Today, Disney+ launches a brand new ad-supported tier in the United States, which is being done to provide more choices to consumers and to ultimately make Disney more money from the streaming service, which is currently losing money every month.

There are now two different tiers being offered, Disney+ Basic and Disney+ Premium.

Disney+ Premium is the ad-free version of Disney+ and is basically the same Disney+ we’ve had since it launched in 2019. However, to tie in with the launch of the ad-supported tier, Disney+ Premium has had a price hike of $3 a month, to $10.99 a month.   There is an annual subscription available, which is now priced at $109.99.  There is also the added benefit of users on the Disney+ Premium tier will be able to download content onto their devices for on-the-go.

The new ad-supported tier is called “Disney+ Basic” and is priced at $7.99 a month.    It offers all of the same content as the Premium Tier, but will have four minutes of adverts per hour, and there are some limitations, such as no content can be downloaded onto a device , nor any access to GroupWatch and SharePlay, as well as having Dolby Atmos at launch.  Ads will also not be shown on content aimed at young children.

Subscriptions to Disney+ Basic are intended only for use in the U.S. and in countries where an ad-supported subscription is available.

With the new ad-supported tier launching, you may need to update your Disney+ app on your device to the latest version.

When logging into Disney+ today, you may be presented with a brand new menu, asking you to provide the birthdate and gender for each of the profiles on Disney+.  This is being done to provide more data to Disney to provide to advertisers, so each profile is presented with more targeted advertising.

At launch, Disney+ Basic subscribers will enjoy the full content catalog and key product features that are also offered on a Disney+ Premium plan. This includes:

• Exclusive Originals & Library Content – an ever-growing collection of thousands of titles across films, documentaries, series, and shorts, plus unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and television entertainment
• Profiles – create up to seven profiles per account, with the ability to set profile PINs and content ratings by profile through Parental Controls
• Concurrent Viewing – stream on up to four supported devices simultaneously
• High-Quality Video Formats – including, where supported, 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, Full HD, HDR10, and Expanded Aspect Ratio with IMAX Enhanced

Michael Paull, president, Direct to Consumer said in a statement regarding the launch of the ad-tier:

“Today’s launch marks a milestone moment for Disney+ and puts consumer choice at the forefront.  With these new ad-supported offerings, we’re able to deliver greater flexibility for consumers to enjoy the full breadth and depth of incredible storytelling from The Walt Disney Company.”

Rita Ferro, president, Disney Advertising added:

“Today we welcome Disney+ with ads to the largest, most diverse and impactful portfolio in the industry. We are committed to connecting our clients to the best storytelling in the world while delivering innovation and viewer-first experiences in streaming now and in the future.”

The launch of Disney+ Basic pairs the world’s most beloved stories, characters and brands with the most advanced proprietary advertising technology and audience-based capabilities. The combination delivers sophisticated, globally-scalable advertising that offers choice and value for both consumers and advertisers.

Disney+ Basic launches with an unrivaled roster of blue chip brand advertisers and from all major agency holding companies including Dentsu, Havas, Horizon, IPG,  Omnicom Group, Publicis, RPA, Stagwell and WPP, representing over a dozen categories including (retail, apparel, autos, financial services, restaurants, technology, telcom, CPG, travel) with hundreds of creatives that will deliver the volume and variety needed to create a great experience for brands and consumers.

Disney is planning on launching the ad-supported tier internationally in 2023.

Here’s the full breakdown of the new tiers and bundles available within the United States

Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ Standalone Plans:

Disney Bundle Plans:

^Existing subscribers only

Hulu + Live TV Plans:

^Existing subscribers only

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

View all posts