Disney+ No Longer Offering Free Trials Ahead of 'Hamilton' Premiere

Disney+ is no longer offering seven-day free trials of the streaming service to new subscribers, reports French news site Numerama.

A Disney spokesperson suggested the ending of the free trial formed part of an initial investigation into different offers and promotions to best expand the service's user base.

disneyplus

"We continue to test and evaluate different marketing, offers and promotions to grow Disney Plus," the company said in a statement. "The service was set at an attractive price-to-value proposition that we believe delivers a compelling entertainment offering on its own."

It's not known exactly when Disney stopped offering the trial, but the decision comes ahead of the hotly anticipated July 3 premiere of "Hamilton," a movie based on Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit Broadway musical. Disney reportedly paid $75 million for worldwide rights to the movie, which will air over a year ahead of its original planned theatrical release.

Going forward, anyone wanting to watch "Hamilton" next month will have to pay for at least one month of Disney Plus, priced at $6.99, but that's unlikely to concern Disney.

The streaming service has amassed at least 50 million subscribers since its launch last November and has a significant edge over ‌‌Apple's rival TV‌‌+ service, thanks to an established catalog of content that includes many popular Star Wars and Marvel franchises.

For example, "The Mandalorian," the key show Disney+ premiered with, received more attention than any of ‌‌Apple TV‌‌+'s launch shows, including "The Morning Show," "Dickinson," "See," and "For All Mankind." In a bid to rival that interest, Apple is reportedly in the process of purchasing older movies and shows for Apple TV+ to build a back catalog of content.

Apple has not released subscriber numbers ‌Apple TV+‌, which costs $4.99 a month, so there's no direct comparison to Disney+. Since September though, Apple has been providing a free year of service to anyone who purchases a new Apple device, so it will take at least a year before Apple has large numbers of paying subscribers.

Top Rated Comments

Skika Avatar
43 months ago

If Steve Jobs were still alive, Disney/Pixar would not be competing with Apple.

This is just another one of those Tim Cook bean counter moments.

Just saying.
these comments still exist?
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Feyl Avatar
43 months ago

iTunes and iPod were created because Steve loved music... when you hear him talk on past keynotes you realise that.
That’s exactly the problem with Apple without Steve. Everything Steve did was because he was passionate about it. Not because he wanted to compete with someone or make a quick buck. Tim’s Apple just go for profit and market share. Everything else is secondary.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BaltimoreMediaBlog Avatar
43 months ago
If Steve Jobs were still alive, Disney/Pixar would not be competing with Apple.

This is just another one of those Tim Cook bean counter moments.

Just saying.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
4492865 Avatar
43 months ago
I think the only service Apple is successful with is Music — because it builds onto iTunes — which in turns in something where Apple really put its heart into. Music (or iTunes) is may also be the only that could potentially survive outside of Apple’s ecosystem, it’s certainly got enough to offer.

Everything else - meh. Mediocre quality where Apple will never excel with those whose primary job it is to provide that service.

Apple’s been trying to get into the magazine business since the release of the iPad and it all failed. The Daily, Newsstand just two examples of that. Their heart isn’t into this. iTunes and iPod were created because Steve loved music... when you hear him talk on past keynotes you realise that.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Glideslope Avatar
43 months ago

these comments still exist?
Yes. As they will 10 years from now. :apple:
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lepton Avatar
43 months ago
Remember the last time Apple spread itself too thin? It’s doing it again. Do a very few things very very well.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Mock Header With Dynamic Island

Skipping the iPhone 15 Pro? Here's What's Rumored for iPhone 16 Pro

Friday September 22, 2023 9:29 am PDT by
Are you skipping the iPhone 15 Pro and waiting another year to upgrade? If so, we already have some iPhone 16 Pro rumors for you. Below, we recap new features rumored for the iPhone 16 Pro models so far:Larger displays: The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be equipped with larger 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively, according to Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain...
Apple WWDC23 macOS Sonoma hero

macOS Sonoma Launching This Week With These New Features

Sunday September 24, 2023 12:45 pm PDT by
Apple previously announced that macOS Sonoma will be released this Tuesday, September 26. The free software update includes many new features and changes for the Mac, including the five that we have highlighted below. In addition to these five features, we have shared the full release notes for macOS Sonoma below for a complete overview of everything new. Desktop Widgets macOS Sonoma...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 double tap gesture 230912

watchOS 10.1 to Enable Apple Watch's New 'Double Tap' Gesture

Thursday September 21, 2023 12:52 pm PDT by
The new Double Tap gesture for the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be enabled starting with watchOS 10.1, according to Marques Brownlee, host of the popular tech-focused YouTube channel MKBHD. The first beta of watchOS 10.1 will likely be available by next week, and Apple announced that the software update will be released next month. Brownlee shared his impressions...