Disney subscribers got another dose of bad news this week as the company announced it is raising prices on Disney+ and its bundle packages with Hulu and ESPN+.
New Price Hike
Starting October 21, Disney+ will cost $11.99 per month, up from the current $9.99.
Bundles that include Hulu and ESPN+, both with and without ads, will also see increases. This marks the fourth price hike in four years for the streaming service.
A full rundown of the new rates is posted on Disneyâs support site: Disney+ Pricing.
Poor Timing With Other Issues
The announcement comes at a time when Disney is already facing heat. The company just brought back Jimmy Kimmel Live! after suspending the late-night host for comments tied to the death of activist Charlie Kirk, sparking controversy across the media landscape.
The optics of raising prices while still reeling from that situation may not sit well with subscribers.
In addition, itâs being reported that ABCâs biggest affiliate stations, Sinclair and Nexstar, wonât be airing Kimmel when he returns Tuesday.
Part of Disneyâs Bigger Streaming Shift
This latest increase in price follows a series of major streaming moves by Disney in recent months:
- In August, Disney confirmed plans to merge Disney+ and Hulu into a single unified app by 2026. Full details here.
- Disney also said it will stop reporting subscriber numbers for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. More on that here.
The company has been under pressure to show profitability in its direct-to-consumer business, with rising programming costs, competition from Netflix and Amazon, and slowing subscriber growth all weighing heavily.
What It Means
For subscribers, the reality is simple: youâll be paying more for Disney+ no matter how you package it. With four price hikes in as many years, Disney is betting that its content libraryâStar Wars, Marvel, Pixar, and beyondâwill keep people from canceling.
