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Disney+ with ads launches December 8; Hulu raises prices

Phil Nickinson
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The ad-supported version of Disney+ will launch in the United States on December 8, 2022, the company announced today along with its earnings for the third fiscal quarter. The monthly subscription fee will cost $8 — that’s $3 cheaper than the “Premium” subscription, which runs $11 a month or $110 annually.

Disney+ on a TV.
Phil Nickinson/Digital Trends

The ad-supported plan also will be available as part of the Disney Bundle, which gives subscribers access to Hulu and ESPN+. There’s a new skinny Disney Bundle, however. Here’s how that breaks down:

  • Disney+ and Hulu, with ads: $10 a month
  • Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, with ads: $13 a month
  • Disney+ and Hulu, without ads, and ESPN+ (which still has ads): $20 a month
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The legacy version of the Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+ without ads, Hulu with ads, and ESPN+, remains $15 a month for existing subscribers.

“With our new ad-supported Disney+ offering and an expanded lineup of plans across our entire streaming portfolio, we will be providing greater consumer choice at a variety of price points to cater to the diverse needs of our viewers and appeal to an even broader audience,” said Kareem Daniel, Chairman, Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution. “Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ feature unparalleled content and viewing experiences and offer the best value in streaming today, with over 100,000 movie titles, TV episodes, original shows, sports and live events collectively.”

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Disney also announced that the cost of Hulu is going up, starting on October 10, 2022. It’ll cost $8 a month with advertising on the on-demand content, or $80 annually. If you want to get rid of most ads, it’ll cost you $15 a month. (There’s no annual option there.) ESPN+, as previously announced will cost $10 a month or $100 a year starting August 23.

Upcoming price increases notwithstanding, the trifecta of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ remains a strong go-to for consumers. Disney+ increased its subscriber base to 152.1 million worldwide, with 44.5 million coming from the United States and Canada alone. Hulu’s on-demand service added about 800,000 subscribers for the quarter to hit 42.2 million, with another 4 million subscribed to Hulu With Live TV. (It no longer is the largest live TV streaming service in the United States, however, having ceded that ground to YouTube TV.) ESPN+ added a half-million subscribers for the quarter to end at 22.8 million.

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Phil Nickinson
Phil Nickinson
Section Editor, Audio/Video
Phil spent the 2000s making newspapers with the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, the 2010s with Android Central and then the…
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