ESPN+ annual subscriptions will increase in price from $49.99 to $59.99 starting from January 8, 2021. This is the latest price rise to hit the industry, albeit on this occasion it does only affect those who pay yearly for the service. However, those who tend to stream UFC pay-per-view events, can also expect a $5 increase per event, with the price rising from $64.99 to $69.99.
2020 has seen a number of streaming service prices increase, with live TV services some of the most notably hit. For example, YouTube TV went up by $15 per month in June. Later in the year, Hulu Live TV also encountered a price rise, with the cost going up by an additional $10 per month. Live TV aside, many of the most popular streaming services have not avoided an increase, including both Netflix and Disney+.
The cost of an ESPN+ annual subscription is set to increase by $10 starting from next month. The one exception to this is those who are already subscribed to the annual plan, as existing subscribers will be allowed to renew at the same $49.99 price. However, the subscription renewal will need to take place before March 2, 2021.
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The reason this price increase only affects annual subscribers is the monthly price for the same subscription increased by $1 earlier in the year. As a result, even with the price rise in effect, it is still cheaper than paying monthly, considering the current $5.99 per month cost equates to $71.98 over twelve months.
Furthermore, as this is an annual subscription, and an increase that’s known in advance, those considering signing up to ESPN+ might be best off signing up now. Opting to sign up before January 8 will only result in the current $49.99 subscription price, saving the subscriber $10 on the first year.
If a consumer suspects they’ll be an on-and-off ESPN+ subscriber throughout the year, then it might be best to skip the annual plan altogether and subscribe on a monthly basis instead. For example, if subscribing to ESPN+ for less than ten months of the year, it is cheaper to go the monthly route. Again, that’s unless subscribing to the annual plan before the January 8 increase date.
Even then, subscribers would need to remain subscribed to ESPN+ for at least eight months of the year to make the pre-increase annual plan price a cheaper option overall.
Source: Sports Business Daily
