Disney+ launches ad-supported tier in UK and Europe

The Walt Disney Company is to launch its Disney+ ad-supported tier in the UK joined by select territories in Europe by November, following its launch in the US.

The global streaming service will introduce the new standard with Ads package, alongside the Standard and Premium subscription plans from November 1.

Disney+ launched its ad-supported subscription offering in the US last year, with more than 100 advertisers across all major categories on board.

Disney+ AVOD roll out in Europe also includes France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

In the UK the Standard with Ads offering is priced at a monthly rate of GBP £4.99 which will offers access to Disney+ content with advertising, with up to two concurrent streams.

The Standard plan without ads also includes up two concurrent streams for GBP £7.99 per month. While the Premium plan allows up to four concurrent stream at £10.99 per month.

Disney said existing customers will remain on their current subscription, which will be renamed Disney+ Premium and will have the option to switch to the Standard Plan or Standard with Ads Plan.

The launch comes as Netflix got rid of its basic plan offering without ads in the US and the UK, replacing it with an advertising-supported subscription plan.

The ad-free basic plan was been removed from Netflix sign-up page in July which was previously priced for a monthly rate of USD $9.99 in the US and GBP £6.99 in the UK. It’s replaced with a standard with adverts offering available for USD $6.99/per month in the US and GBP £4.99/per month in the UK.

Jan Koeppen, president of The Walt Disney Company EMEA said, “The introduction of the ad-supported plan marks the next evolution for Disney+ in the UK, as we provide greater choice for our customers and our world-class advertising partners alike. Disney+ continues to set itself apart in today’s streaming landscape, offering unrivalled value, genre-defining TV series and blockbuster movies set within a simple and seamless experience”.