Warner Bros. Discovery has declared a 30% increase in the subscription cost for its ad-free Discovery+ plans.
Warner Bros. Discovery has announced a significant price increase for its ad-free Discovery+ monthly subscription in the US and Canada. This marks the first time the streaming service has raised its monthly rates since its debut in January 2021.
Starting immediately, US customers will see the new Discovery+ ad-free subscription price rise from $6.99 to $8.99, excluding taxes. Meanwhile, the tier featuring advertisements will retain its price at $4.99 monthly.
For Canadian subscribers, the ad-free version of Discovery+ will now be priced at CAD 8.99, up from CAD 6.99. The ad-lite subscription in Canada will also experience a bump, moving from CAD 4.99 to CAD 5.99.
The company mentioned that the increase will “allow us to continue to provide can’t-miss stories in the food, home, relationships, true crime, paranormal genres, and more.” Existing subscribers should anticipate this change in their next billing cycle starting November 2nd.
Interestingly, while Warner Bros. Discovery hasn’t divulged the exact number of Discovery+ subscribers, the streaming platform’s relaunch of HBO Max as Max this spring saw the addition of numerous shows that were formerly exclusive to Discovery+.
This suggests a strong demand still exists for Discovery+, which boasts a rich collection of both current and classic TV shows from its diverse network portfolio. This includes channels like HGTV, Food Network, TLC, OWN, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and more, complemented by a range of original and exclusive content.
Furthermore, this isn’t the first global price adjustment by the streaming giant. Last year, the UK witnessed a price escalation from £4.99 to £6.99 per month when Discovery+ introduced its ad-lite option in the region.
The decision to raise prices highlights the platform’s commitment to delivering premium content and hints at further investments in its programming in the coming months.
In related news, following the resolution of the Hollywood Strike, Netflix is also reportedly considering a hike in the subscription fee for its ad-free plans.
Ragul Thangavel
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