From the outside looking in, Disney appears to be getting more and more greedy. Following recent price hikes, the giant has taken another step toward strengthening its bottom line by cutting out the middleman and looking to sell its services directly.
After making all of its streaming plans more expensive, Disney’s decision is to completely eliminate App Store in-app purchase charges for Disney+ and Hulu. This means the company no longer has to pay Apple a 30% fee to help sell the service, but it does require customers to use Disney’s website to pay for Disney+ and Hulu. It also means that there is.
Monopolizing the distribution of services and apps within the ecosystem you create can be a nuisance to other companies, as they are forced to pay more for each transaction.
However, it is much more convenient for customers to use a single platform to pay for all services. Not to mention, storing personal data on multiple platforms makes it more susceptible to hacking.
Mobile version Disney+ | Image credit: PhoneArena
None of this would have happened if Apple hadn’t given 30% free on every transaction. On the bright side, if you’re already an Apple billing subscriber for Disney+ or Hulu, you’ll still be billed through Apple and can manage your account using your Apple subscription settings. As far as new and repeat subscribers are concerned, they will no longer be able to sign up and pay for Disney+ and Hulu through Apple. The websites for these services have been updated to reflect these changes (via MacRumors).
Disney also said that subscribers who bill with Apple can update their payment information through iTunes using a computer or iOS device. If for any reason you no longer want to be billed by Apple, you’ll need to sign up directly through Disney+ or Hulu.
Mobile version Hulu | Image credit: PhoneArena
In summary, if you’re a Disney+ or Hulu subscriber billed to Apple, you won’t be affected by these changes. If you are a new or regular subscriber, you will no longer be able to sign up and pay for these services through the App Store. In either case, you can watch content on your Apple device as before.
It’s also important to mention that neither Disney+ nor Hulu are eligible for Apple’s Video Partner Program. The program cut App Store prices in half to 15% and helped promote streaming platforms through Siri and Universal Search.
