In the ever-evolving streaming wars, a new and familiar pattern is emerging: annual price hikes. Disney has announced that it will be raising the prices of its streaming services, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select, for the fourth consecutive year. The price adjustments, which take effect on October 21, are part of a broader industry trend to offset the rising costs of content creation and maintain profitability.
The new pricing structure in the US shows a significant jump across all standalone tiers. The ad-supported Disney+ plan, which currently costs $9.99 per month, will increase to $11.99 per month. This represents a 20% price hike for the most basic tier. For subscribers who prefer an ad-free experience, the Disney+ Premium plan will see a $3 increase, raising its monthly cost from $15.99 to $18.99. This marks an 18.7% price increase for the premium offering.
While these price changes are currently limited to the US market, similar increases are widely anticipated for Disney’s international markets, including Malaysia. This makes it a good time to review the current local pricing. Currently, Disney+ Hotstar in Malaysia offers a Basic plan at RM24.90 per month and a Premium plan at RM39.90 per month. The service also offers a Quarterly Premium plan for RM79.90 and an Annual Premium plan for RM289.90.
If Malaysian prices were to increase by the same 20% as the ad-supported US tier, the new monthly prices would be approximately RM29.88 for the Basic plan and RM47.88 for the Premium plan. The Quarterly Premium plan would increase to approximately RM95.88, and the Annual Premium plan would become approximately RM347.88.
This hypothetical increase, while not yet officially announced, follows a clear and consistent pattern of annual price adjustments across the streaming industry. As more services invest heavily in original content, the pressure to pass those costs on to consumers grows. For subscribers in Malaysia and beyond, these recurring hikes may force a reevaluation of their streaming subscriptions.
