Disney is exploring making some content on its namesake streamer free to watch.
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Disney is exploring making some of its streaming content available at an unbeatable price: free.The Mouse House is discussing making some content accessible on Disney+ without a paywall, according to two people familiar with the matter.Product and tech chief Adam Smith spoke about enabling free-tier content during a streaming town hall on Thursday afternoon, one staffer said. Smith didn't share a timeline for this initiative or a sense of the scope, this person added.A person familiar with Disney's streaming strategy said these talks are part of an ongoing discussion about concepts to better serve fans.Currently, the Disney+ and Hulu bundle costs $12.99 a month with ads or $19.99 without ads at full price.Free streaming services like YouTube have become popular with audiences, generating significant growth in viewership share on US-based TVs compared to their paid peers, according to Nielsen data. The three largest free streamers accounted for 18.7% of watch time on US TVs in April, up from 16.8% a year earlier and 12.7% in April 2024.As paid streamers have raised prices, consumers have increasingly sought out free content on YouTube and on ad-supported services like Tubi and The Roku Channel. (Tubi parent Fox is planning to double down on free streaming by buying Roku for $22 billion.)
