Disney Launching Cheaper, Ad-Supported Version of Disney+ Starting in Late 2022 [Updated]

[MallardDuck]

so you trade 20 minutes per hour for $3/month...doesn't exactly seem to make sense.

One of the things that I hate about amazon prime is that you can't filter out all the ad-only content (ditto with Hulu).

The only time I suffer through them is on news shows, and even then I usually mute them (or pause the content, and then 'jump to live' 2 minutes later).

When I was a kid, the original star trek episodes were 54 minutes long. Next gen was 42. No clue what a current show would be...down in the 20's? Life's too short to watch ads.

 

[MallardDuck]

Cathie Wood sold more than half of her fund’s Disney holdings.

She hasn't exactly had a good year....and two monkey's throwing darts could have had a good one in 2020 and 2021.

 

[MallardDuck]

The Disney Vault !!!

?

Nope, they specifically said they don't and won't. Everything is up there except Song of the South.

 

[jimimac71]

If I want commercials, there is a respectful list of completely free services out there. I'd rather, but haven't yet, go with Britbox. I don't see the value in Apple TV+ either. My cable TV/Internet has increased to $190/month. Don't want to spend more.
I love retro-TV and so much is streaming for free.

 

[indychris]

I don't mind paying for a subscription. Costs a lot to create and host all that media, and I'm not a big fan of ads. That said, let's admit what this is: The cheaper free tier will become a secondary option. It will not be long after the 'free' version launches that Disney will increase the cost of the paid tier with an explanation of increased costs to host the service. When people squawk, they will be pointed in the direction of the ad-supported 'free' plan.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Nope, they specifically said they don't and won't. Everything is up there except Song of the South.

Sure... I was just reminded of the name.

I fondly remember TV commercials for Disney movies talking about the Disney Vault:

"Get it now or you won't be able to buy this VHS again until your kids are in high school!"

?

 

[Realityck]

Because then Disney can make more while offering a "cheaper version" Since users will be paying and they will get more $$ from ads.

Its not their style. You don't have a tiered subscription like Netflix or HBO Max. HBO Max is the one that went with $9.99 with Ads, compared to their $14.99 regular price. Netflix is more expensive, but no ads. $9.99/$15.49/$19.99 (SD/HD/4K)

 

[Realityck]

Does Disney (with Disney+) still do the "artificial scarcity" thing they used to do with VHS tapes and DVDs, where only some subset of their movies are available on the service at any given time?

The Vault was just Disneys way of offering DVD/BDs for a limited distribution, its not applicable to streaming for most of the content.

 

[BigSmurf]

No interest in the Disney service myself but honestly it is worth paying for an adfree service. Quality of life.
Currently have Apple and Netflix. if I didn t have kids who love cartoons, I could conceivably have only Apple because plenty of good shows that I cannot all watch in my limited tv time.

 

[SoldOnApple]

How about audio commentary for Simpsons episodes already.

 

[iBreatheApple]

This isn’t a chance for you to get more bang for your buck (especially without drawbacks). I don’t think some of you guys realize that the difference between seven dollars and $15 for some families really does dictate whether or not they can/are willing to subscribe. Those same people likely would rather have ads than no Hulu at all. I hate ads - so I get it. I’m just saying…

 

[sw1tcher]

Why bother. Its $8 month or $80 a year ($6.66/month). All the Marvel content that was on Netflix has been removed and will be added to Disney + on March 16th.

Disney Plus is getting the Marvel Netflix shows on March 16th

All of Marvel’s Netflix-produced shows are coming home to Disney Plus.

www.theverge.com

Because for streaming services that offer a free or discounted ad-supported tier, they're seeing bigger subscriber growth numbers, particularly in international markets where people don't have as much disposable income as those in the U.S. and other developed countries.

When Viacom (now Paramount) reported their most recent earnings, they saw the biggest growth in their free ad-supported Pluto service; Subscribers increased by 10 million (vs the 4.2 million that was expected) to 64 million total.

Comcast reported similar results. I quote:

In a call with investors on Thursday, Comcast Chief Executive Brian Roberts said the “vast majority” of Peacock’s paid subscribers choose the $5 tier over the $10 tier. Going forward, the company will focus its strategy around the ad-supported tiers.

It's also why most Hulu subscribers are on the ad-supported tier.


Ad-supported services also see a higher Average Monthly Revenue Per Subscriber number. Take Hulu as an example. When their ad-supported tier was $5.99/mo, it was reported that it generated more than $15 per subscriber compared to their ad-free tier that was, at the time, $11.99/mo

Even though it charges $6, the service generates more than $15 in revenue per subscriber each month, because of the high-cost advertising sold against those customers, according to two people familiar with the business.

. . .

Hulu made over $1.5 billion in ad revenue last year.

If Disney wants to increase their Average Monthly Revenue Per Paid Subscriber, a discounted ad-supported tier will do it.

 

[supercoolmanchu]

I just showed up here to say, everyone should read and exercise more…

…which is about as anti-Disney+ subscription as you can get.

*this message is brought to you as part of my free, no-ad tier.*

 

[sw1tcher]

Wasn't the reason people switched from TV provider to on-demand content to get rid of ads? Wasn't the reason of on-demand streaming to get rid of ads? Wasn't the reason of the subscription payment to get rid of ads? Wasn't there another subscription service that offered it cheaper but with ads?

No. People are cutting the cord and moving to on-demand because the price of cable tv service is ridiculous. I priced it out less than 2 months back. To get cable tv, I'd have to pay $77.06/mo

$44.99 for tv (discounted by $32/mo for 12 months for new subscribers)
$17.99 for broadcast fee
$8.99 for HD box
$5.09 for taxes/misc fees

I'm currently paying less than $10/mo for Netflix, Hulu with ads, and Peacock Premium (limited ads). I get to watch what I want, when I want. I also get to subscribe and pause service whenever I wanted to. Getting rid of ads is a bonus, but as you can see from what I'm currently subscribing to, I have no problem with ads.

Other free and ad-supported streaming services I've used on occassion are: Pluto, YouTube, Roku Channel, Tubi, Crackle, and Redbox

 

[Appleman3546]

This would be the wrong move, since why would Disney plus want take ideas from Peacock and Hulu that have smaller subscriber bases. Amazon and netflix charge subscription fees for a reason, it is a gate to make the consumer believe in premium content. If it goes free, then Disney will lose paying subscribers.

 

[sw1tcher]

Nooooooo. This is such a stupid, awful idea.

The data that's available says otherwise.

Streaming services need to stop doing this. Hulu and HBO Max are the worst for doing this. Just make it one (inexpensive) fee, and make it have ZERO ads. That's what everybody wants. Paying money only to watch ads is archaic, illogical, and outright dumb.

There's an ad-free Hulu plan for those who want it.

When a majority of Hulu subscriber are on the ad-supported plan, no, it's not what everybody wants.

Hulu Says 70% of Its 82 Million Viewers Are on Ad-Supported Plan

Advertising remains a key driver of Hulu's business: Of its 82 million viewers, about 70% -- or 58 million -- are on the ad-supported plan.

variety.com

 

[sw1tcher]

so you trade 20 minutes per hour for $3/month...doesn't exactly seem to make sense.

I don't know what ad-supported services you've used, but of the ones I've used (Hulu, Pluto, Crackle, Roku Channel, etc.), there isn't 20 minutes of ads per 1 hour of content. It's not even close to that.

 

[krspkbl]

pick one. free with ads or paid with none.

i'm not paying for something just to sit watch adverts.

 

[sw1tcher]

This would be the wrong move, since why would Disney plus want take ideas from Peacock and Hulu that have smaller subscriber bases.

Psst! Disney owns Hulu.

There are also more Hulu subscribers than Disney+ subscribers if you compare country to country. Hulu is mainly a U.S. service (Hulu only streams in the United States, Puerto Rico, and military bases, and in some locations in Japan). As of January 1, 2022, Hulu had 45.3 million subscribers. Disney+ had 42.9 million subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.

And most (70%) Hulu subscribers are on the discounted ad-supported plan.

Amazon and netflix charge subscription fees for a reason, it is a gate to make the consumer believe in premium content. If it goes free, then Disney will lose paying subscribers.

The subscription fee for Amazon Prime is mainly for the delivery service. Their streaming content is just a bonus.

Who's saying Disney+ is going to be free? Article is about a lower priced ad-supported plan, similar to Hulu's ad-supported plan. Will Disney+ see subscribers leave the higher priced no ads plan in favor of the lower priced ad-supported plan? Yes. And as I posted above, that could end up being a good thing as the ad-supported plans are more profitable. They generate more revenue per subscriber than the no ad plans.

 

[Thebrochure]

The only Disney movies I care about are the movies released during Walt Disney's lifetime and the ones released during their hand-drawn resurgence period (The Little Mermaid through The Lion King)... and I own all of those. So for me, Disney plus would be akin to throwing my money away. If I want to watch one, I get it off the shelf and do so.

 

[Karma*Police]

Why bother. Its $8 month or $80 a year ($6.66/month). All the Marvel content that was on Netflix has been removed and will be added to Disney + on March 16th.

Disney Plus is getting the Marvel Netflix shows on March 16th

All of Marvel’s Netflix-produced shows are coming home to Disney Plus.

www.theverge.com

Why bother is right. Disney completely butchered Marvel comics, and the only good Marvel movies that made money were made by Sony. Not to mention the complete and utter butchering of Star Wars. Just when I thought they were getting back on track with Mandalorian, they come out with the laughable Boba Fett series. I’ve given up on Disney

 

[sw1tcher]

Why bother is right. Disney completely butchered Marvel comics, and the only good Marvel movies that made money were made by Sony.

? Like a majority of the people commenting here, you have no idea what you're talking about.

14 Highest Grossing MCU Movies At The Box Office

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Marvel movies are profitable. These MCU films, however, positively smashed the box office.

gamerant.com

10 Highest Grossing MCU Movies At The Box Office

10) Captain Marvel (2019): $1.128 Billion
9) Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019): $1.131 Billion
8) Captain America: Civil War (2016): $1.153 Billion
7) Iron Man 3 (2013): $1.214 Billion
6) Black Panther (2018): $1.347 Billion
5) Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021): $1.368 Billion
4) Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015): $1.402 Billion
3) The Avengers (2012): $1.518 Billion
2) Avengers: Infinity War (2018): $2.048 Billion
1) Avengers: Endgame (2019): $2.797 Billion

 

[JippaLippa]

80$ per year is pretty fair, come on.

 

[grouch]

Yes.

But shareholders, man.

They demand groooowwwttthhh!!!

I'm one of them, Disney+ doesn't need an ad-supported version.

 

[Tagbert]

Wasn't the reason people switched from TV provider to on-demand content to get rid of ads? Wasn't the reason of on-demand streaming to get rid of ads? Wasn't the reason of the subscription payment to get rid of ads? Wasn't there another subscription service that offered it cheaper but with ads? I forgot what service that was...

Spotify has free option but with ads... YouTube has free option but with ads... However some YouTube creators include sponsorship ads in their videos...

A few decades ago, one of the appeals of cable TV was that you paid a subscription but there were no ads, as opposed to broadcast TV. Fast forward a few years and we got both subscriptions and ads!