This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Disney only just reversed its widely decried decision to take Jimmy Kimmel off the air, but they're now giving fans a new reason to be furious. Starting on October 21, Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN's Select plan (formerly ESPN+), as well as most of the bundles, are all getting significant price raises. The notifications began rolling out to subscribers on Tuesday, confirming that the standalone Disney+ and Hulu plans with ads will each go up $2 to $11.99 per month, while the premium Disney+ plan will see a $3 increase to $18.99 per month and $189.99 per year. Hulu's premium offering and ESPN Unlimited will remain unchanged, while ESPN Select will see a $1 increase to $12.99 per month, with a yearly subscription cost of $129.99.
As for the bundles, the only one to escape unscathed is the Disney+ and Hulu Premium plan, which will stay at $19.99 a month. The ad-supported version of the bundle, meanwhile, will also see a $2 hike to $12.99, with the trio bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select getting a $3 bump across the board, landing at $19.99 with ads, $29.99 without, and $24.99 for legacy subscribers. Last but not least, the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max plan, which just launched last year, will be getting its first increase at a similar rate, jumping to $19.99 for ad-supported and $32.99 for ad-free. Over the past three years, October price hikes have become a yearly tradition, with significant raises also coming around the same time in 2023 and 2024.
The timing of this increase couldn't have been worse for the House of Mouse. After suspending Jimmy Kimmel Live! amid pressure from the FCC and indefinite preempting from television affiliates, Nexstar and Sinclair, over the host's comments about MAGA reactions to the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Disney faced fire from all sides for what many deemed a blatant attack on free speech. Stars who had worked for the company in the past called for boycotts and even vowed not to work with them until the decision was reversed. Things hit a fever pitch on Monday when a letter from the ACLU, signed by over 400 prominent figures from throughout the industry, including multiple MCU and Star Wars stars, was released condemning the suspension and slamming the Donald Trump administration for pushing for the removal of a longtime critic. Combined with collapsing stocks, it finally spurred Disney to reverse course and make a deal with Kimmel and his team after days of talks.