Disney+ subscribers will have to pay more starting October
Disney has announced a series of price increases for its streaming services, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN. Starting from October 17, subscribers will see a rise in the cost of both monthly and annual plans. The monthly subscription for Disney+ with ads will increase from $8 to $10, while the ad-free tier will go up from $14 to $16. The annual ad-free plan will also see a jump from $140 to $160.
Hulu and ESPN+ to follow suit
Hulu's ad-supported tier is set to rise from $8 per month and $80 per year to $10 per month and $100 per year, respectively. The monthly ad-free plan for Hulu will also increase from $18 to $19. The current plans of ESPN+ priced at $11 per month and $110 per year, will now cost subscribers $12 per month and $120 per year. Disney's basic and premium streaming bundles are also set to become more expensive starting later this year.
New features for Disney+ subscribers
Disney+ is also introducing new features for its subscribers. Starting September 4, subscribers will have access to ABC News Live and a series of curated playlists featuring content from across the company's portfolio. The first playlist, designed for preschool-aged audiences, is set to launch on the service soon, offering a fresh array of content options for viewers.
Plans to launch additional playlist categories
Disney has planned to launch four additional categories of playlists in the near future. These include Seasonal, Epic Stories (featuring Marvel and Star Wars content), Throwbacks (featuring older shows and films), and Real Life (documentaries). This move aligns with past reports of Disney's interest in offering subscribers a simple way of finding things to watch, further enhancing the user experience.