Disney+ To Offer 3 Different Tiers In Canada & Europe
Disney has announced it is going to be making some major changes to what Disney+ options are available to subscribers in Canada and in select markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
On November 1st, Disney+ will have three different tiers, Premium, Standard and Standard with Ads. This is being done to expand the choice and value options to consumers, but more realistically, this is being done to make more money. While there is going to be cheaper options available, including a new ad-supported tier, that is much cheaper than the standard version we have now, if you want to watch films in 4K or have lots of people in your household, the price is going up considerably.
The new ad-supported plans start at £4.99/€5.99 per month in EMEA and $7.99/month in Canada. Existing subscribers in applicable markets will remain in the Premium tier with No Ads when their subscription price increases in December, unless they opt to switch to one of the new lower-priced plans. There will also continue to be an annual subscription available.
Here is a breakdown of the new tiers:
Standard with Ads | Standard | Premium | |||
Ads | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ||
Video Quality | Up to Full HD 1080p | Up to Full HD 1080p | Up to 4K UHD & HDR | ||
Concurrent Streams | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
Downloads | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Audio | 5.1 and Stereo | 5.1 and Stereo | Dolby Atmos |
Up until recently, every Disney+ subscriber in Europe and Canada has been in the “Premium” tier, so its going to likely be a big shift for many to move to alternative plans.
Other streaming services also offer different options for its users, making them pay more for access to 4K and more concurrent streams. Disney is also going to be cracking down on people sharing their accounts, which will likely be why the concurrent stream level is only set at screens at once. This is similar to how Disney+ operates in many countries in Asia and the Middle East, with different tiers.
The ad-supported, Standard and Premium plans in select European markets and Canada offer access to the Disney+ content library and key product features including:
- Exclusive Originals & Library Content: A collection of thousands of award-winning titles across films, documentaries, TV series, and shorts, all in one place
- Profiles: Ability to create multiple profiles per account, with the option to set profile PINs and content ratings by profile through Parental Controls
- Concurrent Viewing: Stream on up to four supported devices simultaneously, depending on your plan
- High-Quality Video Formats: Depending on your plan, formats include 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, Full HD, HDR10, and Expanded Aspect Ratio with IMAX Enhanced where supported
Jason Badal VP & GM Disney+, Canada added in a statement:
“The launch of our ad-supported plan demonstrates the importance of providing subscribers with value and choice. We are excited to bring this offering to Canadians and to our advertising partners across the country.”
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