Disney is getting ready to increase the prices on most of its streamers this fall, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. These latest price increases for Disney+ and Hulu seem designed to incentivize consumers to switch to the Disney+ and Hulu ad-supported bundle (also known as The Disney Bundle). And while that might be the case, seeing the millionth price hike is probably incredibly tiring for consumers. It was just this time last year that Disney announced its last series of price hikes. But last time, price increases only impacted ad-free tiers. This time, no tier is safe. Will streaming prices ever stop rising? It doesn’t seem likely. But how much is the cost of Disney+, Hulu, and more changing this time around? Here’s the breakdown.
How Much Will the Price of Disney+ and More Increase in the Fall of 2024?
Disney+’s Price Increase
Here’s where we stand on the price increase front. Disney+’s ad-supported tier will increase by $2 a month; it will go from $7.99 a month to $9.99 a month. Disney+’s ad-free tier will also increase by $2 a month, going from $13.99 to $15.99.
Hulu’s Price Increases
On the Hulu front, Hulu’s ad-supported tier will also go from $7.99 to $9.99 per month, increasing my $2. Hulu’s ad-free plan will increase in cost by $1 per month, going from $17.99 per month to $18.99 per month.
The Disney Bundle Price Increases
The Disney Bundle Basic Duo, which features Disney+ and Hulu’s ad-supported tiers, will increase by $1 per month and cost $10.99 per month. After this last increase, Disney+ will cost $9.99 per month, so paying one more dollar for an additional streamer now feels sensible. Of course, the shifting streaming prices have been designed to make it so. It seems streamers want to push their consumers to ad-supported options now more than ever.
The only plan that will not see an increase in price is The Disney Bundle Duo Premium or ad-free option. It will remain $19.99.
The Disney Bundle “trio” option will also increase in price. The trio includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Consumers will see a price hike of $2 on both the basic and premium versions of the plan; they’ll land at $16.99 and $26.99 a month, respectively.
Other Price Increases
ESPN+ will also see a $1 price increase, going from $10.99 per month to $11.99 per month. Hulu with Live TV will see a $6 price hike per month, landing it at $82.99 (phew) for the version that includes ad-supported tiers of Disney+ and Hulu and $95.99 (phew!) for the version with ad-free tiers.
When Will the Disney+ and Hulu Price Hikes Go Into Effect?
These latest price increases for Disney+, Hulu, and more will begin on October 17.
Will Disney Consumers Get Any Additional Streaming Benefits to Offset Price Increases?
To help account for these price hikes, Disney is adding a new feature: continuous playlists. The playlists function basically like TV channels. They play continuous offerings that a user can simply tune into without having to make decisions about what exactly to watch. First up are two continuous playlists, one for ABC News Live and one for preschool content.
Disney+’s president Alisa Bowen shares, “Playlists are the latest example of how we’re providing the best value and experience for our subscribers every time they open Disney+. Whether it’s news, kids’ content, popular genres, hit TV shows, or blockbuster films, there will be something for everyone in a lean-back viewing experience based on seasonality and interest.”
The first two channels mentioned above will go live on September 4. Later in the fall, four more playlists will join them, and these will be refreshed monthly. They include playlists for seasonal content, retro and nostalgic throwbacks, real-life programming that involves documentaries, biopics, and more, and “epic stories” from Star Wars, Disney, and Marvel IP. These will only be available for Premium subscribers.