Disney+ Subscription Costs Are About To Go Through The Roof
Mickey Mouse just can't keep his greedy gloves off our hard-earned cash, can he? While Disney+'s competitive pricing and free trials saw it soar to the top of the streaming service charts, could all of that be about to change thanks to a massive price hike?
Those of a certain age will remember when you used to sign in to Netflix and have physical DVDs sent in the post. Seeing the logistical nightmare of lost or broken discs, the company was inspired by the success of YouTube to offer a streaming service in 2007. The world changed that year, and in 2022, the likes of Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and Paramount+ are duking it out in this arena of entertainment death.
What Is The New Disney+ Subscription Cost?
Click to enlargeBecause of Disney's massive purchase of 20th Century Fox, it means it also owns Hulu - and arguably the largest streaming empire in the world. We knew we had it too good, and with Disney+ raking it in at the top of its game, it's about to add a few more coins to Scrooge McDuck's vault.
Apparently, the US cost of Disney+ will be $7.99 for the ad-filled version from December 8, while your standard package will now cost $10.99 - with an increase of $3 per month. Hulu is climbing from $6.99 to $7.99 for the ad version, but faces a jump from $12.99 to $14.99 for ad-free from October 10.
According to Variety, the 38% increase for your classic Disney+ will be renamed as Disney+ Premium... oh, how fancy. Earlier this year, Disney CFO Christine McCarthy said that the company expects most customers to follow in Hulu's footsteps and opt for the cheaper plan. With a cost of living crisis, we've got to agree. Well, if we can afford the electricity to run our TVs.
Will Disney+ Prices Rise In The UK?
Despite Disney+'s subscriber numbers sitting pretty at 152.1 million and adding 14 million in Q3, the combined services of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ have losses of $1.1 billion. The streaming family has edged ahead of Netflix's 220.74 million global users (boasting 221.1 million), but with massive operation losses, it explains why everyone is trying to claw back the cash.
You can bet your bottom dollar that this precedent set in the US will start to crawl across the global map of Disney's empire. The knock-on effect is that it will cost you more to watch MCU Phase 5 shows like Secret Invasion and Daredevil: Born Again than you did for Phase 4 outings like Loki. You'll also be paying more to tune in for The Mandalorian Season 3 than Season 2. Still, you get plenty of bang for your buck with Disney+, and with new releases like Lightyear and Prey already on there, it's well worth the dollar.