From Netflix To Apple TV Plus: A Guide To Updated Subscription Prices 

Summary:

• Due to many socioeconomic factors in 2023, many streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus, have decided to raise their prices.
• Many users are unhappy with these decisions, as they are being made while the SAG-AFTRA union is on strike for fair pay for actors.
• Negotiations have yet to produce results, but streamers continue to find ways to attract new viewers and retain existing ones.

If there is one thing we have all noticed for sure, it is that there has been a huge increase in payments for all streaming platforms over the past year. While this isn't surprising in the least, given the declining state of the modern economy, it doesn't seem like viewers are willing to pay more for less content.

As the year progresses, there is less and less hope for the SAG-AFTRA union to find common ground with producers and the heads of the major streaming platforms. If the strikes continue, it will inevitably mean the cancellation of some fan-favorite shows and even further delays for others.

While there isn't much upside to this news, as a media consumer, you should be aware of any changes to avoid any unpleasant surprises when your next bill comes due. Here's a guide to all the streaming platforms that have changed their tier pricing.

Paramount Plus ( and Showtime )

If you were already saddened by the recent sudden price hike from $9.99/mo. to $11.99/mo. for the Paramount Plus Premium subscription, get ready for another one coming your way in 2024 or 2025.

Though Paramount CEO Bob Bakish didn't give an exact date, just announced the plans, he was careful to point out that the studio doesn't expect the changes to affect new user acquisition.

If you don't want to pay $12/mo. for the ad-free Paramount Plus Premium tier that comes with Showtime access, you can downgrade to the basic tier with ads. However, that tier's price has also changed, from $4.99/mo. to $5.99/mo.

Disney Plus

After spending a lot of money on new productions, Disney had to raise the price of its subscription by $6 in less than a year. First, the streamer raised prices in December 2022, and then again this year in October. Each time, the prices changed by exactly $3.

Now, the ad-free tier of Disney Plus will cost viewers $13.99/mo. instead of the previously established $10.99/mo. If you're not willing to pay that much, but feel you can handle a few ads, you can downgrade to another tier.

The lowest price you can pay to re-watch all of Marvel's gems is $7.99/mo.

Amazon Prime Video

The good news for all Amazon Prime Video subscribers is that you can still binge-watch The Boys or Good Omens for the same price if you have a standalone subscription. The bad news is that you will be inundated with ads starting early next year.

Remember how everyone “loved” TV for breaking up the immersion of the show with annoying commercials? Well, that's all coming back to streamers, but you'll be able to get rid of it for a small additional fee of $2.99/mo.

"To continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time, starting in early 2024, Prime Video shows and movies will include limited advertisements," Amazon representatives explained.

If only that money were enough to bring back A League of Their Own, which was recently canceled due to cost and strike logistical issues.

Hulu

As Disney CEO Bob Iger mentioned at the time, raising the prices of services should motivate viewers to downgrade to ad-supported tiers.

Hulu, for example, raised the price of its ad-free tier by 20%, from $14.99/mo. to $17.99/mo. The ad-supported tier, on the other hand, didn't change in price, staying at $7.99/mo.

Though the year isn't over yet, and we may yet hear from The Handmaid's Tale's producing studio, we're hoping the news is related to either successful negotiations with actors or long-awaited premieres of new seasons.

Netflix

Following the same basic idea of attracting more viewers to its ad-supported plan, Netflix has also raised the prices of its two ad-free tiers.

Now, if you want to watch Netflix and chill without being distracted by an ad, you'll have to pay $11.99/mo. for Basic and $22.99/mo. for Premium subscriptions. That means the Basic plan is $2 more expensive, and the Premium plan is $3 more expensive.

If you don't mind commercials, you can still watch Netflix for $6.99/mo.

Apple TV Plus

The latest addition to the list is Apple TV Plus. And, despite being the last to make the news on that matter, Apple TV Plus has definitely made quite an entrance to the list. The platform released the changes on October 25th, 2023.

Now the Apple TV Plus subscription will cost you $9.99/mo. instead of $6.99. The changes in pricing are comparable with other streamers and were expected to come.

Apple TV Plus isn’t the only Apple service to be hiked up in price, so beware of changes with your Apple Arcade, Apple News Plus, and Apple One subscriptions as well.

Source: Variety, About Amazon, CNBC