Discovery+ price rise tests 4.9 million US subscribers under Skydance

The increase landed a week after Skydance closed its $110 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery [1][3]. The combined company carries roughly $80 billion in debt [1].

Antenna estimated Discovery+ had 4.9 million paying US subscribers in August 2026, about half of them on the ad-supported tier [6]. Skydance has not said how Discovery+ fits into its plan to combine HBO Max and Paramount+ [1]. At a 7 October press conference outlining the merged company's vision, executives did not mention Discovery+ at all [6]. The company last reported 24 million global subscribers in March 2022, before the Warner Bros. Discovery merger [6]. It no longer discloses standalone numbers after integrating the service with HBO Max [2][6]. Executives have previously described the streamer as a "profitable business" [6].

A price rise planned before the merger closed

Skydance says the increase was in the works before the deal closed. A company spokesperson said the Discovery+ changes were planned several months before the merger was finalized [1][6]. The spokesperson told Ars Technica they were not drawn up in anticipation of the closing [5]. Discovery+ last raised prices in January 2025, when the ad-supported tier went from $5 to $6 and the ad-free plan from $9 to $10 [5]. The service launched in 2021 at $4.99 and $6.99 [1].

The ad-free plan now costs about 72% more than at launch [1]. The cheapest tier is up roughly 40% [1].

The debt behind the decision

Skydance is targeting more than $6 billion in cost savings over three years against that debt [1]. The company has said the savings will come mainly from technology, procurement, marketing and real estate [1]. The bulk will not come from layoffs, David Ellison has said [1]. Industry observers expect the debt load to add pressure for further increases across Skydance's streaming lineup, the Los Angeles Times reported [1]. The A.V. Club reported that the debt has prompted worries Discovery+ could be the first of several Skydance services to pass costs to customers [4]. Paramount+ and HBO Max would be next, the outlet said [4].

Where Discovery+ fits

David Ellison has said he plans to combine HBO Max and Paramount+ into one streaming service [1]. It is unclear when that will happen or what it will cost [1]. Where Discovery+ fits is also unanswered [1]. The services still run separately. HBO Max costs between $10.99 and $22.99 a month, and Paramount+ between $8.99 and $13.99 [1]. Discovery+ carries Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID, Animal Planet, Magnolia Network and some CNN specials [2][6].

Ellison's team has to combine four streaming services [1]. It also inherits three TV production studios and more than 50 television networks, the Los Angeles Times reported [1].

Skydance has promised more than a price rise. Its direct-to-consumer products would "unify into a single service over time", it said after the merger [3]. Ellison expects the two apps to take time to combine [6]. In the interim there will likely be a bundling option for HBO Max and Paramount+, The Hollywood Reporter reported [6].

The wider price cycle

Discovery+ is not alone. Netflix, Apple TV, Hulu and Disney+ have all raised subscription fees in the last year, the Los Angeles Times reported [1]. Prime Video raised the cost of its ad-free add-on in April, and Pocket-lint listed Peacock among the platforms that have done the same [1][3]. Rising programming and talent costs sit behind the run, the paper said [1]. This time the ad-free tier carries a $2 increase, against $1 in January 2025 [1][5].

Outlets do not agree on the service's history. Ars Technica described this as Discovery+'s third increase since a 2012 launch [5]. Other coverage dates the launch to January 2021 and calls this the second hike since January 2025 [1].

What happens next

Existing subscribers get 30 days' notice and will see the higher rates on bills dated on or after 12 November [1][5]. New subscribers pay $6.99 or $11.99 immediately [1][2]. Skydance has not publicly laid out plans for Discovery+ or a timetable for combining HBO Max and Paramount+ [1][6].

Pocket-lint noted that Discovery+ has indicated it will keep operating for the foreseeable future [3]. Warner Bros. Discovery almost shut it down in 2023 [3].