Disney+ cracking down on password sharing, raising subscription fees: What to know
(NEXSTAR) — Disney CEO Bob Iger wasn’t goofing around last month when he warned the company would be going after password sharing on its streaming services “in earnest” in September. In addition to its crackdown, Disney+ is raising subscription fees for some plans.
On Wednesday, Disney+ representatives said the service has “expanded its paid sharing program to give its users ways to enjoy their Disney+ subscription along with a family member or friend, through the management of devices within a household.”
While the program doesn’t expressly go after password sharing — the practice of giving your account login to a friend or family member who doesn’t live with you — Disney’s paid sharing is notably similar to Netflix’s own efforts to crack down on account sharing.
As Netflix did, Disney+ warns your subscription “is meant to be used within your household.” If you’ve been sharing your account with someone who does not live within your household, Disney+ says they will need to get their own subscription or be added as an extra member for an additional monthly fee.
For Disney+ Basic accounts, an extra member will cost an additional $6.99 a month. On Disney+ Premium plans, the additional fee is $9.99 a month. Only one extra member is available per account and is not available if you have a Disney bundle or are billed through another partner.
You’ll also need to verify your household devices as paid sharing rolls out. If you move, you will be asked to “update household.” If you’re traveling, you’ll have to confirm you’re “away from home” and enter a one-time passcode to access your Disney+ account.
For now, it appears paid sharing has only been rolled out to Disney+ and not Disney’s other streaming platforms, Hulu and ESPN+.
All three will, however, see plan prices rise on October 17.
Here’s a look at the impacted plans, their current monthly price, and how much they’ll cost come mid-October:
| Plan | Current monthly price | Monthly price on Oct. 17, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Disney+ Basic | $7.99 | $9.99 |
| Disney+ Premium | $13.99 ($139.99 annually) | $15.99 ($159.99 annually) |
| Disney Bundle Duo Basic | $9.99 | $10.99 |
| Disney Bundle Trio Basic | $14.99 | $16.99 |
| Disney Bundle Trio Premium | $24.99 | $26.99 |
| Legacy Disney Bundle (existing customers only) | $18.99 | $21.99 |
| ESPN+ | $10.99 ($109.99 annually) | $11.99 ($119.99 annually) |
| Hulu (With Ads) | $7.99 ($79.99 annually) | $9.99 ($99.99 annually) |
| Hulu (No Ads) | $17.99 | $18.99 |
| Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (With Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) | $76.99 | $82.99 |
| Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) | $89.99 | $95.99 |
| Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) | $81.99 | $87.99 |
| Live TV Only | $75.99 | $81.99 |
Disney did not immediately provide details on why it’s raising subscription fees.
Earlier this month, DirecTV reached a deal with Disney, ending a nearly two-week-long dispute that left millions without ESPN, ABC, and other Disney-owned channels. Neither company provided financial details about the agreement, but it did also give DirecTV the ability to offer Disney’s video streaming services a la carte as well as in its own bundled packages. DirecTV won the right to include ESPN’s forthcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service at an additional cost to its subscribers once it becomes available.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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