Disney Plus Announces Password-Sharing Crackdown and Price Increase (similar to Netflix )
Remember when streaming services were uncomplicated? Not us either – and they may soon get more complex as Disney Plus implements new rules to prevent password sharing as well as increase prices.
Disney Plus viewers were hit hard this morning when Netflix-esque restrictions on sharing passwords with others took effect, which means the terms and conditions may also change; though these details have yet to be finalised.
Sorry, but your video player failed to load. (Error Code: 101102). According to The Verge report from 9 August 2023, Disney CEO, Bob Iger announced they are actively exploring ways to combat account sharing before adding that Disney Plus “will begin updating our subscriber agreements with additional terms and our sharing policies”, although no dates or timeline were given at that point.
When asked by journalists how many subscribers abuse the system by password sharing, Iger did not give an exact figure but rather stated that “significant issues exist”, promising they’ll “get at this issue come 2024”.
Not to leave anything too unclear, Iger stated “it may take longer for this work to be completed than we anticipate; but we certainly consider this an area of key priority to help expand the business”.
Though details regarding password-sharing restrictions remain murky, we can provide information regarding price increases that might affect subscribers to ad-free versions of Disney Plus (and Hulu). These increases will only impact subscribers who choose those subscriptions over those featuring ads.
By 12 October 2023, an ad-free subscription for Disney Plus will cost $13.99 while Hulu will increase to $17.99; those streaming both services might consider opting for the Disney Duo Premium Bundle at just $19.99 monthly – though this option won’t become live until 6 September 2023.
Here’s an outline of pricing changes scheduled in the US:
Disney must avoid repeating what Netflix experienced this July 2023 – wherein its value dropped $18 billion dramatically due to price hikes and password-sharing lockdowns (though their unpopularity cannot be denied).
If you still use Disney Plus with ads, your price per month remains at $7.99 – something many can take comfort in until terms and conditions change in our favor.
