Summary

• Disney+ is increasing prices for most plans and bundles beginning October 17, 2024.
• Most plan costs will rise by $1-2 per month, but Hulu Live TV plans will increase by $6.
• Price increases are to boost profitability, with new content additions like playlists and an ABC News Live channel.

Bad news Disney+ won't be increasing its prices just for the sake of increasing its prices. Of course, the Walt Disney Company is mainly doing so to make more money, just like any other company does. But, in return, the streaming platform is adding some additional content alongside the spike in costs for Disney+ plans.

Disney+ isn't the only streaming service that has raised its prices as of late. Netflix increased the cost of its different plans in October 2023, and many predict that more price spikes are in store for the company in late 2024. Warner Bros. Discovery elevated the cost of Max's ad-free plans in June 2024. Paramount is set to up the price of Paramount+'s monthly plans in late August 2024. So, price hikes in the world of streaming certainly aren't uncommon and will likely continue as the years go on.

Disney+'s New Price: How Much It Costs & How Much It's Changing

Almost Every Standalone Plan & Bundle Will Be Affected

According to the recently made available Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundle prices will remain unchanged. However, the cost of every other tier and bundle on Disney+ will go up in the fall of 2024.

Most of the price changes range from $1 to $2 per month, with the exception being the Hulu + Live TV plans, which will both increase by $6 per month. As mentioned above, the cost of Disney Duo Basic (Disney+ and Hulu Without Ads) will remain the same. But those who subscribe to other Disney+ plans should expect an increase in how much one pays on October 17, 2024.

Why Disney+ Prices Are Going Up - Are There Consumer Benefits?

Disney+ Still Isn't Profitable

Disney+ is raising its costs due to the fact that Disney still isn't profitable (even with Inside Out 2's record-breaking box office totals). The Walt Disney Company has been struggling since the COVID-19 pandemic, similar to other entertainment studios and companies, and one of its main issues is its streaming platform. Disney's entire streaming division (including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+) recently turned a profit for the first time, but separately, the same can't be said for Disney+, which is why its prices are increasing. The future is looking brighter, but Disney is still losing money and needs a quick solution.

For those who pay for the tiers, Disney+ is introducing four new playlists in the fall — Seasonal Content (seasonal-themed content), Epic Stories (a compilation of Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars stories), Throwbacks (nostalgic content), and Real Life (documentaries and biopics). So, there are some benefits to Disney+ upping its prices.

In an attempt to appease those who might be upset by the price hike, Disney is adding more content to its streaming library aside from just Disney+ original TV shows. Disney+ will now feature an ABC News Live streaming channel and a preschool-curated playlist for all subscribers starting on September 4, 2024. For those who pay for the tiers, Disney+ is introducing four new playlists in the fall —​​​​​​​ Seasonal Content (seasonal-themed content), Epic Stories (a compilation of Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars stories), Throwbacks (nostalgic content), and Real Life (documentaries and biopics). So, there are some benefits to Disney+ upping its prices.

Disney+'s Price Increases Comes When They're Cutting Back On Big Franchises

Marvel Is Decreasing Its Disney+ Content

Unfortunately, the Disney+ price hike is coming at a bad time for the streaming service. One franchise that used to drive in more subscribers (the Marvel Cinematic Universe) is cutting back on their Disney+ content. Marvel's original Disney+ TV shows are one of the platform's biggest draws. So, if there is less content in that category, mixed with the increased prices, some might be dissuaded from giving Disney+ their money.

Source: Variety