Disney+ and Hulu Ad-Free Pricing Going Up in October, Password Sharing Crackdown Coming

[MacRumors]

Disney is planning to raise the price of its ad-free Disney+ and Hulu streaming services starting on October 12, the company said today during an earnings call (via CNBC). The ad-free Disney+ plan will be priced at $13.99 per month, while the ad-free Hulu plan will be priced at $17.99 per month.

Right now, ad-free Disney+ is $10.99 per month, while ad-free Hulu is priced at $14.99 per month. When Disney+ launched three years ago, Disney was charging $6.99, so the price for ad-free access has more than doubled.

Disney is planning to offer an ad-free bundle that includes Hulu and Disney+ for $19.99 per month, which is a $12 discount from the separate pricing. That happens to be the current price of the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN bundle, which will be going up to $24.99 per month. The Hulu and Disney+ bundle is not yet available, but will presumably be launching in October when the price increase is implemented.

The price of Disney's ad-supported plans will not be changing. Disney+ with ads will continue to be $7.99 per month, which is the same price as the Hulu with ads plan. The ad-supported bundle will be $9.99 per month.

In addition to raising the cost of its streaming plans, Disney is also planning to put a stop to password sharing, following in the footsteps of Netflix. Disney CEO Bob Iger said that Disney will "roll out tactics" to end password sharing starting in 2024.

The pricing increases and the crackdown on password sharing come after a $512 million loss for Disney's streaming division in the third fiscal quarter of 2023, which is better than the $1.1 billion loss from the year-ago quarter. Disney has over 105 million Disney+ subscribers, adding 800,000 subscribers during the quarter.

Article Link: Disney+ and Hulu Ad-Free Pricing Going Up in October, Password Sharing Crackdown Coming

 

[Will Co]

Gonna be popular….

 

[Apple_Robert]

I was an early adopter of Disney+ with their 3 year plan offering. After that, I got off the ride. Too much for my liking.

 

[snakesayan]

Ridiculous! Already cancelled Netflix and Spotify due to price hikes. Nothing justifies these increases but corporate greed! It’s not like any of that money goes to the workers or actors anyway.

 

[coffeemilktea]

In addition to raising the cost of its streaming plans, Disney is also planning to put a stop to password sharing, following in the footsteps of Netflix. Disney CEO Bob Iger said that Disney will "roll out tactics" to end password sharing starting in 2024.

Streaming services really do have a tendency to forget that their entire business model relies on them being slightly less annoying than going with the $0-per-month Jack Sparrow bundle, huh? 🏴‍☠️

 

[nfortna]

All of these price hikes and crackdowns but still waiting for them to add any value to their services. That is unlikely to happen soon seeing how all of the strikes are going.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Password Sharing Crackdown: For some reason, I feel like this is Netflix's fault and I hate them for that.

 

[btbeme]

Disney feeling the pinch? Good.

 

[Wanted797]

Disney feeling the pinch? Good.

No. They’re just copying Netflix to unlock those delicious profits.

 

[Rychiar]

That sounds crazy. I pay $5.99 for the combination of both through two separate holiday deals. Makes no sense to sign up any other time.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Once you’ve watched the few good films on Disney+, it’s just a load of rubbish.

Get in, binge, get out.

 

[jhwalker]

This is just gouging; i.e., taking advantage of inflation on products sensitive to supply chain costs, etc., to increase their prices when there's NOTHING in the cost basis for streaming services that has actually increased in cost!

 

[sw1tcher]

Disney has raised Disney Plus price every year so far starting in 2021. Same with Hulu.

Disney Plus no ads
Nov 2019 = $6.99 launch price
Mar 2021 = $7.99
Dec 2022 = $10.99
Oct 2023 = $13.99

Hulu no ads
Sep 2015 = $11.99 launch price
Oct 2021 = $12.99
Oct 2022 = $14.99
Oct 2023 = $17.99


Hope this isn't going to be an annual thing.

 

[LeeW]

For some reason, I feel like this is Netflix's fault and I hate them for that.

They were all going to do it, Netflix just went first and made it easier for the others. None of them want to allow password sharing, every share represents a non-paying viewer.

 

[lazyrighteye]

I was an early adopter of Disney+ with their 3 year plan offering. After that, I got off the ride. Too much for my liking.

I [almost] did the same: early adopter of the 3 yr plan. After a year, was Disney'd out. Rode out the last two and have since gone down to a monthly plan (with the idea we'll phase it out). Only thing keeping us on it is my kids' affinity for The Simpsons. Yes, the show is that good.

 

[nuckinfutz]

Any streaming company can make the specious claim that password sharing is costing them so much money that they must raise pricing.

 

[hauntvictim]

I love it, they loose money and produce crap content and turn around and raise prices. AND nothing for the writers/ actors. #Coporategreed

 

[nosnhojm]

Raising prices will just drive away users. I only pay for Apple TV+ and Disney+, but may let the latter drop off with the recent quality of shows (Secret Invasion). I also have Netflix, but only because it is free with T-Mobile...the original content is garbage.

 

[sw1tcher]

When Disney+ launched three years ago, Disney was charging $6.99, so the price for ad-free access has more than doubled.

Um, today is Aug. 9, 2023. Disney Plus launched on Nov. 12, 2019. That's (almost) 4 years ago

 

[SFjohn]

I can see a future where everyone signs up for only 1 service per month, then switches to the next. Holding onto multiple services throughout the year makes less and less sense. 🤮

 

[jeroenvip]

And another streaming service to remove from the list. I guess it's back going for popcorn time. Which has everything all streaming services have to offer for free.

 

[j569mxr]

They were all going to do it, Netflix just went first and made it easier for the others. None of them want to allow password sharing, every share represents a non-paying viewer.

But they don't see a difference between password sharing and members who don't always live in the same location year-round.

 

[sw1tcher]

The pricing increases and the crackdown on password sharing come after a $512 million loss for Disney's streaming division in the third fiscal quarter of 2023, which is better than the $1.1 billion loss from the year-ago quarter.

This is just gouging; i.e., taking advantage of inflation on products sensitive to supply chain costs, etc., to increase their prices when there's NOTHING in the cost basis for streaming services that has actually increased in cost!

🤣

Gouging? Did you miss the part about how their streaming business is losing money? I believe the only streaming service that's profitable at the moment is Netflix.

The price increases are meant to put them in the black.

 

[blacksurfer]

I'll stick to FreeVee and Pluto Tv

 

[THE VATICANTS]

Today, I would rather take my hard earned money and literally physically burn it than give it to Disney. **** Bob Iger.