As if ads weren't enough, coming December 8, 2022, alongside their introduction of an ad-supported tier, Disney plus will increase the pricing of their ad-free or Disney+ Premium from $7.99 to $10.99 according to IGN.
Following the trend of monetizing streaming platforms, Disney+ joins the pack, Hulu, Pluto TV, Paramount, and most recently, Netflix, in offering ad-supported options to their subscribers. However, unlike its predecessors, who offered their ad service at a discounted price, Disney+ plans on replacing its current base tier with the ads tier, requiring members to pay an additional three dollars to continue streaming without ads. Due to the increase in pricing, many are suggesting current subscribers opt into the annual plan, as it locks in your current price point and saves users around thirty dollars.
Courtesy of WhatsOnDisneyPlus
Announced around the same time, seemingly as an incentive to keep subscriptions, Disney+ offers subscribers early access to exclusive merchandise for Disney+ shows and films. Ending November 8, subscribers have access to apparel, toys, collectibles, and other products from Star Wars, “Black Panther,” “Lightyear,” and “Frozen” before the general public. Some of the products include a $400 Ahsoka Tano lightsaber signed by voice actor Ashley Eckstein, $50 Ahsoka Tano special edition dolls, and a $375 lightsaber set featuring Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi hilts from “Revenge of the Sith.”
Compared to Netflix, the dominant market share holder within streaming, Disney+ prices aren't that exaggerated. Netflix offers four different tier options, each coming with its advantages, Netflix's lowest tier, ad-supported or basics with ads costs $6.99/month, Basic costs $9.99/month, Standard is $15.49/month, and Premium is $19.99/month. Disney+ offers two subscription plans starting December 8, their ad-supported tier is priced at $7.99/month and $10.99/month for Disney+ Premium. Universally, streaming platforms are collectively increasing in cost, demanding more of their subscribers for the same content, creeping closer to cable.
Now, the introduction of ads hasn't been an easy switch. Following Netflix's introduction, many big-name creatives, including Shonda Rhymes began expressing their concerns about ad disruption. Shonda Rhimes, a producer behind "Bridgerton,” and mastermind behind "Grey's Anatomy," "Scandal," and "How to Get Away with Murder," told Netflix they feel midroll advertising disrupts their storytelling. While Netflix executives claim they thoughtfully placed midroll advertising at intervals that make sense with each episode’s storyline, many corporations were drawn to them because of their absence of ads.
However, it's important to note that Disney owns all the content on its platform and doesn't have to argue with creatives revolving around ad placement like Netflix. Additionally, Disney and Netflix both target different audiences, so until December 8, there's no way to determine ads' effect on the platform.
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