This week, Disney unveiled a significant number of new shows, movies, and content coming to its Disney + streaming service. The mass entertainment company also announced a price increase for American subscribers, and it looks like Canadians will get a higher price as well.
As reported by , Disney plans to increase the monthly subscription cost from $ 8.99 to $ 11.99 for all Canadian users starting February 23, 2021. It is the same time the company plans to launch its ‘Star’ tier in Canada: Star is the International version of Hulu and not to be confused with the Starz brand licensed from Bell Media in Canada.
Although Hulu hasn’t been available in Canada so far, those eager to give the star-shaped streaming service a try may end up disappointed. Disney has not announced any specific titles for Star, and the service is set up to offer content from specific Disney properties. Other Hulu content, such as some Hulu originals, may not make it to Star as it is already available in Canada through other platforms, for example, The maid’s tale, currently airing on Crave.
On top of that, Disney promised 35 first-run series for Star to be released within a year of service.
For many users, the price increase can be a point of frustration. While Disney claims that Star will come to Disney + at no additional cost, it is clear that the $ 3 per month increase is intended to cover expanded content. Also, Disney isn’t the only streaming platform that has raised prices. Netflix also recently increased its monthly cost.
Along with the incoming tax on digital services, many Canadians could be forced to pay higher monthly bills for streaming services.
