Disney+ launches subscription with advertising in the United States

After Netflix, it’s Disney+’s turn to offer its subscribers a less expensive offer, but with advertising. The streaming platform has just made available this new subscription financed by advertising in the United States before deployment in the rest of the world, including France, in 2023.

Disney more generous than Netflix

From today, US subscribers to the streaming platform therefore have the choice between several offers, which we detail here.

• The ad-free classic plan is rebranded as Disney+ Premium, available at $10.99/month (formerly $8.99/month) or $109.99/year
• The new ad-supported subscription, titled Disney+ Basic, is available for $7.99/month. For this price, users from across the Atlantic will be entitled to four ad spots per hour, lasting 15 to 30 seconds, with the exception of profiles for children.

Disney+ subscribers have the option to upgrade to the Basic plan for $7.99/month. Those who choose to stay on Premium for $10.99/month don’t need to take any action.

If the principle is similar to what Netflix offers and its package with advertising, Disney + is more generous than the Reed Hastings platform. Subscribers to this offer with advertisements will benefit from the same functionalities as the others, namely…

• Extensive Catalog and Exclusive Content: An ever-growing collection of thousands of movie, documentary, series and short titles, plus unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and TV entertainment
• Profiles: Create up to seven profiles per account, with the ability to set profile PINs and content ratings per profile via Parental Controls
• Simultaneous View: Stream to four devices simultaneously
• High quality video formats: Full HD, HDR10, 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision and extended aspect ratio with IMAX Enhanced, depending on the programs and when they are supported

The offer is much more sympathetic than that of Netflix, where the subscription with advertising is limited to a single device and to Full HD, which is moreover with an incomplete catalog.

Soon in France ?

French subscribers to Disney+ only have access to the classic offer at €8.99/month, but the firm intends to offer its new packages worldwide in the medium term. Nothing official has yet been announced, but a launch in France in 2023 seems (very) likely. We can assume that the subscription will soon increase to €10.99/month and that the one with advertising will be offered at €7.99/month.

These lower-cost, ad-supported subscriptions have become a way for streaming platforms to reach out to lower-income users who aren’t averse to incurring some claims. Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube, but also HBO Max and Paramount+ in the United States: all offer these more affordable packages that aim to increase their number of subscribers and, ultimately, make them profitable.