Following a price hike in the fall of 2023, Disney has announced plans to increase the prices of its streaming services Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ in the United States once again. The changes are set to go into effect on October 17, 2024, and there may be adjustments in Taiwan as well.
According to Deadline, in recent years, all media companies have been regularly raising the prices of their streaming services to drive direct-to-consumer (DTC) rationalization and turn losses into profits. DTC refers to a business model in which companies sell products or services directly to consumers without any intermediaries or retailers. Disney has also announced that Disney+ will offer U.S. customers a continuous playlist, ABC News live, and a playlist tailored for pre-school children, with the latter two services scheduled to be available in September.
Reportedly, the subscription price for Disney+ with ads will increase from $7.99 to $9.99 per month, while the ad-free subscription price will rise from $13.99 to $15.99 per month. Hulu with ads will increase from $7.99 to $9.99 per month, and the ad-free subscription price will go up from $17.99 to $18.99 per month.
Additionally, the pricing for the Disney+ and Hulu Duo Basic package has increased by $1 to $10.99 per month, while the Duo Premium package remains at $19.99 per month. The ESPN+ package with ads has also increased by $1 to $11.99 per month. Hulu+ Live TV has increased from $76.99 to $82.99 per month, and the ad-free subscription price has risen from $89.99 to $95.99 per month.
Disney’s bundled service, the trio of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, will see a $2 price increase, with the basic plan reaching $16.99 per month and the premium plan at $26.99 per month.
As for Taiwan, Disney+ had last adjusted its prices in November to be in line with the U.S. The current pricing in Taiwan stands at $270 NT per month for the basic plan or $2,790 NT per year, while the premium plan costs $320 NT per month or $3,280 NT per year. Since the last adjustment will soon mark a year, there may be changes ahead.