James R | On 10, Aug 2023

Disney+ will be expanding its advertising model to the UK this November, with a range of tiers to try and boost revenue and bring in new subscribers.

The basic, ad-supported plan will launch on 1st November in the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. It will bring with it two other tiers for subscribers who don’t want ads – introducing a premium package for those who want 4K and HDR visual quality.

The move comes as Disney+ steps up its efforts to compete in an increasingly fragmented and competitive landscape – but it also comes as customers struggle to pay bills amid a cost of living crisis. While many will be pleased to have an affordable, ad-supported option, others will be questioning the value of a premium tier when subscribing to multiple platforms at once becomes impractical. And, with Disney+ following HBO Max’s lead in removing its own original titles as a cost-cutting measure, it becomes more important than ever for each streamer to rebuild trust and loyalty with their customer base.

Here’s the breakdown of the Disney+ UK subscription plans:

Standard with ads

Price: £4.99 a month
Quality: Up to Full HD (1080p)
Downloads: No
Multiple streams: 2

Standard (no ads)

Price: £7.99 a month (£79.90 a year)
Quality: Up to Full HD (1080p)
Downloads: Yes
Multiple streams: 2

Premium (no ads)

Price: £10.99 a month (£109.90 a year)
Quality: Up to 4K UHD + HDR
Downloads: Yes
Multiple streams: 4

 

Disney+ announces plans to add ad-supported version

4th March 2022

Disney+ is planning to introduce adverts in the future as an additional way of enticing subscribers with the option of a lower fee.

The ad-supported subscription will be in addition to its current option without ads and reflects the growing trend towards ad-supported streaming in the wider industry, from Pluto TV and Amazon’s IMDb TV to ITV Hub+ and All 4+.

“Expanding access to Disney+ to a broader audience at a lower price point is a win for everyone – consumers, advertisers, and our storytellers,” said Kareem Daniel, Chairman, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution. “More consumers will be able to access our amazing content. Advertisers will be able to reach a wider audience, and our storytellers will be able to share their incredible work with more fans and families.”

“Since its launch, advertisers have been clamoring for the opportunity to be part of Disney+ and not just because there’s a growing demand for more streaming inventory,” said Rita Ferro, President, Advertising, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution. “Disney+ with advertising will offer marketers the most premium environment in streaming with our most beloved brands, Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel and National Geographic.”

The strategy will launch first in the USA in late 2022, with plans to expand internationally in 2023. More details, including pricing, will be announced at a later date.

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