The price of an ESPN+ subscription is set to increase to $6.99 per month starting next month. This is only the latest price increase to hit the streaming market and the latest to impact a service owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. In fact, it is not even the first time that ESPN+ has seen an increase either.
ESPN+ is a popular service for those interested in live sports. A subscription currently costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 when paid annually. However, there is the option to bundle and save when combining an ESPN+ subscription with basic Hulu and Disney+. Recently, Disney+ incurred a price increase, taking the monthly cost up by $1, resulting in the price increasing from $6.99 to $7.99 per month.
ESPN+ is now about to encounter the exact same $1 price rise. Starting from August 13, the price of an ESPN+ subscription will increase from $5.99 per month to $6.99, with the confirmation of the increase already live on the ESPN+ website when signing up. Likewise, the cost of the annual subscription will also increase, up from $59.99 to $69.99 for the year.
While some price rises only apply to new subscribers, this one looks set to apply to both new and existing customers. ESPN+ has confirmed that existing subscribers can expect to see the price rise on their first bill, following August 13, 2021.
The latest streaming price increase
There have been multiple price increases affecting the streaming industry in recent years, with the most notable examples seen within the live TV streaming market. ESPN+ is not exempt here either, considering this is the second time the service that provides access to live and on demand sports has upped the cost. Mid-way through 2020, ESPN+ encountered a price increase which brought the cost up by $1 per month, resulting in its current $5.99 price. By the start of 2021, the same price increase also hit annual subscribers as well. Now, with the latest price increase upping the price by another $1 per month (or $10 per year), subscribers will be paying $2 per month (or $20 per year) more than they were in early 2020
In spite of the increased prices, it still does remain more beneficial for ESPN+ subscribers to pay annually for their subscription, as the yearly cost does result in a little over $13 in savings over the course of the year. Alternatively, the Disney bundle may prove to be an ever better option, so long as Hulu and Disney+ subscriptions are also of value.
Source: ESPN+
