MediaGPT | Streaming pricing analysis
U.S. streaming prices rose 11.8% in the past year, three times the long-run cable average. Sports rights supply the justification, ad tiers and bundles hold subscribers, and in Korea the strategy after the price freeze is the open question.
Disney+'s ad-free tier, which launched in 2019 at $6.99 a month (about 9,500 won), now costs $18.99 (about 25,800 won). Five increases have lifted the price 172%. The option of watching ads to save on the subscription did not hold its original price either: Peacock's ad-supported plan rose from $4.99 (about 6,800 won) at launch to $12.99 (about 17,700 won). Viewers who accept ads now pay more than the ad-free plan cost three years ago.