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  • Disney Unleashes Its Characters into the World of AI: Unprecedented Deal with OpenAI Signals a New Era for Fan-Created Content

    Disney Unleashes Its Characters into the World of AI: Unprecedented Deal with OpenAI Signals a New Era for Fan-Created Content

    Disney, a company known for fiercely guarding its characters and intellectual property, has forged a new path by entering into a three-year licensing agreement with OpenAI. Through this groundbreaking deal, users of OpenAI’s Sora platform will be able to create brief videos featuring over 200 animated, masked, and creature characters drawn from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars franchises. This includes a range of costumes, props, vehicles, and iconic environments. At the core of the agreement is a blend of Hollywood’s prized intellectual property and OpenAI’s advanced AI technology.

    Revolutionizing Video Creation with Sora

    The deal’s focus is on the application of OpenAI’s Sora video creation platform. Users will have the opportunity to create short, user-prompted videos to share with others. Additionally, through ChatGPT Images, users can convert a few words into fully generated AI images in mere seconds. However, the deal doesn’t extend to the likeness or voices of specific Disney characters or those who lend their voices to animated Disney personas.

    Certain content created on the Sora platform may also find its way onto Disney+, enhancing the streaming service’s selection of videos with fan-created content. Moreover, the agreement transforms Disney into an OpenAI customer, with access to ChatGPT for internal use. It also gives Disney the ability to utilize OpenAI APIs to introduce new features on the Disney+ streaming platform.

    Disney Characters in AI Videos

    Disney enthusiasts can use a host of beloved characters in their AI video creations. This roster includes Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Lilo, Stitch, Ariel, Belle, Beast, Cinderella, Baymax, Simba, Mufasa, and more.

    Additional characters from popular franchises such as Encanto, Frozen, Inside Out, Moana, Monsters Inc., Toy Story, Up, Zootopia will also be available. Fans can also incorporate animated versions of Marvel and Lucasfilm characters like Black Panther, Captain America, Deadpool, Groot, Iron Man, Loki, Thor, Thanos, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Leia, the Mandalorian, Stormtroopers, Yoda, among others.

    Commitment to Responsible AI Use

    The agreement between Disney and OpenAI underscores a dedication to responsible AI use, safeguarding user safety and creator rights. As part of the deal, Disney will invest $1 billion in OpenAI equity and receive warrants to purchase additional equity in the company. OpenAI is committed to implementing measures to protect users, such as age-appropriate policies and other necessary controls. Both parties are determined to prevent the generation of illegal or harmful content.

    Disney’s Stand Against Google

    In a parallel development, Disney has accused Google of large-scale copyright infringement. According to Disney, Google has used AI models to exploit and distribute images and videos that violate Disney’s intellectual property rights. The company has sent Google a cease-and-desist letter, demanding an immediate end to these alleged infringements.

    Disney has made it clear that it will not tolerate unauthorized commercial exploitation of its copyrighted works by AI services. The company has expressed concern over Google’s use of infringed copyrighted works to sustain market dominance.

    Questions & Answers

    What does the licensing agreement between Disney and OpenAI entail?
    The agreement allows users of OpenAI’s Sora platform to create short videos featuring over 200 characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars franchises. However, it does not cover the likeness or voices of specific Disney characters or those lending their voices to these characters.

    What benefits does Disney get from this deal?
    The agreement turns Disney into an OpenAI customer, enabling the company to use ChatGPT for internal purposes and OpenAI APIs to add new features to the Disney+ streaming platform. It also opens up opportunities for fan-created content to enhance the streaming service’s video inventory.

    How does the deal address intellectual property and user safety?
    The agreement emphasizes responsible AI use, with OpenAI pledging to implement measures such as age-appropriate policies and other controls to protect users. Additionally, both parties have committed to prevent the generation of illegal or harmful content.

  • Disney-youtube Tv Dispute Threatens To Blackout Popular Channels

    Disney-youtube Tv Dispute Threatens To Blackout Popular Channels

    YouTube TV is once again embroiled in a dispute, this time with media giant Disney. This disagreement is centered around crucial channels including ABC and ESPN.

    Disney Channels May Soon Vanish From YouTube TV

    Following the recent dispute with NBC, another contract negotiation has become a contentious issue. The current broadcast agreement between YouTube TV and Disney is due to end on October 30. If a new agreement isn’t reached by then, subscribers could lose access to a host of major channels.

    The channels potentially affected by this issue extend beyond Disney Channel. The entire ESPN suite, local ABC affiliates, and more could be impacted. Disney is already alerting YouTube TV customers about the impending deadline through on-air messages. Disney has publicly criticized Google, alleging the company is exploiting its position to the detriment of their customers. They also pointed out that the disagreement could result in the loss of essential programming such as the NFL, college football, NBA, and NHL seasons.

    Google, on the other hand, has a different perspective. It claims that Disney is demanding costly financial terms that would necessitate a price increase for all subscribers. They add that Disney’s terms would predominantly benefit its own live TV product, Hulu + Live TV. In the event of an extended blackout of the channels, Google has committed to providing a $20 credit.

    A Battle Beyond a Contract Disagreement

    While the loss of a channel can be disappointing, losing the entire ESPN suite, particularly during the football season and the beginning of the NBA/NHL seasons, could be a significant setback for sports enthusiasts who pay for this content. Such a loss could potentially drive customers to other providers.

    This dispute’s key aspect is Google’s negotiations with a company that also owns one of its most significant and direct competitors, Hulu + Live TV. This situation places Google in a challenging position: it must either meet Disney’s demands, potentially financing their competition, or refuse and risk losing subscribers to the rival.

    This situation further demonstrates the complexities of the streaming world. Unlike recent disagreements with NBC or Fox, Google is negotiating with a company that stands to gain from YouTube TV’s failure.

    The Exhausted Customer

    These constant corporate battles are becoming tiring and frustrating for customers, who often feel like mere pawns. They had experienced similar situations with NBC and Fox, and now with Disney. The constant threats and public disagreements have become the new normal, adding to customer frustration.

    The original appeal of streaming TV was flexibility and affordability. However, the reality seems to be mirroring the old cable bundle model on a new platform, complete with the same disputes over carriage rights.

    While it is unclear who is in the right, a $20 credit is not the solution. It is highly likely that an agreement will be reached at the last minute, as with previous instances. However, this cycle of panic and resolution could repeat in a few months.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the dispute between YouTube TV and Disney about?
    The disagreement is centered around the renewal of their broadcast contract. If a deal isn’t reached, major channels like ABC and ESPN could be removed from YouTube TV.

    What does Google claim about Disney’s demands?
    Google alleges that Disney’s demands would force them to raise prices for all subscribers and that the terms would mainly benefit Disney’s own products like Hulu + Live TV.

    What would happen if the channels were blacked out for a prolonged period?
    Google has stated that they would offer subscribers a $20 credit if the channels become unavailable for an extended period.

  • Disney’s Inaugural Asia Cruise from Singapore Postponed by Three Months: What to Know!

    Disney’s Inaugural Asia Cruise from Singapore Postponed by Three Months: What to Know!

    In a significant adjustment for eager travelers, Disney has relocated the inaugural sailing of its new cruise ship, the Disney Adventure, from December 15 to March 10 of next year. The shift comes in light of unexpected delays in the shipbuilding process, a decision Disney Signature Experiences President Joe Schott addressed during inquiries from Mothership. “To ensure the experience we deliver reflects our commitment to excellence, we’ve made the decision to adjust our timeline,” he stated, acknowledging the potential disappointment for guests.

    For those affected by the change, Disney is actively providing flexible rebooking options to maintain consumer trust. Guests originally booked for the December voyage will automatically be transferred to the new March sailing, and in a move that mirrors the magic of Disney, they will also receive a 50% refund for the inconvenience, as reported by The Straits Times.

    A Dedicated Home Port in Singapore

    The majestic Disney Adventure, which recently began sea trials to test its systems, will be stationed in Singapore for a minimum of five years. Those unable to join the March 10 voyage can opt for a full refund or rebook any future sailing at half price, available for cruises departing on or before March 31, 2027.

    A Floating Theme Park Awaits

    Originally marketed as a floating theme park for travelers from Southeast Asia and India, the Disney Adventure promises seven themed zones, including the standout feature—a 250-meter Iron Man rollercoaster on the upper deck. This thrilling ride is branded as the longest rollercoaster at sea and the first of its kind on a Disney cruise, guaranteeing a memorable adventure for all guests.

    Impact on Bookings and Capacity

    While the exact number of affected guests remains undisclosed, industry analysts from Bloomberg report that around 25 sailings will experience this rescheduling. With a capacity for up to 6,700 passengers, the Disney Adventure generated considerable buzz when tickets for its maiden voyage sold out on the first day of general sales last December. Pricing for three- and four-night cruises in 2026 starts at $1,060 and $1,412 per person, respectively, according to the cruise’s booking website.

    Delays in maiden voyages are not an uncommon occurrence within the cruise industry. The launch of Disney’s Florida-based ship, Disney Wish, faced similar challenges in 2022, while competitors like Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International have also postponed inaugural sailings due to ship completion issues. Notably, the Disney Adventure stands apart from the rest of Disney’s lineup, having been acquired partially built from Genting Hong Kong in 2022.

    Strategic Growth Plans

    Looking ahead, Disney has laid out an ambitious strategy, announcing plans to double its investment in the cruise and parks business to $60 billion by 2033. Alongside this financial commitment, Disney aims to expand its fleet from the current six ships to a total of 13 by 2031, fueling excitement for the future of its cruise offerings.

    Questions & Answers

    How has Disney addressed the change in the Disney Adventure’s maiden voyage schedule?
    Disney has automatically transferred guests to the new March 10 sailing and is offering a 50% refund to those impacted by the delay.

    What unique features will the Disney Adventure offer its guests?
    The ship will showcase seven themed zones, including the first-ever Iron Man rollercoaster at sea, the longest rollercoaster on a Disney cruise, making it a standout in the experience it offers.

    What are Disney’s future plans for its cruise business?
    Disney aims to double its investment in cruise and parks to $60 billion by 2033 and to expand its fleet from six to 13 ships by 2031, indicating significant growth in its cruise operations.

  • Disney unveils unified Disney+ plus Hulu app experience in beta stage

    Disney unveils unified Disney+ plus Hulu app experience in beta stage

    As reported last month as a result of Disney acquiring the remaining stake in Hulu from Comcast, Disney announced an upcoming unified streaming experience that combined Disney Plus with Hulu. This one-app experience has arrived now as Hulu content is now available to be streamed from the Disney Plus app on Android, iOS, and Google TV.

    Upon opening the Disney+ app, subscribers to both services will now see a dedicated Hulu tile. Clicking on it opens a Hulu Hub, granting access to the thousands of movies and series from Hulu’s extensive library, seamlessly integrated within the Disney+ interface. This eliminates the need to switch between apps, offering a more fluid and user-friendly experience.

    While today’s launch marks a major milestone, it’s important to remember this is a beta phase, with the official launch scheduled for March 2024. This limited release allows Disney to gauge user feedback and refine the experience before the full-scale rollout. Additionally, parents have ample time to adjust parental controls and ensure their children only access appropriate content.

    Some may wonder if integrating Hulu’s more adult-oriented content conflicts with Disney+’s family-friendly image. However, Disney assures that ensuring a safe and secure family environment remains a top priority. The two-step launch strategy allows for a smooth transition, providing parents time to adjust settings and create individual profiles for each family member.

    Disney believes that Hulu on Disney+ will enhance subscriber engagement and value. By bringing diverse content under one roof, users can discover new titles they may have missed. Joe Earley, President of Direct-to-Consumer at Disney Entertainment, emphasizes the benefit of the Bundle, highlighting its competitive price point and the vast library of content it unlocks.

    It’s an exciting next step for Direct-to-Consumer, but people must managed expectations about what the experience is going to be – Joe Early, President of DTC, Disney

    As exciting as this unified experience sounds, this may not be your cup of tea. If that’s the case, and you prefer your apps to remain separate, this will still be an option for you. This integration is not meant to replace either platform, thus Hulu + Live TV and Premium add-ons will still be accessible within the dedicated Hulu app.

    Disney encourages users to explore the beta version and discover the value that bundling both services offers, and believes access to Disney’s original content, blockbuster films, and Hulu’s rich library will entice standalone subscribers to upgrade and unlock the full potential of the platforms.

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  • Disney hikes pricing of its ad-free streaming services, plans to stop password sharing in 2024

    Disney hikes pricing of its ad-free streaming services, plans to stop password sharing in 2024

    Some big changes are coming to Disney’s streaming services as ad-free Disney+ and Hulu prices are getting hiked. At the same time, Disney says that it wants to start  “actively exploring” how it can better police password sharing just as Netflix is now doing. The company might feel some pressure since the number of global Disney+ subscribers declined for just the second time during the second quarter to 157.8 million, a 4 million decline from the first quarter figure.
    As for ways to combat password sharing, the other day during Disney’s quarterly conference call, CEO Bob Iger said, “We are actively exploring ways to address account sharing and the best options for paying subscribers to share their accounts with friends and family. Later this year, we will begin to update our subscriber agreements with additional terms and our sharing policies. And we will roll out tactics to drive monetization sometime in 2024.”
    Iger added, “We already have the technical capability to monitor much of this, and I’m not gonna give you a specific number except to say it’s significant. We certainly have established this as a real priority, and we actually think that there’s an opportunity here to help us grow our business.”
    If Iger is right about the timing, those Disney+ users viewing the platform thanks to a shared password have at least until the end of this year to continue this behavior.
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  • Netflix and Disney+ ad-supported tiers are not that attractive

    Netflix and Disney+ ad-supported tiers are not that attractive

    While Apple may probably be venturing into figuring out an ad-supported tier for Apple TV+, Netflix and Disney+ are seeing some unsatisfying results in acquiring subscribers for their ad-supported plans. Variety reports that a recent survey is indicating not many people are willing to go for an ad-supported tier on Netflix or Disney+.

    The survey also indicates that Netflix’s “Basic With Ads” tier is not reaching its goals. The cheaper plan with ads was launched back in November. The survey indicates that 5% of current Netflix subs were thinking of downgrading to the ad-supported plan in December, and only 6.5% of non-members indicated that they would join Netflix in the next month because of its ad-supported plan.

    On the other hand, Disney+’s ad-supported tier is not doing much better, according to the survey. Results show 19% of the non-subscribers were “very” or “somewhat” likely to pick a Disney+ ad-supported tier at some point (keep in mind, the question did not specify a time frame for subscribing).

    6% of current Disney+ subscribers said they planned to downgrade. Basically, a bit more people than Netflix, but still, pretty much a similar percentage.

    Overall, by surveying 2,089 people, 13% only wished to downgrade to an ad-supported tier for their subscription plans.
    Interestingly, when the survey divided people by earnings, those who earned $100,000+ a year were the most likely to downgrade (19%) versus those earning under $50,000 (11%).

    All in all, this trend shows that the interest in ad-supported subscription plans may not be as high as one would suppose. We will have to wait and see how these plans grow over time (and much more time is needed for some conclusive results, for sure), but for now, maybe Netflix or Disney+ will have some food for thought as to how to make these plans more attractive.

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  • Disney Plus, Hulu raising prices in December

    Disney Plus, Hulu raising prices in December

    Disney Plus announced back in August that it will launch its own ad-tier service in December. One of the few streaming services that didn’t allow customers to pay less for its services and see ads, Disney Plus is aligning its offering to the market.

    Unfortunately, along with the new ad tier, Disney Plus announced a price hike for its ad-free streaming service. Starting December 8, Disney Plus will cost $11 per month, as opposed to just $8. Customers who don’t want to pay for the ad-free tier can keep paying $8 per month, but they will get ads.

    Since Disney Plus still allows customers to pay in advance for its streaming services, you have until December 7 to grab a Disney Plus annual subscription and avoid the upcoming price hike, at least for one more year.

    As far as Hulu goes, things are a bit more complicated. While the ad-supported and ad-free subs remain the same at $8 and $15 per month, respectively, all Hulu + Live TV bundles will be slightly more expensive starting next month.

    For example, the $70 per month bundle featuring Hulu with ads, Disney Plus without ads, ESPN+ with ads, and live TV with ads will cost $75 come December 8. Additionally, the same bundle but with no ads on Hulu will be priced at $83 per month, $7 more than the current price.

    From December 8 onward, the cheapest bundle including Disney Plus and Hulu will cost $70, but it will screen ads on all services included in the bundle. Customers who have already paid the $3 extra fee for ad-free Disney Plus via Hulu will get to keep service beyond December 7, but the option will no longer be available afterward.

    The only good news is that ESPN+, one of the streaming services included in the bundles, will not get a price hike and will still be available for $10 per month.

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  • HBO Max, Discovery+ to be merged into a single streaming platform

    HBO Max, Discovery+ to be merged into a single streaming platform

    It looks like Warner Bros. Discovery is determined to put the nail in the coffin for HBO Max. The giant announced plans to merge both services in the summer of 2023, but that comes with some massive budget cuts and layoffs.

    The recent news that Batgirl has been scrapped after the movie was (almost) finished, pretty much sums up the changes Warner Bros. Discovery has in store for HBO Max. As many of you probably know already, HBO Max is heavily focused on movies and TV series, while Discovery is now mostly known for its reality shows from HGTV, Food Network and Discovery Channel.

    Earlier this week, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that HBO Max and Discovery+ will be launched in the United States as a single service next year. According to JB Perrette, CEO and president of global streaming and games for Warner Bros. Discovery, the new streaming platform will combine the best elements of both services.

    According to the company’s Q2 2022 earnings report, Discovery+ will be the core of the new platform, while HBO Max’s portfolio will be limited to Originals. Although the current catalog will be carried over, no new movies or TV shows will be made outside of the Originals offering. HBO Max had major performance issues during big releases, which convinced Warner Bros. Discovery to cut deep into the streaming service’s budget.

    Warner Bros. Discovery reported a huge $3.4 billion net loss in Q2 2022, so the company is now trying to push Discovery+, its more successful service, to more customers, while cutting back on HBO Max productions or distribution deals. The new HBO Max + Discovery Plus changes will only affect customers in the United States.

    In related news, AT&T announced it has reached a new agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery for the distribution of HBO Max, after the carrier removed the offering from its wireless plans back in June.
  • Netflix is adding a cheaper plan for those who want a lower price and will watch ads

    Netflix is adding a cheaper plan for those who want a lower price and will watch ads

    During an interview at the Cannes Lion advertising festival, the CEO of Netflix Ted Sarandos gave the most direct indication that it will launch a cheaper, ad-supported subscription tier to the embattled streaming service.

    In essence, Mr. Sarandos said that the company will be “adding an ad tier; we’re not adding ads to Netflix as you know it today.” After the pandemic boost wore out, Netflix hit the skids in terms of subscriber count as people spent less time watching TV shows and movies.

    At the same time, new streaming services from juggernauts like HBO, Disney, or Apple, grew to rival Netflix, all the while it kept spending borrowed billions on content creation. Well, that crazy content spending was curtailed, a lot of shows were cancelled, and now Netflix will try and boost subscriber numbers by going downmarket.

    Currently, the Netflix plans start from the Basic one at $9.99 per month with SD (up to 480p) picture quality, followed by the Standard $15.49 a month plan that offers 1080p definition, and go up to the Premium Netflix tier at $19.99 per month which includes 4K UHD quality streaming on up to four devices.

    Besides cracking down on password sharing, Netflix will likely introduce the new ad-supported subscription tier at something close to the Apple TV+ $4.99 subscription price and will try to recuperate the difference with ad revenue. Or, as Ted Sarandos eloquently puts it:

    We’ve left a big customer segment off the table, which is people who say: ‘Hey, Netflix is too expensive for me and I don’t mind advertising,’ We adding an ad tier; we’re not adding ads to Netflix as you know

     

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  • Disney Plus reveals how much time you’ll spend watching ads on its ad-supported tier

    Disney Plus reveals how much time you’ll spend watching ads on its ad-supported tier

    A few months ago, we reported that Disney Plus will introduce an ad-supported tier later this year, meaning that you will be able to watch Loki, Moon Knight, and Obi-Wan Kenobi for less money, with ads, of course. Although the price and the official release date of the new subscription plan are still unknown, we now know how many minutes of advertising you will see during the next adventure of The Mandalorian.

    Disney Plus confirmed that it will limit its ads to around four minutes per hour. This is good news because four minutes is like the bare minimum in advertising on streaming platforms. Currently, the services with the lightest ad loads are Peacock and HBO Max, with around five minutes of ads per hour. Also, when you consider the fact that when you watch traditional TV, you usually see between 18 and 23 minutes an hour of advertising, Disney Plus’s four minutes of ads in total is really nothing.

    Disney Plus also shared that when it releases its ad-supported tier, preschool children who use their own profiles to watch shows won’t see any ads. As Rita Ferro, Walt Disney’s president of Advertising Sales, stated, “We’re never going to collect data on individual kids to target them.” So, you can rest assured that your pre-teen won’t be bombarded with ads while watching Mickey Mouse.

    An interesting fact is that, because Disney Plus’s content is deemed brand-safe, advertisers are particularly interested in placing their ads on the platform. According to ad buyers, Disney Plus wants to charge advertisers about $50 to $60 for reaching 1,000 viewers, though it’s worth noting that Disney has made no official comment on pricing. The alleged figures aren’t that bad and are close to what other top streaming services are charging, but advertisers won’t be able to choose what programs their ads appear on, so in that context, the pricing can be viewed as expensive.

    The thing that worries us the most is that, with the launch of its ad-supported tier, Disney Plus is likely to increase its ad-free plan as well. During a recent Disney earnings call, Bob Chapek, Disney’s Chief Executive Officer, hinted that such a thing is very likely to happen. In response to a question about whether the firm plans to increase the price of its streaming service following the debut of the ad-supported plan, Chapek said that as the company invests more in producing better content, it will also be able to raise the price of its ad-free plan.

    We hope that Disney Plus will soon announce when it will release its ad-supported tier. But until then, your cheapest option to watch the hit series Moon Knight — if you haven’t already — is $7.99 per month.

  • HBO Max joins Verizon’s +play platform

    HBO Max joins Verizon’s +play platform

    Announced last month during Verizon’s Investor Day, the carrier’s +play platform offers over 20 streaming services ahead of its commercial launch and allows Verizon customers to manage their subscriptions in one place, as well as learn about exclusive deals and offering for content services.

    Starting today, HBO Max will be joining Verizon’s +play platform as partner. The streaming service from Warner Bros. Discovery offers content from HBO, Warner Bros., and DC, as well as Max Originals, blockbuster films, as well as kids and family content.

    With HBO Max, we aspire to deliver high-quality entertainment to audiences however and wherever they want to watch it, and this partnership with Verizon to feature HBO Max as a partner for its +play offering is a great, simplified way to do just that.

    Initially designed to provide Verizon customers with access to content the carrier already offers through providers like Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, discovery+ and AMC+, the new +play platform introduces new partners, including Netflix, Peloton, WW, The Athletic, Calm, Duolingo, and TelevisaUnivision’s Vix+, among many others with more to come.

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  • Disney officially introduces its cheap, ad-supported plan

    Disney officially introduces its cheap, ad-supported plan

    It’s been less than a day since reports about a possible Disney+ ad-supported plan emerged, and the US streaming service made it official. Although it’s not yet available, at least we now know Disney+ will eventually introduce a cheaper, ad-supported subscription this year.

    In a statement published today, Disney+ announced plans to expand its offerings by launching a subscription supported by ads in addition to its option without ads, beginning in the United States in late 2022, with plans to expand globally in 2023.

    Unfortunately, Disney left out a crucial piece of information from the announcement: price. The company promised to provide more details, including launch date and pricing at a later date, so we’ll just have to wait until it figures it out.

    The reason behind the addition of such a cheap ad-supported plan is to gain more customers. Today’s announcement mentions that the plan is meant to allow Disney+ to “achieve its long-term target of 230-260 million subscribers by FY24.”

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  • Google and Disney kiss and make up, YouTube TV members still getting a discount

    Google and Disney kiss and make up, YouTube TV members still getting a discount

    A few days after Google announced that its YouTube TV service lost all Disney-owned channels, the search giant is back with another statement that confirms it has reached an agreement with Disney to return its content to YouTube TV.

    Obviously, that means that the YouTube TV price will return to $65 for all subscribers. Google also announced that it has started to restore access to Disney networks like ESPN and FX, including their live and on-demand content, as well as recordings that were previously stored in the Library.

    Additionally, YouTube TV will start broadcasting the local ABC stations over the course of the day, so if you don’t see them available in your channel list, be patient.

    Now, the big surprise is that Google will still honor a one-time $15 credit for all YouTube TV subscribers affected by the issue. Even those who have not yet received the $15 discount will receive the one-time credit on their next bill.

    As we promised a $15 discount while the Disney content remained off-platform, we will still honor a one-time credit for all impacted members. For active members who have not yet received that $15 discount on their monthly bill, you will automatically receive a one-time credit on your next bill with no action needed.
    The announcement was published on YouTube’s blog today, December 19, so throughout the remainder of the day, access to Disney’s channels should be restored.
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  • Disney Plus Day brings a special 2$ offer for the first month of subscription

    Disney Plus Day brings a special 2$ offer for the first month of subscription

    Disney Plus first got released in 2019 on November 12th, which Disney refers to as Disney Plus Day. This year, for Disney Plus Day, the entertainment giant is making a special offer for new-to-be and returning subscribers. For their first month of subscription, the fee drops from 8$ to 2$.

    In addition to the 6$ cut for its streaming platform, Disney has some other special perks and offers under its sleeve as well. For example, you can get a five percent discount on Disney Plus products at WizKids and a 10 percent on Funko ones if you use the code DISNEYPLUSDAY.

    What’s more, over 200 AMC movie theaters will have surprise Disney movies playing for only 5$ a ticket between November 12th and 14th. On top of that, you will get a Disney Plus poster and some special concessions.

    On a different note, it seems the house of Mickey is keeping up with the new trends of the digital world. Disney will apparently be releasing NFTs in the form of golden statues of some of its most popular characters.

    Last but not least, Disney Plus Day is a good day to visit one of the famed Disney theme parks like Disney World or Disneyland. Visitors with a subscription can enter the parks 30 minutes earlier than usual, as well as free Disney PhotoPass photo downloads. There will also be new merchandise from Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar, so parents get their wallets ready. Additionally, some e-books will get discounted to as little as 1$ a piece until November 17th.

    As for the 2$ special offer for your first month of Disney Plus, it will be available from November 12th until the 14th, so make sure you catch it. It’s a great opportunity to see if you would like the shows Disney has to offer if you haven’t jumped on that bandwagon yet. Just remember that after the first month the price jumps back to that monthly 8$ fee.

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  • Disney raises prices at Hulu effective October 8

    Disney raises prices at Hulu effective October 8

    Hulu was one of the few streaming services that didn’t increase prices this year. Unfortunately, that’s about to change as Disney has just confirmed that Hulu price tiers will be increased effective October 8.

    The price of Hulu’s live TV service plans will increase by $1 starting October 8. Taking into consideration the new price hike, Hulu’s ad-supported tier will cost $6.99 per month, while the ad-free tier will be going up to $12.99 monthly.

    The Hulu price hike follows the other increases in recent months at ESPN+ and Disney+. The report mentions that the reason for the price increase could be the addition of thousands of Bollywood titles and Hotstar originals to the streaming service.

    Also, the new price for Hulu’s tiers might make the Disney Bundle more appealing for those who wish to save some bucks (36% to be more precise). Hulu confirmed that the price of the Disney Bundle will not change due to the price increase. It’s also important to mention that the price hike won’t affect Hulu + Live TV plans.

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