Disney raises streaming prices amid Jimmy Kimmel backlash
Disney is making headlines this week not just because of Jimmy Kimmel’s return but also because it announced it is raising its streaming prices. The company announced Tuesday that starting Oct. 21, Disney+, Hulu and ESPN plans will all cost more.
The new prices, according to Culture Crave, are more than double what prices were at six years ago. The price change is also the fifth increase since Disney+ launched.
The new prices
Disney+ has numerous packages. You can purchase the sole streaming service, bundle it with Hulu, or bundle it with Hulu and ESPN+.
The basic Disney+ plan will increase from $9.99 to $11.99 a month, and the ad-free version will increase to $18.99 per month.
The Disney+ bundle with Hulu will cost an extra $2, rising to $12.99 a month for the base plan and $19.99 a month for ad-free.
If you’re looking to bundle Disney+, Hulu and ESPN, the price will increase from $16.99 to $19.99 with ads, and from $26.99 to $29.99 a month without ads.
Company controversy
Millions of subscribers canceled their Disney+ plans in protest after ABC — owned by Disney — suspended Kimmel’s show last week. The cancellation came after Kimmel made remarks about right-wing reactions to Charlie Kirk’s death that some people claimed were controversial.
The cancellation sparked protests outside of Kimmel’s studio and ABC offices, and also prompted both Democrats and some Republicans in Congress to issue statements in support of First Amendment rights.
Kimmel was off the show for a week before ABC reversed course on Monday. He returned to the air on Tuesday, where he addressed his dismissal and Trump’s comments following the cancellation.
Kimmel even poked fun at Disney, joking that he agreed to read a statement for them upon his return to the show. He proceeded to pull out a folded-up piece of paper and began reading the directions for how a user could resubscribe to the network.
While the joke was all fun and games, Kimmel followed it up with gratitude toward the company for letting him continue to have a platform on ABC.
Even with Kimmel’s return, the subscription boycott showed how quickly viewers can walk away.
The company said the price hike aligns them with competitors like Netflix and Apple, which have both raised prices in the last year.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
