Disney announced today that Disney+, the streaming platform that offers Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic content, will soon switch from one flat rate to multitiered pricing. What does this mean for current subscribers? Will Disney+ now have ads? What will the new prices be?
Since its debut in November 2019, Disney+ has become a behemoth among the various streaming platforms available. It collects, all in one place, the sprawling catalog of films produced by Disney and its subsidiaries, including dozens of Disney animated films, the complete Marvel Cinematic Universe, all of Pixar’s offerings, and more. It also hosts a variety of hit original series like WandaVision, Loki, The Mandalorian, and The Book of Boba Fett.
So what does the new price tiering system mean for those of us who have become dependent on Disney+ for our massive daily doses of geek content? Here’s what we know so far!
New Ad-Supported Tier Coming Soon
Starting later this year, Disney+ will follow Hulu and HBO Max’s pricing model in offering a cheaper, ad-supported tier in addition to its ad-free pricing. From what we currently know, the current ad-free pricing of $7.99 a month or $79.99 a year will stay the same, and the ad-supported tier will be cheaper, though there’s no exact pricing yet.
Of the pricing change, Kareem Daniel, Chairman of Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, said in a press release that “Expanding access to Disney+ to a broader audience at a lower price point is a win for everyone – consumers, advertisers, and our storytellers.”
So if you’re a current Disney+ subscriber, don’t panic! It looks like Encanto won’t suddenly start getting interrupted by a thousand ads anytime soon. And if you’ve been on the fence about subscribing, a cheaper, ad-supported option might be a good way for you to test the service out.
(image: Disney)
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