Disney+ subscription price increases once more

Disney+ is implementing a price increase for its streaming service in Canada, with the updated pricing already reflected on the website and communicated to subscribers via email. The company stated that the price adjustment is necessary to continue offering new Originals, blockbuster movies, and popular series to its audience.

The new pricing structure results in a monthly increase of around $1 or a yearly increase of $10, depending on the type of subscription. The revised prices are as follows: Disney+ Standard With Ads will now cost $8.99 per month, up from $7.99; Disney+ Standard is priced at $12.99 per month or $129.99 annually, compared to the previous $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year; and Disney+ Premium is set at $15.99 per month or $159.99 per year, up from $14.99 per month or $149.99 per year.

Notably, the ‘Extra Member’ fees for adding additional members to a Disney+ account remain unchanged for now. It will continue to cost $6.99 per month to add a member to Disney+ Standard With Ads, and $7.99 per month to add a member to Disney+ Standard or Premium.

Existing subscribers will experience the price increase upon their renewal on or after November 21, 2024, while new subscribers have been subject to the updated prices since October 17th. This marks Disney’s second price adjustment this year, following a previous increase in February 2024, which was announced in 2023.

In early 2024, Disney+ Premium was priced at $119.99 per year, allowing users to share their accounts with family members at no extra cost. However, the current price of $159.99 per year requires additional payment for account sharing.

Disney is not the only streaming service raising prices; Spotify recently announced a price hike for its Canadian users, citing the need to enhance product offerings and features. The increase is also attributed to Canada’s Online Streaming Act, which mandates foreign streaming companies to pay a five percent levy on Canadian revenue to support local news production and content.

The Digital Media Association (DiMA) and the Motion Picture Association-Canada (MPA-Canada) have responded differently to the levy, with DiMA launching a campaign against the tax, while MPA-Canada filed legal challenges. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) supports the Online Streaming Act, emphasizing its potential to contribute $200 million annually to the country’s broadcasting system and level the playing field between foreign streamers and traditional broadcasters.