Disney+ is considering a free streaming tier, report says
Disney+ is exploring the launch of a free, ad-supported streaming tier to compete with services like Tubi and YouTube. The move aims to capture a larger share of consumer viewing time as subscription costs rise.
Why it matters
This shift reflects a broader industry trend where streaming platforms are pivoting toward ad-supported models to maintain growth in a saturated market.
Disney+ is considering making some of its streaming library available to watch for free, according to a report from Business Insider .
Disney’s chief product and technology officer Adam Smith discussed the possibility of offering free-tier content during a town hall on Thursday, the report says. It’s unknown which shows or movies would be included or when the streaming platform would consider launching the offering.
The rollout of free content would allow Disney+ to better compete with free services like YouTube and Tubi, which are capturing a growing share of consumers’ viewing time.
As streaming giants continue to raise prices , consumers have been turning to ad-supported services. According to data from Neilson , free streaming services represented 18.7% of U.S. television watch time in April 2026, rising from 16.8% in April 2025 and 12.7% in April 2024.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in