The Walt Disney Company has announced price increases for its streaming services, including Disney+, Hulu and ESPN, just days after it faced a backlash over the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show on ABC.
From 21 October, the cost of a Disney+ and Hulu package will rise from $10.99 to $12.99, while an ad-free plan with both services remains at $19.99. Plans including Disney+, Hulu and ESPN with ads will increase from $16.99 to $19.99, according to Disney's website.
Consumers have been vocally critical of Disney's handling of Kimmel, with many cancelling their subscriptions to Disney+ and bundles with Hulu and ESPN. However, a company spokesperson told Bloomberg that the price rises were planned for months and are unrelated to the Kimmel controversy.
Kimmel was suspended on 17 September after comments about the death of Charlie Kirk. Nexstar Media Group, which owns 28 ABC affiliates, had already pulled the show, calling Kimmel's remarks 'offensive and insensitive'. The New York Times reported that the 'cancel Disney+' campaign caused more subscriber churn than similar boycotts of Netflix.
This marks the fourth consecutive year Disney+ has raised its prices since launching in 2019, following similar moves by Netflix and Peacock earlier this year.
