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Disney Plus is reportedly looking into a free streaming tier

A free streaming push could help Disney compete with YouTube.

A free streaming push could help Disney compete with YouTube.

by Emma RothJul 10, 2026, 3:33 PM UTC

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**Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge*Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.Disney Plus is considering making some of its content free to watch, according to a report from Business Insider. A source tells the outlet that Adam Smith, Disney’s chief product and technology officer, mentioned a free streaming tier during the company’s town hall on Thursday.

It’s not clear which shows or movies the purported free streaming tier involves, or when Disney would consider rolling it out, but Business Insider reports that it’s “part of an ongoing discussion about concepts to better serve fans.” Disney didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.

With YouTube taking up a large portion of viewers’ time in front of the TV, Disney Plus, Netflix, HBO Max, and other streamers are looking for other ways to capture their attention. Disney Plus has already launched vertical video feeds, along with always-on channels, something Netflix is also rumored to be exploring.

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