Customers slam Disney for price hike on streaming services taking effect in weeks saying it’s ‘time to cancel’
Taking into account the waves of dissatisfied voices, Disney has decided to increase prices on its streaming platform.
The entertainment giant finds itself in a balancing act between providing premium content and managing subscription costs.
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The increased prices highlight the evolving digital entertainment landscape and the challenges of providing a wide range of content in an increasingly crowded streaming market.
This also comes as the brand navigates a writers’ strike, an actors’ strike and ongoing negotiations with cable networks.
Disney has informed customers that streaming prices for some plans will change on October 12, 2023.
The cheapest option remains the same – customers can get a Disney+ and Hulu subscription for $9.99.
The under $10 option results in viewers seeing advertisements.
Customers pay $19.99 for an ad-free premium subscription to both streaming networks – this price also remains unchanged.
Three other Disney, Hulu and ESPN options will change their pricing numbers in mid-October.
PRICE CHANGES
Here are the pricing changes expected to roll out in October:
- Disney Bundle Trio Basic: includes ad-supported Disney+, Hulu and ESPN for $14.99 per month (was $12.99)
- Disney Bundle Trio Premium: includes Disney+ without ads, Hulu without ads, and ESPN with ads for $24.99 per month (was $19.99)
- Legacy Disney Bundle: includes Disney+ without commercials, Hulu with commercials, and ESPN with commercials for $18.99 (was $14.99)
Disney CEO Bob Iger said in an earnings call this year that the company needed to increase streaming prices to increase streaming profitability.
Iger said prices need to rise “to better reflect the value of our content offerings.”
The company also said it does not currently offer free trial subscriptions.
Subscriptions are only available to US residents and the purchaser must be over 18 years of age.
Customers took to social media to criticize the increased prices.
CUSTOMER REVIEW
The move to increase prices angered customers on X (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter).
“Hulu Live just announced another price increase. There should be a limit to how many price increases you can do per year,” one customer wrote.
“Your content definitely isn’t going to increase in the next few months, so what’s the extra money for?”
Another customer added: “Streaming competition and streaming prices have become so ridiculous that cutting/leaving the cord doesn’t make as much sense as it once did.”
“[I’m] I’m thinking about switching back to cable.
The US Sun reports on other streaming prices – here is a full list of prices for other streaming services.
We also reported on the previous Disney Plus price increase.