Disney+ Plans a Free, Ad-Supported Tier to Compete With YouTube
The potential free tier signals a major strategic shift for Disney+ as it seeks to compete with rapidly growing free ad-supported streaming services and address slowing subscriber growth.
Reporting from 1 source: GIGAZINE.
Disney's chief product and technology officer Adam Smith revealed that the company is considering a free, ad-supported plan for Disney+ that would offer some content without a subscription. The plan was discussed during a July 9 town hall meeting, but no timeline or specific details were given. The move comes as free ad-supported streaming services like YouTube and Tubi are seeing significant growth in viewership.
Disney is considering a free version of Disney+ that would include ads and require no subscription, according to Adam Smith, the company's chief product and technology officer. Smith disclosed the proposal during a town hall meeting on July 9, though he did not specify when or how it would be implemented. A source familiar with Disney's streaming strategy told Business Insider that the plan is part of ongoing discussions about improving user experience. The move would put Disney+ in direct competition with free ad-supported services like YouTube, Roku Channel, and Tubi, which Nielsen data shows have been growing faster than paid subscription services. Disney has already been adding vertical video and working on a super app to increase daily engagement.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- GIGAZINE Disney+が無料プランを計画中と関係者が明かす