While the news that certain Hulu and Disney+ plans will be raising in price was announced by Disney CEO Bob Iger during last month’s earnings call, many subscribers are now just finding out due to a notification from Hulu – and a lot of them are pissed.
As previously announced, starting on Oct. 12, Disney+’s ad-free price will increase from $10.99/month to $13.99/month, with Hulu’s ad-free plan jumping from $14.99/month to $17.99/month. The ad-supported tiers of Hulu and Disney+, which are both priced at $7.99/month, will stay the same for now.
Hulu’s Live TV plan is increasing in price as well, with the ad-supported plan going from $69.99/month to $76.99/month, and the ad-free plan going from $82.99/month to $89.99/month.
Hulu gave fans a heads up last night and this morning with both an email to subscribers and a notification that appeared when opening the app.
Given that this is the first many are hearing of the Hulu hike in particular, it didn’t take long for subscribers to take to social media to air their grievances, especially as the now months-long WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes continue.
Hulu Live just announced another price increase. There should be a limit on how many price increases you can do a year. Wtf. Your content will definitely not be increasing in the next few months, so what's the extra money for? A bonus for the CEO?
— Myles Warden (@ReallyMighty) September 7, 2023
I just got an email that Hulu is increasing their price to $18 damn dollars a month pic.twitter.com/ckPJBTcJN7
— Bob Loblaw (@Cinnamon_Stix) September 8, 2023
Hey @hulu, pretty casual email for a price change from $72 to $90 per month when the “resume watching” feature still has a 5% hit rate. @YouTubeTV you see this sh*t? How much are you charging nowadays? pic.twitter.com/xR9LH8m9NZ
— Czario (@Czario) September 7, 2023
This @hulu price increase means I’ll be watching The Bear again before October when I cancel service. Increased pricing during a strike you caused is beyond shitty. Pay your writers and actors or I will no longer pay you. https://t.co/BoqG7M3jxr
— Jen White (@jenwhitedop) September 8, 2023
Streaming services raising prices while refusing to pay writers and actors is wild.
— Rod (@rodimusprime) September 8, 2023
It also doesn’t help that this isn’t even the first time recently that the two Disney-owned streaming platforms have raised in price. In 2022, Hulu’s ad-free plan went from $12.99/month to $14.99/month. Disney+, meanwhile, has seen its prices raise twice in the past year, with it going up from $7.99/month last December. That means that, starting in October, Disney+’s ad-free plan will cost nearly double than what it did a year ago.
Hold the phone. I just got a notification about a Disney/Hulu price increase. MF the industry is on strike. We will barely get new content and you assholes want to raise prices. Honestly fuck you @Disney @hulu
— FormulAlyse (@FormulAlyse) September 7, 2023
This is the 3rd time Hulu’s price goes up since the beginning on the pandemic. From $9.99 to $14.99 and now $17.99…. I’m definitely cancelling my subscription. That’s unnecessary AF.
— GoodVibes. ??♀️ (@racheLcorinex3) September 8, 2023
With all due respect @hulu, YALL ARE BUGGIN OUT, didnt y’all jst increase the price at the beginning of the year??? pic.twitter.com/YG7Af1HnLw
— IM THE BIG BAD BOOTY DADDY. ??? (@GOD_B0DY) September 7, 2023
To be clear, Hulu and Disney+ aren’t the only streaming services that have raised in price. Netflix has seen several price increases over the past couple of years while also cracking down on password sharing (something Iger said Disney+ also intends to start doing next year), and Max announced its first-ever price hike at the beginning of the year. Paramount+, Apple TV+, and Peacock have also seen price increases.
While cord-cutting has broken through over the last decade as a way to keep up with all the latest movies and TV shows without paying a potentially hefty monthly fee for cable, the raising prices no doubt have raised alarm bells in many consumers’ minds.
streaming competition and streaming prices have gotten so ridiculous that cord-cutting/leaving cable doesn’t make as much sense as it once did. considering going back to cable ?♂️
— hambone (@PHXTurtle) September 7, 2023
The streaming services are hiking up their prices! Hulu, Netflix and AppleTV+. And this is the second hike in months. What is going on?
— Laraine Newman (@larainenewman) September 8, 2023
Hulu/Disney raising the prices again is pissing me off. Netflix is like double what it used to and all the other streaming platforms you gotta have to watch shows, it’s the same price as cable atp
— TBK (마이클) (@backtomichel) September 8, 2023
Streaming services keep raising their prices
— Camille Winbush (@camilleSwinbush) September 8, 2023
Disney pulled content from Spectrum because they’re not getting a “fair deal”
And yet, they all act like paying the writers and actors who create the content they’re making money off of and need to stay in biz is crazy ?
If you want to avoid that forthcoming Hulu and Disney+ price increase, however, check out our breakdown on how you might be able to.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
