Walt Disney Co. is lifting prices on its streaming services for the fourth consecutive year, with Disney+ Premium subscriptions climbing to nearly $19 a month in the US.

Australian subscribers were already hit with a price hike in March when the Standard plan rose to A$15.99 and Premium to A$20.99 a month. While Disney has not confirmed if the latest US increases will flow through locally, history suggests another rise may be on the horizon.

Disney confirmed that from October 21, US subscribers will pay an extra $3 for the ad-free Disney+ Premium tier, taking it to US$18.99 (A$29). The ad-supported plan will rise by $2 to US$11.99. Annual Premium subscriptions will also jump, up US$30 to US$189.99.

Bundles are not spared, with Disney+, Hulu and ESPN packages climbing by as much as US$3 (A$4.65) per month. For example, the ad-supported Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Select bundle will move from US$16.99 (A$26.30) to US$19.99 (A$31).

The increases form part of Disney’s push to drive profit from its streaming business after years of heavy investment.

The company is targeting US$1.3 billion (A$2.02 billion) in operating income from its streaming unit this financial year, up from an earlier forecast of US$1 billion (A$1.55 billion).

Disney+ launched in 2019 at US$6.99 (A$10.85) per month and has steadily raised prices as it integrated more content and sought profitability. The platform added 1.8 million new subscribers in the June quarter, bringing its global base to 128 million.

However, growth has slowed in recent years, prompting Disney to bundle services and broaden programming with content from ABC News, Hulu and ESPN.

The timing of the move comes as Disney faces scrutiny after temporarily suspending Jimmy Kimmel Live following the host’s Charlie Kirk comments, sparking calls for boycotts. A company spokesperson stressed the October price rises were planned months ago and unrelated to the controversy.

The hikes also coincide with Disney’s broader restructuring of its streaming platforms. Hulu content is being folded into Disney+ ahead of a new integrated app due in 2026, while a new standalone ESPN streaming service has launched at US$30 (A$46.50) per month.

For Australian subscribers, Disney+ remains priced at A$13.99 a month or A$139.99 annually, with no local price adjustments announced yet.