Hulu and Disney+ Opt Out of iOS App Store Sign-Up Requirement

Disney+ and Hulu have made a significant change in how customers can subscribe to their services. They have discontinued the option to sign up for their platforms via Apple’s App Store. Instead, customers are now required to purchase subscriptions directly from the Disney+ and Hulu websites.

Existing subscribers who were billed through Apple do not need to cancel their subscriptions and resubscribe online. According to information on the Disney+ and Hulu websites, these subscribers will continue to be billed through Apple and can manage their accounts using Apple Subscription settings.

If you attempt to log in to the Disney+ or Hulu app on your iPhone without an active subscription, you will be prompted to complete the account setup process in a web browser.

The decision to redirect subscriptions away from Apple’s App Store was noticed online over the weekend. By bypassing Apple’s in-app purchase fees, which amount to a 30% charge for new subscriptions, Disney stands to increase its profit margins, especially after recently raising the monthly rates for Hulu and Disney+ by $2.

With Disney+ and Hulu no longer supporting in-app purchases, it is anticipated that Apple will remove them from its Video Partner Program. This program facilitates app integration with Siri, AirPlay, Universal Search, and other Apple features.

This move by Disney+ and Hulu follows a similar strategy employed by Netflix in 2019. Netflix also redirected users to its website for purchases to avoid Apple’s in-app purchase fees and ceased Apple billing for existing customers earlier this year.

Spotify is another major player that has chosen not to accept in-app purchases via the iOS App Store to avoid profit-sharing with Apple. The company has been vocal about its disagreements with Apple’s 30% fee, with Spotify’s CEO criticizing it as a form of price inflation. Earlier this year, the EU fined Apple $539 million for obstructing competition in the music-streaming app market.

In conclusion, the shift by Disney+ and Hulu to direct subscriptions away from Apple’s App Store is part of a broader trend among streaming services to reduce reliance on in-app purchases and fees imposed by platforms like Apple, signaling a strategic move towards maximizing profits and independence in subscription management.