You aren't immune from the wave of streaming service price hikes just because you have a bundle.Disney is raising prices for bundles that include ESPN and Hulu, as well as stand-alone ESPN access.According to Disney, the base bundle with ad-supported Disney+, ad-backed Hulu, and ESPN Select is climbing from $20 per month to $22.
The ad-free bundle is jumping from $30 to $33 per month, while the legacy pack with ad-free Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN Select is climbing from $25 to $28 per month.Disney+ Subscription with ads Yes, the Disney Basic plan Simultaneous streams Up to 4 Visit Disney+ Expand Collapse has also noticed price increases for the dedicated ESPN service.ESPN Select now costs $14 per month (versus $13), or $140 per year (previously $130).
For ESPN Unlimited, you pay $32 per month (up from $30) or $320 per year (compared to $300).Bundles with ESPN Unlimited aren't affected by the hike.Why is Disney raising bundle prices? Content costs and features may be to blame Disney hasn't explained the higher prices as of this writing.
However, it comes just days after NBCUniversal raised Peacock prices, and follows a string of similar moves by rivals like Netflix.Past justifications have shared common themes: the companies are addressing higher production and licensing costs.More (and more elaborate) content costs money, and services frequently race to secure exclusive deals or bolster their catalogs.
Disney+ has a growing collection of movies, TV shows, and live sports that can all contribute to larger expenses.Related Disney+ and Hulu Are Increasing Their Prices Get ready.Posts By Arol Wright Disney is also eager to make streaming a cornerstone of its business.
The digital division only reported its first double-digit operating margin in the first quarter of 2026, and it expects to keep that margin for the rest of the year.Like it or not, the media giant wants to ensure that streaming income keeps growing.As it stands, competitors' moves make it easier to rationalize price increases.
If everything costs more, a Disney+ bundle might still be appealing in comparison.New alliances are also changing the landscape: with YouTube Premium adding Peacock in 2027, Disney can't lean quite so much on Hulu's TV library as a major draw.
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