
This article has been updated following the release of more pricing details for Disney streamers.
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Disney+
Disney+ is a video streaming service with over 13,000 series and films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, The Muppets, and more. It is available in 61 countries and 21 languages. It is notable for its popular original series like “The Mandalorian,” “Ms. Marvel,” “Loki,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and “Andor.”
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HBO Max
HBO Max is a subscription video streaming service that gives access to the full HBO library and exclusive Max Originals. There are hubs for content from TLC, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, TCM, Cartoon Network, Travel Channel, ID, and more. Watch hit series like “The Last of Us,” “House of the Dragon,” “Succession,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and more. Within HBO Max, B/R Sports allows users to watch live NBA, MLB, NHL, March Madness, and NASCAR events.
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Hulu
Hulu is a video streaming service that gives access to thousands of full seasons of exclusive series, hit movies, kids shows, and Hulu Originals like “Only Murders in the Building,” and “The Handmaid's Tale.”
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Hulu Live TV
Hulu Live TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 70 channels for $89.99 per month. Hulu + Live TV base plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs). Subscribers get free access to Disney+ and ESPN Select at no extra charge.
