Discovery+ Subscription Prices Rise by Up to 20%, Unrelated to Skydance Merger

Image: Ars Technica · Source

Discovery+ has increased its subscription prices, with ad-free plans rising from $10 to $12 and ad-supported plans from $6 to $7. These changes predate and are independent of the recent Skydance merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Discovery+, the streaming platform known for its focus on unscripted content such as reality shows and documentaries, has implemented a price increase for new subscribers. Effective immediately, the ad-free monthly subscription price has increased from $10 to $12, while the ad-supported plan has risen from $6 to $7. Existing subscribers will receive a 30-day notice before the new pricing takes effect, beginning with billing cycles on or after November 12.

This price adjustment follows shortly after the merger announcement whereby Paramount Skydance acquired Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), the parent company of Discovery+. However, a spokesperson for Skydance clarified to Ars Technica that these pricing changes were planned before the merger's closing was finalized and are not related to it. The spokesperson emphasized that subscription prices are regularly reviewed to ensure alignment with the service’s content value and overall user experience.

Discovery+ has had three price increases since its launch in 2012. The most recent one prior to this was in January 2025, when ad-supported subscriptions rose from $5 to $6 and ad-free plans increased from $9 to $10. Though Discovery+ remains a smaller streaming venture compared to WBD's flagship HBO Max service, it has maintained profitability at least since 2023 and exhibits low cancellation rates. WBD’s CEO in early 2026 described Discovery+ as a "tremendous opportunity" with substantial growth potential.

While subscriber numbers have not been updated recently, WBD reported 24 million Discovery+ subscribers in 2022. The streaming landscape is set to change with Skydance’s recent acquisition, as they plan to merge Paramount+, Discovery+, and HBO Max into a single unified streaming service. This forthcoming consolidation could impact pricing structures going forward, possibly leading to a more premium offering considering Discovery+’s new subscription rates.

For now, the current price increases stand as independent adjustments reflecting Discovery+’s evaluation of its service value, rather than merger-driven decisions. Consumers will watch closely as the evolving streaming strategies under Skydance’s management take shape in the coming months.