Disney+ Announces Price Hikes, Launch Date for Ad-Supported Plan

Big changes are coming to Disney+. In addition to setting the pricing and U.S. launch date for its ad-supported plan, Disney+ will be hiking rates for its ad-free tier and raising prices for Hulu and Disney Bundle options.

Disney+ Basic, the company's new, ad-supported plan, will launch on December 8 for $7.99 per month (there is no annual option), the price of the current ad-free version of Disney+. In December, the ad-free plan will be rebranded as Disney+ Premium, with prices increasing to $10.99 per month or $109.99 annually.

According to Disney, Disney+ Basic will include the same content as the ad-free version.

Disney+ Basic customers will see about four minutes of ads per hour, beginning with 15- and 30-second ad spots, and expanding over time. There will be no political or alcohol ads.

Elsewhere in the Disney streaming-verse, Hulu's ad-supported plan will increase from $6.99 to $7.99 per month, or $79.99 annually, on October 10. The ad-free Hulu will increase from $12.99 to $14.99 per month with no annual option.

The Disney Bundle — which includes Hulu with ads, Disney+ with no ads, and ESPN+ — will go from $13.99 to $14.99 per month, but only for existing subscribers. The premium version of the Bundle, which includes all three services with no ads, will remain $19.99 per month.

Other Basic Bundle plans include Disney+ with ads and Hulu with ads at $9.99 per month; or Disney+ with ads, Hulu with ads, and ESPN+ with ads at $12.99 per month.

ESPN+ alone will also increase its pricing from $6.99 to $9.99 per month, or $99.99 annually, on August 23.

Deena ElGenaidi's writing has been featured in Nylon, MTV News, Insider, The AV Club, and more. You can follow her on Twitter @deenaelg.