All articles tagged with #subscriptions
Apple has increased the number of personalized email addresses iCloud+ subscribers can create per custom domain from three to ten. This change, which appears to be a quiet update, benefits business owners and families using custom domains. While Apple has not officially announced the change, it is confirmed live on iCloud.com.
Apple TV has updated its rotating selection of complimentary movies for subscribers in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. The service now includes 13 new titles in the U.S., such as 'Taxi Driver' and 'Jurassic World,' alongside seven holdovers from previous months. While the selection varies by region due to licensing constraints, the move expands the library beyond Apple’s original productions. This update follows recent price increases and a broader integration of Apple TV into iCloud+ bundles.
Meta's new AI agent, Muse, has triggered a significant shift in consumer behavior by automating the cancellation of forgotten subscriptions, threatening the profitability of recurring revenue models. While the tool has driven Meta's stock to record highs, it has also sparked backlash from e-commerce and insurance platforms that have blocked its access. Critics and privacy advocates warn of the risks associated with granting AI agents control over personal financial data, even as Meta emphasizes its new security features.
Meta has launched Instagram Plus, a $3.99 monthly subscription offering features like story rewatch counts and secret story previews. Critics argue these tools encourage obsessive behavior and compromise privacy, while Meta defends the service as an optional upgrade for greater control.
The Walt Disney Company has implemented its fourth consecutive annual price increase for Disney+ and Hulu, raising standalone ad-free plans by 13% to $21.49 per month. Ad-supported tiers rose by 50 cents to $12.49, while the ad-free bundle increased to $21.99. These hikes follow a 116% jump in operating income for the combined services, aiming to steer users toward bundles and reduce churn.
Visa data show U.S. online spending rising from 48% of domestic expenditure in 2019 to 58% in 2026, with the share of frequent online buyers (10+ transactions/month) increasing from 13.1% in 2018 to 25.4% in 2026. Digital habits are becoming routine as people buy groceries, stream entertainment, and have meals delivered from mobile devices, aided by AI for price discovery. Subscriptions and at-home entertainment spending have grown, food-delivery use is up, and pet-related spending at home is rising, signaling a broader “couch economy” driven by convenience.
Apple announced price increases for Apple TV and Apple One. Apple TV will cost $14.99/month (up from $12.99) or $119/year (up from $99); Apple One Individual rises to $21.95/month (up from $19.95), with other Apple One plans unchanged. The higher prices apply to new subscribers starting today, and existing subscribers will be notified about the change in advance.
Apple TV+ is raising its subscription prices: monthly costs rise to $14.99 (a $2 hike) and the annual plan goes up to $119.99 (a $20 increase), with Apple One’s individual plan increasing to $21.95 per month. The changes are effective today for new sign-ups, with existing subscribers given one month’s notice. The move comes as streaming services push premium originals and live sports amid broader inflation in the sector.
Apple TV+ will raise its U.S. monthly price to $14.99 (from $12.99) and the annual rate to $119, with existing subscribers notified about the new charge about a month in advance. The Individual tier of Apple One also climbs to $21.95. Apple previously raised prices in August 2025. The change comes as streaming services pursue higher pricing amid strong platform performance and Emmy-nominated content.
ESPN reportedly will not renew its five-year, $1B WWE deal when it ends in 2030, signaling a potential split for WWE's premium events. The outlook is driven by shifts in the media market, the carriage/cost challenges of ESPN Unlimited, and a culture/synergy gap between WWE and ESPN. ESPN has started promoting WWE content more and making some PLEs available on ESPN/ESPN2, but ongoing subscriber and carriage issues persist. Renewal would hinge on a surge in Unlimited subscribers or favorable carriage deals; otherwise WWE would need to find a new home for its PLEs. There is guarded hope for future collaboration if market conditions improve, but the situation remains precarious.
John Oliver rails against the never-ending world of subscriptions on Last Week Tonight, poking fun at examples like Taco Bell’s “Taco Lover’s Pass” and other subscription obsessions, labeling it a universally annoying problem and turning a supercut of complaints into a comedic takedown.
John Oliver argues that subscription models have exploded across industries—from media to household devices—so you pay for ongoing services rather than ownership. He highlights examples like auto services, printer ink, and smart appliances that collect data, and notes how ‘dark patterns’ make signing up easy while canceling can be intentionally hard. The piece emphasizes checking bank statements and device subscriptions, and mentions regulatory efforts such as the FTC’s proposed ‘click to cancel’ rule as a potential fix to a widespread consumer pain point.
John Oliver rails against the ever-growing world of subscription services on Last Week Tonight, mocking everything from books and music to Taco Bell’s 'Taco Lover’s Pass' and other renewals to illustrate how universal, annoying subscriptions have become.
ESPN is increasing the price of ESPN Unlimited from $29.99 to $31.99 per month starting Sept. 17, with the annual plan rising to $319.99. ESPN Select also climbs to $13.99/month (annual up $10). Subscribers on the Disney+/Hulu bundle will keep paying $36/month, and most ESPN Unlimited users are on that bundle. It’s unclear how the change will affect other bundles like Fox One or NFL+ Premium, but the move aligns with broader streaming price hikes.
Peacock raised prices across its plans for the fourth time in four years: Select with ads rose from $8 to $9, Premium with ads from $11 to $13, and Premium Plus (no ads) from $17 to $20. The service also reported its first quarterly profit in Q2 2026 (adjusted EBITDA of $189 million) and added subscribers to reach 48 million, but executives cautioned that profitability will vary by quarter due to investments in live sports and programming, such as NBA games.