"The Walt Disney Co. continues to find itself in a crossfire, with Republicans taking shots from the right and Democrats landing blows from the left. Following a nearly weeklong drama surrounding the suspension and subsequent reinstatement of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, Disney has announced price hikes for Disney+ streaming subscriptions, escalating tensions as the company contends with both PR backlash and potential subscriber losses. We all know price hikes for Disney+ aren't unusual, but could the timing be any worse?"
"Journalist Marisa Kabas suggested on Bluesky Monday that Disney's decision to bring Kimmel back might have been rushed due to the planned price increases, citing an unnamed Disney source. Fast Company reached out to Disney for comment. How much are prices going up, and when do they take effect? The new rates hit October 21. The ad-supported plan for Disney+ jumps $2, to $11.99, while the no-ads premium plan jumps $3, to $18.99."
"Following the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! by ABC last week, high-profile celebrities joined the chorus of critics calling out parent company Disney, loudly venting their frustrations. Tatiana Maslany, star of Marvel's She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, urged her followers to cancel subscriptions, while Damon Lindelof, a co-creator of ABC's Lost, took to Instagram to say that he wouldn't work with Disney again if Kimmel's suspension wasn't lifted."
The Walt Disney Co. faces criticism from both political sides while managing fallout from the suspension and reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel. Disney announced Disney+ price increases effective October 21: the ad-supported plan rises $2 to $11.99 and the no-ads plan rises $3 to $18.99; the Disney+ and Hulu bundle rises $2 to $12.99 while the no-ads premium bundle remains $19.99. A journalist suggested the Kimmel reinstatement may have been rushed because of the planned price hikes, citing an unnamed Disney source. High-profile actors urged cancellations, though analysts expressed doubt that boycotts will cause long-term financial harm. Shares closed at $112.25.
Read at Fast Company
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]