Behind the big global launch of Hulu, Canadian consumers face a different reality. Disney+ is set to raise its subscription prices once again in Canada, continuing a clear trend in the streaming industry.
For the third time since 2023, the platform will update its pricing in November, prompting users to either adapt or reconsider their subscription.
Costs that keep rising
The Disney+ pricing landscape is changing once again. According to the new rates, announced by the company and reported by La Presse Canadienne, streaming fans who want an ad-free experience will need to pay a bit more.
The budget-friendly “Standard with Ads” option stays at $8.99 per month for now. The ad-free “Standard” plan jumps from $12.99 to $15.99, an increase of $3 per month. The premium “Premium” plan, which offers higher definition and more downloads, rises slightly from $15.99 to $16.99.
These updated prices apply immediately for new subscribers. Current monthly subscribers will see the change on their bill starting November 4, while annual plan subscribers will be affected after November 25.
A pricing policy built to last
This move is part of a global strategy, with similar adjustments being implemented in the United States and Europe. It follows two consecutive price increases in 2023 and early 2024, reflecting Disney’s aim to solidify the profitability of its platform after years of heavy investment.
The era of promotional offers and introductory rates appears to be over, giving way to a model where recurring subscription hikes have become the norm to balance the books.
Hulu: A Quiet Arrival in Canada
The announcement of Hulu’s international launch, another flagship Disney service, has made a lot of noise. Yet for Canadian audiences, its impact is mostly cosmetic.
Content previously grouped under the “Star” banner within the Disney+ app for adult viewers is simply rebranded as “Hulu”. The catalog itself remains largely unchanged. For Canadian users, the most noticeable difference is less the new label and more the amount of their next bill.
With household budgets already under pressure, this series of price hikes raises a crucial question: how far are subscribers willing to go? The magic of Disney, clearly, comes at an increasingly high cost.
