Less than two weeks after the formation of Hollywood’s newest media conglomerate, Discovery+ has announced an increase in its subscription fees. The streaming service, now part of Skydance following its recent merger with Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount, raised the price of its ad-supported tier by $1 to $6.99 per month. Meanwhile, the ad-free subscription option jumped by $2 to $11.99 per month. These new rates are already effective for new customers, while existing subscribers will receive 30 days’ notice before the increased charges appear on bills dated Nov. 12 or later.
Discovery+ initially launched in 2021 with monthly fees set at $4.99 for the ad-supported tier and $6.99 for the ad-free option. Since then, the cost of the lowest-priced plan has grown by roughly 40%, while the ad-free tier has seen an approximately 72% increase. This marks the service’s second price adjustment since January 2025.
The platform offers tens of thousands of TV episodes sourced from cable networks including HGTV, Food Network, and TLC. Prior to the merger, Warner Bros. Discovery operated Discovery+ and HBO Max, while Paramount managed Paramount+. These services continue to operate independently for now. However, David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Skydance, has indicated plans to combine these offerings into a single streaming platform, though details about timing, pricing, and the future role of Discovery+ have yet to be disclosed.
Current subscription prices for HBO Max range from $10.99 to $22.99 monthly, while Paramount+ costs between $8.99 and $13.99. Skydance faces significant financial challenges as it steps into this new phase, carrying approximately $80 billion in debt and aiming to achieve over $6 billion in cost savings within three years. The company anticipates these reductions will primarily stem from efficiencies in technology, procurement, marketing, and real estate, rather than workforce cuts. Analysts suggest that the company’s heavy debt burden may likely result in additional price increases across its streaming platforms.
The hike at Discovery+ aligns with broader industry trends, as streaming services nationwide grapple with rising expenses for content production and talent acquisition. Alongside Discovery+, major platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV, Hulu, and Disney+ have implemented subscription fee increases within the past year. Amazon Prime Video also raised the cost of its ad-free add-on in April, underscoring a widespread recalibration of streaming pricing in response to evolving market and financial pressures.