Disney+ has officially launched their ad-supported plan. This represents the first time the streaming service has included advertising on its platform.
Here we’ve compiled everything you need to about the changes to Disney+.
This post was updated on December 9, 2022 to reflect more information on the compatibility of the Disney+ Basic plan with Roku devices and the Microfsoft Windows Desktop app.
What is the New Pricing Structure?
There are two plans on Disney+ now. Both include the same library of movies and shows. They are:
- Disney+ Basic: Includes advertising. $7.99/month.
- Disney+ Premium: Removes advertising. $10.99/month or $109.99/year. Also includes the option to download Disney+ content for offline viewing.
As for the new Disney bundle, here are the new plans:
- Disney Bundle Duo Basic: $9.99/month. Includes Disney+ (With Ads) and Hulu (With Ads). Does NOT include ESPN+.
- Disney Bundle Trio Basic: $12.99/month. Includes Disney+ (With Ads), Hulu (With Ads), and ESPN+ (With Ads).
- Disney Bundle Trio Premium: $19.99/month. Includes Disney+ (No Ads), Hulu (No Ads), and ESPN+ (With Ads).
Additionally, Hulu subscribers can add Disney+ (With Ads) to their subscription for $2.00/month.
I'm Already a Disney+ Subscriber. What Now?
Current subscribers will continue with Disney+ (No Ads) unless they switch to Disney+ Basic. Their pricing will go up from $7.99/month to $10.99/month with the first billing date on or after December 8, 2022.
Research from Kantar suggests that as many as 1 in 4 current subscribers will opt to go with the lower priced, ad-supported plan.
Subscribers to the current Disney Bundle plan that includes Disney+ (No Ads), Hulu (With Ads), and ESPN+ (With Ads) will see their subscription price go up from $13.99/month to $14.99/month on their first billing date on or after December 8th. This plan will no longer be available to new customers.
What Can We Expect from Ads on Disney+?
Ads will display before and during shows and movies with the Disney+ Basic plan.
Some content will not include ads, even on the Basic plan. That includes anything viewed under a Kids Profile, any Disney Junior content, or anything rated TV-Y, TV-Y7, or TV-Y7-FV.
Disney has previously indicated that they will display no more than four minutes of ads per hour, putting it on par with HBO Max but with fewer ads than Peacock or Hulu. If you’re over the age of 18, some ads may be personalized based on who is watching, where you’re located, and other factors.
Short promos for Disney+ shows and movies may appear for subscribers on any Disney+ plan as can ads during live broadcasts.
An Important Note for Roku Users
The Disney+ Basic plan is NOT available to watch on Roku devices or on the Microsoft Windows Desktop app. As reported by Next TV, Disney is still negotiating an ad-revenue sharing deal with Roku that is “fair and advantageous to both parties.”
For now Disney+ subscribers with the Basic plan who want to watch the streaming service on a Roku device or the Microsoft Windows app will need to switch plans to Premium.
This mirrors a similar issue to Netflix’s recently-launched Basic w/ Ads plan, which is not currently supported on Apple TV devices.
