Disney+ is rolling out a significant price restructuring for its UK subscribers, marking the most substantial increase since the streaming service launched in the country. The changes, which take effect for new members immediately and for existing customers from their next billing cycle, will see monthly costs rise by up to £3.
Breaking Down the New Disney+ Pricing Tiers
The new pricing model introduces a clear distinction between service levels:
- Standard with Ads: This new entry-level tier will cost £4.99 per month, offering a lower-cost alternative but with commercial interruptions.
- Standard: The ad-free standard subscription is jumping from £7.99 to £10.99 per month—a £3 increase.
- Premium: The premium tier, which includes 4K Ultra HD streaming and additional simultaneous streams, will now cost £10.99 per month, down from its previous price of £10.99, effectively aligning it with the standard ad-free plan.
What This Means for Existing Subscribers
Current subscribers will be automatically moved to the new pricing structure on their next renewal date. Those on the legacy premium plan will see their monthly fee decrease slightly, while standard plan users face the full brunt of the increase. The introduction of the ad-supported tier provides a budget-friendly option for viewers willing to tolerate advertisements.
The Bigger Picture for Streaming in the UK
This move by Disney follows similar price adjustments from other streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, as the industry grapples with rising content production costs and seeks paths to profitability. The strategy of introducing ad-supported options has become increasingly common as platforms attempt to balance subscriber growth with revenue generation.
For UK households already managing multiple streaming subscriptions, this price hike may force difficult decisions about which services to retain as the cost of entertainment continues to climb.
