Disney+ Is Exploring a Free Tier to Fight Back Against YouTube’s Growing TV Dominance
The move could help Disney+ compete with free, ad-supported services as Nielsen says the three largest free streamers reached 18.7% of U.S. TV watch time in April.
- Disney is considering making some Disney+ content available without a paywall, according to reports on Friday. Chief Product and Technology Officer Adam Smith reportedly discussed the early-stage initiative during a company town hall on Thursday.
- Free services like YouTube, Tubi, and The Roku Channel captured 18.7% of U.S. television watch time in April, up from 16.8% a year earlier. These ad-supported platforms are forcing paid streamers to rethink their competitive strategies.
- Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro has told staffers he is prioritizing "product and technology innovation" in streaming. The company has already added vertical video clips to its Disney+ app to boost engagement.
- While Netflix, Apple TV, and Paramount offer limited free access, they lack robust free tiers. According to Wall Street Journal reporting, engagement has become a critical indicator of customer retention across the industry.
- The initiative remains in early stages with no confirmed timeline or scope. Disney has not disclosed which shows or movies would be included in a potential free tier.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Tubi Trolls Disney+ After Reports of a Free Tier Surface
Disney+ may be getting ready to copy one of the fastest-growing trends in streaming, and Tubi wasted absolutely no time pointing it out. Following reports that Disney is internally discussing a free version of Disney+, Tubi fired off a short but pointed response on X. often imitated never duplicated https://t.co/74kEoIPiTt — Tubi (@Tubi) July 10, 2026 READ: Moana 2026 Is Nearly a Copy-and-Paste of the Original: And That Leads to One Very Awkwar…
Disney Plus is throwing around the idea of adding a free tier
Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR The Walt Disney Company is reportedly considering making some of its streaming content free. It’s said that Chief Product and Tech Officer Adam Smith spoke about adding a free tier to Disney Plus during a town hall. Sources say that these talks are part of an ongoing discussion on how to better serve viewers. A recent report claims that Netflix is considering adding live channels to its platform…
Disney+ considers a free tier to entice new viewers
Disney+ may soon offer a free tier to compete with YouTube and entice viewers to stay on the streaming service. Adam Smith, Disney's chief product and technology officer, pitched the idea during a company town hall this week. It seems to be one of several ideas Disney is considering to bring in potential customers (h/t Business Insider). Importantly, there are currently no indications of what shows or movies would be included in this potential f…
Disney+ is Considering Adding a Free Tier
Disney+ is considering add a free plan option, making at least some of its content more accessible to a wider audience. According to a report from Business Insider, Disney’s product and tech chief Adam Smith discussed the possibility of offering free-tier content during a town hall on Thursday. The person who shared that information with […] The post Disney+ is Considering Adding a Free Tier appeared first on Cord Cutters News.
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