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Disney+ to Increase Price to $8 a Month Beginning March 2021
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You can thank the pandemic for it. It has forced them to rethink their distribution model earlier than planned to shift more to streaming vs theatrical release. The increased cost for more original content has to come from somewhere. Only difference here between Disney+ and Netflix is that the increased original content is mostly quality on Disney while Netflix gets you maybe 1-2 good show (that they cancel after a season or two) and a few decent movies mixed with 1000 garbage original titles.
The Disney+ release output is going to pickup substantially based on what they announced at their investors meeting yesterday. Though, beyond The Mandalorian, I agree that at launch they didn't make a big push to draw in the adult audience. I bought the 3 year deal when Disney+ was announced though, so the price hike won't affect me for a couple more years.
Did you not see the avalanche of content they announced yesterday? That’s the reason for the price increase. That level of quality new content increase ain’t free. If scheduled right (and probably will be) there probably won’t be many (or any) weeks where there isn’t a new episode of a Star Wars/Marvel show that by itself is worth $8 a month but then throw in the other original content and back catalog and Disney+ is a steal.
This would have happened sooner if the pandemic hadn’t halted production earlier this year as we were supposed to start getting Marvel shows in August/September but now it’s not until Mid January.
I have it bundled with Verizon. Along with a subscription of Apple music. So the price increase doesnt matter to me.
Really? How many Emmys did Disney win last year? How many Oscars? I'll gladly take Netflix's quality and quantity over whatever latest Marvel or Star Wars garbage fest Disney poops out.
My view on Disney+ is that it is only worth getting once in a while for a month. A month is plenty of time for me to realize just how little they have to offer that I care to watch. Hulu doesn't offer much new stuff over time, nor does Disney+. ESPN+ is a total joke; good luck watching your favorite games live on the service! One month out of a year is plenty time for me to watch the very few new streams this service offers. Netflix is still worth the price, but I only keep it a few months then wait six months or more to get it again. Neither service is worth having all the time.
I get CuriosityStream for $15 per entire year! Worth it!
I get MotorTrend for $24 per entire year! Worth it!
I get Philo for $20 per month! Worth it!
But most of the streaming services like Apple+, Disney+, Netflix, BritBox, etc. are only good for a month or two every year. Otherwise you quickly run out of new stuff on their services. They are too costly to keep year around due to lack of new content. Amazon Prime includes free shipping and other non-streaming perks which justify the cost for me, but I wouldn't pay that much for only the Video portion due to the same reason, lack of new and free to watch content.
I get CuriosityStream for $15 per entire year! Worth it!
I get MotorTrend for $24 per entire year! Worth it!
I get Philo for $20 per month! Worth it!
But most of the streaming services like Apple+, Disney+, Netflix, BritBox, etc. are only good for a month or two every year. Otherwise you quickly run out of new stuff on their services. They are too costly to keep year around due to lack of new content. Amazon Prime includes free shipping and other non-streaming perks which justify the cost for me, but I wouldn't pay that much for only the Video portion due to the same reason, lack of new and free to watch content.
Never. These services will never catch up to Netflix pricing because I'm sure Netflix will keep increasing their price!
Streaming companies really need to allow people to lock in monthly prices before they increase them. Not for the consumer, but because eventually people will learn how to churn.
Lets say you want to watch HBO Max, Netflix, Prime, CBS All Access, Hulu, and Disney+. Big monthly bill, right? No, pick a service to be your standard (for me it’s Hulu), then pick one of the others each month and watch all the content that interests you over that month. Then next month, ditch one and pick another.
Lock in would give people a psychological reason to not churn, even if it still makes financial sense to do it. Without lock in, churn is inevitable.
Lets say you want to watch HBO Max, Netflix, Prime, CBS All Access, Hulu, and Disney+. Big monthly bill, right? No, pick a service to be your standard (for me it’s Hulu), then pick one of the others each month and watch all the content that interests you over that month. Then next month, ditch one and pick another.
Lock in would give people a psychological reason to not churn, even if it still makes financial sense to do it. Without lock in, churn is inevitable.
I know their theme parks are taking a hit, especially Disneyland since the governor won't allow them to open at all. Disney World is limiting their capacity and only allowing at about 25% capacity. With the travels, I am sure there are a big drop at the theme parks at the other countries. I don't know how much of a hit with ESPN as far as viewers. Disney+ is probably the only thing that is helping them keep afloat.
Netflix itself is increasing the price every 18 months. By 2022, I suspect it will cost as much as $14.99 for HD and $19.99 for UHD. I doubt Disney+ would ever cost nearly as much in few years.
Oh well, it's only $1/year as I only sub for a month, watch all the Mandalorian episodes then unsubscribe. Not much else on Disney+ that's worth a subscription.
If their new content (10+ shows over the next couple years) is Mandalorian-level quality, then I'm fine with $1. Contrast that to Netflix, which hasn't had good content for awhile (except Stranger Things). Netflix will get canceled before Disney+ will, for me.
The sole purpose of Disney's existence is to make as much money as possible for their shareholders. Period.
