Terrible Timing for Disney to Raise Prices

Disney is set to raise monthly fees for Disney+ as well as several Hulu and ESPN Select subscriptions in October — a move that arrives days after some customers reported canceling their service in protest over the company’s handling of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. (See coverage of cancellations.) Read more here.

According to Disney’s support page, the new U.S. pricing takes effect beginning Oct. 21:

• Disney+ (with ads) — $11.99/month (previously $9.99)
• Disney+ Premium (no ads) — $18.99/month (previously $15.99); $189.99/year (previously $159.99)
• Disney+, Hulu bundle (with ads) — $12.99/month (previously $10.99)
• Disney+, Hulu Premium bundle (no ads) — $19.99/month (no change)
• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select bundle (with ads) — $19.99/month (previously $16.99)
• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Premium bundle — $29.99/month (previously $26.99)
• Disney+ Premium, Hulu, ESPN Select (legacy) — $24.99/month (previously $21.99)
• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max bundle (with ads) — $19.99/month (previously $16.99)
• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max bundle (no ads) — $32.99/month (previously $29.99)

Bundles that include Hulu + Live TV and Disney+ (with ESPN Select) will also see higher rates:

• Hulu + Live TV (with SVOD ads) + Disney+ + ESPN Select — $89.99/month (previously $82.99)
• Hulu + Live TV (no SVOD ads) + Disney+ Premium + ESPN Select — $99.99/month (previously $95.99)

This upcoming increase marks Disney+’s third price adjustment in roughly three years. Disney originally launched the streaming service in 2020 at $69.99 per year or $6.99 per month, and the service last raised prices in October 2024. Background on Disney+ launch.

Reports indicated that some subscribers canceled their Disney+ memberships after the company temporarily pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live!. On Sept. 17, Disney — which owns ABC — announced the show would be taken off the air indefinitely after host Jimmy Kimmel’s on-air remarks referencing “the MAGA gang” and mocking former president Donald Trump in connection with the suspected shooter of activist Charlie Kirk drew criticism and pressure from FCC chair Brendan Carr and other officials. Disney’s cancellation help page.

The decision prompted swift backlash, including calls for a reversal and organized boycotts in response to Disney’s initial silence. Disney later said Jimmy Kimmel Live! would return the following day, though some ABC affiliates owned by Nexstar and Sinclair have stated they will not air the episode.

Source: Polygon