Disney+ Announces Plans For A More Affordable Subscription Option
By Movieguide® Contributor
Disney+ has just announced they’ll be experimenting with a cheaper, ad-supported subscription option sometime later this year.
The company hasn’t said just how much cheaper it will be compared to the standard, $7.99-a-month plan that’s available now.
Many streaming services have been experimenting with cheaper subscription options recently. HBO Max introduced a $10-a-month plan, with commercials and no access to 4k content taking $5 off the standard plan.
Peacock offers multiple subscription tiers with a limited amount of their content for free, with commercial breaks. For $4.99 per month, users get access to the full library with commercials. $5 more and users don’t have to deal with ads.
Hulu also offers a cheaper subscription option for people willing to watch ads, and Disney, who owns the service, is following their lead.
The new, more affordable plan comes after news that subscriptions for Disney+ have slowed over the past few months. The company is aiming to have 230 million subscribers by 2024, and it’s clear they’re hoping this new payment plan will push them past their current subscription count of 129.8 million.
Movieguide® previously reported on Disney’s streaming numbers:
Disney+ rocketed to 100 million subscribers from Nov. 2019 to March 2021. However, Wall Street analysts say the streaming platform’s numbers in 2021 could mean a slower climb than anticipated.
The company reported 8.7 million Disney+ subscribers over the first three months of 2021, nearly 6 million fewer than Wall Street predicted.
Research analysis firms like Digital TV had previously expected Disney+ to surpass Netflix in total subscribers by 2026. Although Morgan Stanley analyst Ben Swinburne “remains confident” that Disney’s forecast of 230 million to 260 million subscribers by the end of fiscal 2024, the curve could appear more gradual than previous estimates.
“It was clear at Disney’s December 2020 investor day that the content quantity would be more modest in F21 given COVID’s impact on production,” Swinburne wrote. “The key titles and quantity of key titles really begin in F22 in earnest, building further into F23.”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
