Streaming wars
Disney to offer Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu bundle for $12.99, the price of Netflix's standard plan
As the streaming wars continue to escalate, Disney plans to launch a bundle of three subscription services for the same monthly fee as one standard Netflix plan.
Disney on Tuesday announced it will bundle Disney+, ESPN+, and the version of Hulu with ads together for $12.99 a month beginning this November when Disney+ launches, Deadline reports.
That figure is especially notable as it's the exact same prince as the cost of Netflix's most popular plan, which the company classifies as the "standard" option. Netflix also offers a "basic" plan, which offers standard definition and streaming on one screen at a time, for $8.99 a month, and a "premium" plan, which offers Ultra HD streaming and four screens at a time, for $15.99 a month.
Disney had previously announced that its new streaming service, Disney+, will cost $6.99 a month. ESPN+ on its own is $4.99 a month, and the version of Hulu with ads is $5.99 a month, so customers who sign up for this bundle would be saving $5 a month compared to what it costs to sign up for all three services. The standard plan was previously $10.99 before a price increase.
On Disney's Tuesday earnings call, CEO Bob Iger spoke further about the company's plans for Disney+ to offer family-friendly content while Hulu, which Disney took full control of earlier this year, will offer more "general entertainment," CNBC reports. Disney's third-quarter revenue on Tuesday fell short of analysts' expectations, reports The Wrap, which Iger said reflects "our efforts to effectively integrate" assets from its 21st Century Fox acquisition.
Disney+, which will feature original programming set in the worlds of Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will launch on Nov. 12.