Disney Can't Possibly Be Serious With These Price Increases

NY Times- The Walt Disney Company said Tuesday that it would raise the price of its streaming services in the United States, including Disney+ and bundles that include Hulu and ESPN Select.

Starting Oct. 21, the monthly price of a Disney+ plan with ads will rise by $2 to $11.99, and an ad-free plan will cost $18.99, $3 more than now. Packages combining Disney+ with Hulu, ESPN or HBO Max will also become more expensive, according to Disney’s website.

Considering the uproar over Disney's handling of its negotiations with YoutubeTV in regards to ESPN this last week, which resulted in a mexican standoff they refused to back down on, despite millions of diehard football fans blasting them- you would think Mickey would "read the room" here. 

But no fucking chance.

This mouse gives no fucks. 

Doubling the price is not a tweak. That is a straight up gut punch. 

Disney+ jumping from $80 to $160 a year reads less like a value update and more like a cash grab in an extremely fragile economy. Families already juggling bills are now told the same catalog suddenly costs twice as much. What changed Disney? The library or the balance sheet? Did you guys double the amount of content you're providing customers with? 

This is seriously bonkers. 

As an adult male with no kids, I honestly only had Disney+ to watch Madalorian to fall asleep to. There is no chance in hell I am keeping it now. But I can't imagine being a parent and being held hostage like this and forced to pay this much- in addition to every other service you have to carry to keep your kids happy and entertained. 

It's just total disregard for customers in every which way. The message to subscribers is blunt- pay more for what was promised yesterday. Consumers notice, and loyalty has a limit. And for that reason, I'm out.

p.s. - I blogged this a year ago. It just continues to age like a fine wine…