As expected, The Walt Disney Company will be offering a bundled package featuring its three streaming services: Hulu, ESPN+, and the soon-to-launch Disney+. The company had previously hinted at some sort of discounted package, and today CEO Bob Iger made it official, confirming an attractive price point of just $12.99.
The bundled package offers consumers a $5 discount from the cost if they were to subscribe to each platform individually. On its own, Disney+ will cost $6.99 per month (or $69.99 annually, which works out to be $5.83/ month). ESPN+ is already available for $4.99 per month or $49.99 annually, while Hulu has an ad-supported version for $5.99/month or $11.99/month for the premium, ad-free version. Disney's bundle will include the ad-supported Hulu, but it wasn't specificed if there will be an option to upgrade to the ad-free version at a discounted rate.
At $12.99, Disney's bundle is on par with or below competitive streaming services.
Netflix's most pouplar Standard plan is available for $12.99 and includes HD plus the ability to watch shows on two screens at once. Netflix offers two additional plan: the Basic non-HD plan for $8.99/month or the Ultra HD Premium plan for $15.99. HBO (Now and GO) currently costs $15 per month, and WarnerMedia's HBO Max is expected to cost upwards of $17 per month. Amazon Video is included with the Amazon Prime membership for $119/year, but a monthly membership for Prime Video alone is $8.99.
It was a disappointing third quarter for Disney, which reported earnings significantly short of Wall Street analysts' estimates; however, Bob Iger noted that the results "reflect our efforts to effectively integrate the 21st Century Fox assets to enhance and advance our strategic transformation."
A big part of that transformation for Disney will include its streaming services. Disney+ launches this November and will offer an assortment of original series and movies, as well as content spanning multiple Disney properties, including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, National Geographic, and more. By the end of year one, Disney+ will be home to more than 7,500 episodes of television and 500 movies.
"The incredible popularity of Disney’s brands and franchises positions us well as we launch Disney+, and the addition of original and library content from Fox will only further strengthen our direct-to-consumer offerings," Iger said.
Disney+ will launch Novemer 12, 2019 in the United States.
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