Disney+ and Hulu subscribers could soon see a noticeable change to their monthly streaming bills.
Disney is reportedly preparing another round of price increases for its streaming services, and some of the changes could reach 13%. The reported increases would affect both Disney+ and Hulu, including their premium options without advertisements.
For longtime Disney+ subscribers, the latest numbers may be particularly difficult to ignore. Disney+ entered the streaming market as a relatively affordable service, but its premium tier could soon cost more than $20 every month.
And depending on which plan subscribers currently have, Disney may be making its bundle considerably more attractive in the process.
Disney+ Premium Could Reach $21.49
The biggest reported change involves Disney+ Premium.
The ad-free subscription currently costs $18.99 per month, but Disney reportedly plans to increase that price by $2.50. That would bring Disney+ Premium to $21.49 per month.
That works out to roughly a 13% increase.
While $2.50 might not sound dramatic when looking at a single month, subscribers who keep Disney+ Premium throughout the year would spend another $30 annually.
It also pushes Disney+ through an important pricing barrier. The premium version would officially cost more than $20 per month.
Disney+ has changed considerably from the streaming service that originally arrived with a much lower monthly price. Disney has expanded its streaming offerings while introducing different subscription tiers and bundles.
Now, customers have more options, but those options can also come with considerably higher prices.
Hulu Could Receive the Same 13% Increase
Hulu subscribers aren’t expected to escape the increases either.
Hulu Premium is reportedly increasing to $21.49 per month, meaning its ad-free plan would carry the exact same monthly price as Disney+ Premium.
That could make subscribing to either service individually a harder choice.
The reason is Disney’s bundle.
The Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Premium is reportedly going from its current price to $21.99 per month. In other words, subscribers could potentially receive both Disney+ and Hulu without advertisements for only 50 cents more than the reported price of either service individually.
That creates a significant difference in value.
A subscriber considering Disney+ Premium at $21.49 might look at the $21.99 bundle and decide that adding Hulu for another 50 cents makes considerably more sense.
The same would apply to someone primarily interested in Hulu.
Disney’s pricing could therefore make the bundle an increasingly important part of its streaming strategy.
More Streaming Plans Could Increase
The premium plans aren’t necessarily the only subscriptions that could change.
Other Disney bundles and plans that include advertisements are also expected to receive similar increases, although specific prices for those options weren’t included in the original report.
Those prices will be important for customers who want to keep Disney+ or Hulu without paying more than $20 every month.
Advertising-supported plans have given subscribers a less expensive way to access streaming content. If Disney increases those prices as well, customers may need to compare their options again.
For some subscribers, advertisements may be a reasonable tradeoff for a lower monthly bill.
Others may prefer paying more to watch without interruptions.
Either way, another round of increases means it may be worth checking exactly which subscription you’re paying for.
Disney+ Continues Moving Toward Its Streaming Competitors
Disney’s reported increase also brings Disney+ closer to some of its more expensive competitors.
Netflix’s ad-free 4K tier is priced at $26.99 per month. Disney+ Premium would remain cheaper at the reported $21.49 price, but Disney’s service continues moving closer to that level.
That’s quite a change from the early years of Disney+.
A lower price helped make Disney+ an easy addition for households already paying for other entertainment services. Disney also had a massive catalog of recognizable properties, including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.
As prices continue climbing, subscribers may become more selective.
Instead of keeping Disney+ active throughout the entire year, some people could choose to subscribe when there’s something they specifically want to watch and cancel afterward.
That’s one advantage streaming still offers.
Consumers can decide which platforms they want and when they want them.
Another Decision Is Coming for Disney Subscribers
If the reported changes happen, Disney+ Premium and Hulu Premium would each cost $21.49 per month, while the Disney+ and Hulu Premium bundle would cost $21.99.
Those numbers make the bundle particularly interesting.
For only 50 cents more than either individual premium subscription, customers could gain access to both platforms.
But even with that bundle option, the larger trend is clear: Disney streaming is becoming more expensive.
With households potentially paying for several streaming services at once, every increase adds another expense.
Disney+ and Hulu subscribers will ultimately have to decide whether their current plans still make sense.
And if Disney moves ahead with increases of up to 13%, checking that monthly streaming bill may suddenly become much more important.
