BURBANK, California: Walt Disney will hike U.S. subscription prices for Disney+ next month, the fourth consecutive year of increases as the company looks to squeeze more profit from its streaming platforms.

Starting October 21, the ad-supported Disney+ plan will cost US$11.99 a month, up $2, while the ad-free premium tier will rise $3 to $18.99. Annual premium subscriptions will jump $30 to $189.99. Bundled packages that include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ will also become more expensive, according to the company’s website.

Disney has steadily raised Disney+ prices since launching the service in November 2019 at $6.99 per month. A 38 percent hike came in December 2022, followed by further increases in October 2023 and October 2024.

The company is under fresh public scrutiny following last week’s suspension and reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC, which triggered boycotts from some consumers. Still, Disney has said streaming remains central to its growth strategy, with the business turning a profit for the first time last year.