Hulu and Disney+ No Longer Support Signups and Payment Using App Store

[MacRumors]

Disney is no longer allowing its customers to sign up for and purchase subscriptions to Hulu or Disney+ through Apple's App Store, cutting out any subscription fees that Disney would have needed to pay to Apple for using in-app purchase.

The change was noted on Reddit over the weekend, and there are details on the Disney+ and Hulu websites. Both the Disney+ and Hulu websites say that new and returning subscribers cannot sign up for and pay through Apple, but existing Apple-billed subscribers are not affected.

Hulu and Disney+ customers can still watch content on Apple devices by signing into their Hulu and Disney+ accounts in the iOS apps. Disney is now directing customers to its websites in order to see all plans and sign up for a subscription directly.

For digital purchases like subscription services, Apple collects a 15 to 30 percent fee from each transaction. By removing the option to sign up for streaming services using the in-app purchase system, Disney will not have to pay a fee to Apple and it will be classified as a "reader" app.

Disney's decision to stop supporting in-app purchases correlates with price increases that went into effect on October 17. Disney+ plan pricing went up by $2, while Hulu with ads is $2 more expensive and Hulu without ads is $1 more. Eliminating the in-app purchase fees paid to Apple seems to be part of an effort to boost streaming revenue, paired with price hikes and also a recent crackdown on password sharing.

Disney+ and Hulu will no longer be eligible for Apple's Video Partner Program going forward, and subscribers may notice a change in tvOS and the Apple TV app. The Video Partner Program provides integration with Apple technologies like Siri, AirPlay, Universal Search, zero sign-on, and more for streaming video apps that support in-app purchase.

Article Link: Hulu and Disney+ No Longer Support Signups and Payment Using App Store

 

[reyesmac]

Apple makes it way too easy to cancel subscriptions for other companies services.

 

[hoodafoo]

Can't wait for Disney to pass on the savings to users!

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Apple makes it way too easy to cancel subscriptions for other companies services.

Disney+ and Hulu are no complicated to cancel than apple subscriptions.

Either way, they don’t want to pay 30% of the sub fee to apple, which I can understand.

 

[scorpio vega]

Disney+ and Hulu are no complicated to cancel than apple subscriptions.

Either way, they don’t want to pay 30% of the sub fee to apple, which I can understand.

But want access to apples user base lol

I now have to go to individual sites to cancel subscriptions vs a central location on my iPhone .

God forbid I forget my Hulu or Disney password. It’s so unnecessary for consumers

 

[ApostolisApo]

Disney+ is one of the most Apple-friendly developers out there, so it is news when they ditch App Store's subscription scheme.

 

[scorpio vega]

I was wondering why I couldn’t just sign up the other day when I was trying to sign up to watch Abbott elementary.

Also I didn’t notice how terrible hulu Disney quality of selection was. Will be cancelled thanksgiving

 

[zorinlynx]

Apple brought this upon themselves by charging such high fees for their payments service.

 

[JPack]

Can't wait for Apple to force U.S. carriers to pony up 30% for using eSIM. According to Apple logic, it's their platform after all.

 

[FSMBP]

If Apple was hosting the content, it makes sense to take a fee. In most cases it seems, they seem a bit greedy.

 

[no_idea]

But want access to apples user base lol

I now have to go to individual sites to cancel subscriptions vs a central location on my iPhone .

God forbid I forget my Hulu or Disney password. It’s so unnecessary for consumers

Wow… I feel so sorry for the extra clicks you have to exert to cancel a subscription, your life must be hard.

 

[Porco]

Hulu skirts App Store.
Multiple reports of Disney+ subtracting App Store option squarely divides some opinions.

 

[mihighil]

But want access to apples user base lol

I now have to go to individual sites to cancel subscriptions vs a central location on my iPhone .

God forbid I forget my Hulu or Disney password. It’s so unnecessary for consumers

But the benevolent gods at apple made it easy for you to not needing to remember your passwords.

 

[jimbobb24]

Disney and Hulu seem to be bleeding money. I recently signed up for Disney because my son wanted to watch an old Marvel movie. Less than a week in they let me know they were cancelling my specific plan - that they emailed me to try and get me to sign back up after being away a few years. Watch it one month and cancel.

 

[KDNYC]

Signing up through their websitea also means they’ll offer a lower price when you try to cancel. $2.99 Hulu for a couple of months before I cancel (again)!

 

[BuddyRich]

But want access to apples user base lol

I now have to go to individual sites to cancel subscriptions vs a central location on my iPhone .

God forbid I forget my Hulu or Disney password. It’s so unnecessary for consumers

I mean yes. And also Android users. And PC users and Mac Users... and TV (LG, Samsung, Sony, whoever) An individual may be all of them depending on the devices they own. Just because I own an iPhone and Mac doesn't mean I belong to Apple. Now iOS users need to signup on the web... Disney did the math and said 30% ongling fee (dropping to 15% second year plus) to Apple for facilitiating that signup and payment wasn't worth it.

If individuals really dislike this, they won't signup... Im sure a few might take that stance, but I would bet most people just want the latest episode of some Star Wars show, or perhaps a Marvel movie or something... most people are watching streaming on their TV not their device, and tvOS is far behind the leaders for TV devices (nevermind most people just use their TV software now).

 

[DunedinD]

12.99 per month. LOL, no thanks, Disney.

 

[Jamie0003]

Apple makes it way too easy to cancel subscriptions for other companies services.

So you’d rather everyone pay 30% more?

 

[GlamCheese666]

So they’re reclaiming $2.30 from Apple and at the SAME TIME charging customers and additional $2. Yeah…I’m cancelling once Agatha All Along is done. They don’t have enough content/regular content to continue supporting ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Rayansb]

From a business point of view it makes little to no sense for large well known corporations to continue giving apple money for nothing. If a customer really wanted hulu they'd just go to hulu's website and subscribe. I can see the value of paying apple their cut if you're a small developer and need the platform.

 

[lkrupp]

12.99 per month. LOL, no thanks, Disney.

Disney+ is among the top ten streaming services. I don’t think they’re in trouble if you’re not a subscriber.

 

[Hails09]

But want access to apples user base lol

I now have to go to individual sites to cancel subscriptions vs a central location on my iPhone .

God forbid I forget my Hulu or Disney password. It’s so unnecessary for consumers

What’s wrong with wanting to access the Apple customer base
Disney are under no obligation to offer inapp purchases through Apple.

 

[jwdsail]

Disney is no longer allowing its customers to sign up for and purchase subscriptions to Hulu or Disney+ through Apple's App Store, cutting out any subscription fees that Disney would have needed to pay to Apple for using in-app purchase.

The change was noted on Reddit over the weekend, and there are details on the Disney+ and Hulu websites. Both the Disney+ and Hulu websites say that new and returning subscribers cannot sign up for and pay through Apple, but existing Apple-billed subscribers are not affected.

Hulu and Disney+ customers can still watch content on Apple devices by signing into their Hulu and Disney+ accounts in the iOS apps. Disney directs customers to its websites in order to see all plans and sign up for a subscription directly.

For digital purchases like subscription services, Apple collects a 15 to 30 percent fee from each transaction. By removing the option to sign up for streaming services using the in-app purchase system, Disney will not have to pay a fee to Apple.

Disney joins other streaming apps like Netflix that have not offered support for purchasing a subscription in an iOS app for years.

Article Link: Hulu and Disney+ No Longer Support Signups and Payment Using App Store

Making it harder to subscribe/unsubscribe will only make me less likely to give them any money at all?

That’s fine. Plenty of local racetracks will gladly accept my cash.

 

[brunerd]

They also only offered bundles for non-Apple subscriptions. I cancelled my Apple billed Hulu and was able to get the ad-free Duo plan on Disney+ (ad free) for only a couple bucks more! All I had to deal with was losing my entire watch history in Hulu 🥲 but I was more peeved I didn't know about the bundle for so long!

 

[Remy149]

Disney+ is one of the most Apple-friendly developers out there, so it is news when they ditch App Store's subscription scheme.

It’s not news when many subscription services are not as profitable as they need them to be.