Disney is adjusting the pricing for several of its streaming services in the United States. Starting from October 12th, the ad-free version of Disney Plus will be available for $14 per month (up from the current $11 per month), while Hulu’s ad-free subscription will be priced at $18 per month (previously $15 per month), as announced by the company last month. Subscribers to the annual ad-free Disney Plus plan will see their costs increase from $110 per year to $140. Existing subscribers will be billed at the new rates during their next billing cycle on or after October 12th, according to Disney.
The monthly fees for Disney Plus and Hulu’s ad-supported plans will remain unchanged, as will the annual cost of ad-based Hulu. Disney is also presently offering a promotional rate on its ad-supported Disney Plus plan for new and returning subscribers. Eligible users can enjoy the service for $2 per month for three months until September 20th at 11:59 p.m. PT. After this promotion concludes, the price will return to the standard $8 per month.
On October 12th, Disney will also raise the prices of two of its existing bundles that combine subscriptions to Disney Plus, Hulu, and the ad-supported streaming service ESPN Plus, known as the “Trio bundle.” The current cost of the Trio Basic bundle (which includes ad-supported versions of Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, and Hulu) will rise to $15 per month from $13 per month, while the Trio Premium bundle (offering the same services without ads for Disney Plus or Hulu) will increase to $25 per month from $20 per month.
Standalone ESPN Plus will also see a price increase for both its yearly and monthly plans in October. The current monthly rate of $10 will increase to $11 per month, and the annual subscription cost will go up from $100 to $110 per year.
Additionally, Hulu Plus Live TV with ads, currently priced at $70 per month, will be available for $77 per month in October, and the version that includes Hulu without ads, currently priced at $83 per month, will rise to $90 per month.
Disney introduced a new bundle called Duo Premium on September 6th, which includes ad-free Disney Plus and Hulu for $20 per month, offering a $12 monthly savings compared to subscribing to the ad-free versions of both services separately.
It’s worth noting that Disney has been gradually increasing the prices of its streaming platforms each year since 2019, with the most recent hike taking effect in the fall of 2022. Several other streaming services, including Starz, Paramount Plus, and Peacock, have also announced price increases since May.
(Source: Meara Isenberg | CNET)
