Disney Increases Prices for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ Subscription Services

Disney has announced price hikes for its streaming services, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Starting October 17, U.S. subscribers will face increased monthly fees amid a challenging environment for media companies dealing with shifting consumer behavior, rising operational costs, and regulatory scrutiny.

For Disney+, the ad-supported plan will rise from $7.99 to $9.99, while the ad-free plan will increase from $13.99 to $15.99. Hulu’s ad-supported plan will also jump from $7.99 to $9.99, and the ad-free plan will go up by one dollar to $18.99. ESPN+, Disney’s sports streaming service, will see a $1 increase to $11.99 per month.

Along with the price increases, Disney+ will introduce new features, including access to ABC News Live and a continuous playlist of content for preschool-aged children, ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election.

This latest round of price hikes follows previous increases aimed at making Disney’s streaming services profitable. Despite the financial challenges, Disney’s direct-to-consumer business, which includes Disney+ and Hulu, managed to turn a profit for the first time in May.