Subscribers Enraged as Disney Reminds Them of Streaming Price Hike

Back in early August, The Walt Disney Company hosted its third-quarter earnings call. During the call, Disney CEO Bob Iger spoke about the issues surrounding the company and its streaming platforms. Disney+ has been around since 2019 and has cost Disney billions of dollars, and its subscriber numbers continue to decrease. But Disney+ is not the only streaming platform in The Walt Disney family. Disney also owns 67% of the popular platform Hulu, and will most likely soon own all of it.

To help try to increase profits from both Disney+ and Hulu, Disney has been canceling shows left and right and also announced that price increases will be coming to both platforms.

On October 12, Hulu + Live TV plans will increase by $7 each month. That is a whopping 20% price jump. Disney+ will increase even more — by 27% — for the ad-free tier. The ad-supported tier of Disney+ will remain at the same price of $7.99 per month.

Recently, Disney sent out emails to Hulu subscribers, reminding them that the price increase will be implemented in just about one month. And, let’s just say, fans were not happy. In fact, they were downright angry.

When the reminder email went out, subscribers started to vent about all the issues surrounding Disney and Hulu, complaining that prices shouldn’t increase when the value and quality were not.

@hulu_support Please explain to me how you can justify price hikes with this garbage going on while watching most shows. pic.twitter.com/Jb11VbxAwc

— tony (@TonyCaminada) September 14, 2023

 

Others were incensed that Disney was raising the price, while at the same time, cutting content.

Hold the phone. I just got a notification about a Disney/Hulu price increase. MF the industry is on strike. We will barely get new content and you a**holes want to raise prices. Honestly f**k you @Disney @hulu

Hold the phone. I just got a notification about a Disney/Hulu price increase. MF the industry is on strike. We will barely get new content and you assholes want to raise prices. Honestly fuck you @Disney @hulu

— FormulAlyse (@FormulAlyse) September 7, 2023

Then there’s the WGA and SAG strikes. Very little content is being created. The studios — including Disney — are getting a ton of backlash for not paying actors and writers what they are worth. A number of subscribers were disgusted that Disney is “refusing” to pay its writers and actors and then telling subscribers that they have to pay more.

This @hulu price increase means I’ll be watching The Bear again before October when I cancel service. Increased pricing during a strike you caused is beyond shi**y. Pay your writers and actors or I will no longer pay you.

This @hulu price increase means I’ll be watching The Bear again before October when I cancel service. Increased pricing during a strike you caused is beyond shitty. Pay your writers and actors or I will no longer pay you. https://t.co/BoqG7M3jxr

— Jen White (@jenwhitedop) September 8, 2023

Price Increases Across the Board

On October 12, nearly every major Disney streaming service will see a price increase. Here’s what changes are coming.

• Disney+ Premium (no ads) – $10.99/month to $13.99/month
• ESPN+ – $9.99/month to $10.99/month
• Hulu without ads – $14.99/month to $17.99/month
• Hulu + Live TV (with ads) – $69.99/month to $76.99/month
• Hulu + Live TV (no ads VOD) – $82.99/month, to $89.99/month

The ad-supported tiers of both Disney+ and Hulu will remain at $7.99 per month. The Disney+ and Hulu bundle will also remain steady at $9.99 per month.

Cancellations Abound

Most recently, Disney has been getting called out for the number of show cancellations taking place at Disney+. In the span of less than one year, Disney has canceled more than half a dozen series.

So far, Disney has canceled Doogie Kamealoha M.D., Willow, National Treasure: Edge of History, Big Shot, Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, Turner & Hooch, Diary of a Future President, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, and The Mysterious Benedict Society. Disney also canceled two series that have been filmed but have not aired — The Spiderwick Chronicles and Nautilus.

However, Disney+ isn’t the only Disney streamer seeing massive cancellations. Hulu has also had a string of cancellations, including The Great, Love Victor, How I Met Your Father, Kindred, and Reboot.

With the Disney+ purge and Hulu cancellation waves, subscribers feel Disney has no right to ask for more money.