WASHINGTON, D.C. — Discovery+ will raise subscription fees by as much as 20 percent starting next month, a move the company says is driven by rising content costs and not by the recent Skydance Media merger.

Customers in the United States will see the basic plan climb from $8.99 to $10.99 per month, while the premium tier will increase from $12.99 to $15.59. The adjustments affect roughly 70 million global subscribers, according to the latest quarterly report released by Warner Bros. Discovery.

KEY POINTCustomers in the United States will see the basic plan climb from $8.

“We are aligning pricing with the value we deliver and the investment we are making in original programming,” said Jason Kilar, chairman of Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming division. “The merger with Skydance adds strategic depth but does not dictate the pricing decision.” Analysts at Bloomberg noted the increase is comparable to recent hikes at rival platforms.

Investor reaction has been mixed. The company’s shares rose 1.4 percent in after‑hours trading, reflecting confidence in long‑term growth, yet some hedge funds warned that higher fees could slow subscriber acquisition in price‑sensitive markets such as Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Regulators in the European Union are monitoring the change for potential competition concerns, as the platform’s market share approaches 12 percent in the region. The EU’s Digital Services Act requires transparent pricing, prompting the firm to publish a detailed breakdown of cost drivers on its corporate website.

Key Takeaways

• Price increase up to 20 percent, new tiers $10.99 and $15.59.
• Merger with Skydance cited as unrelated to pricing decision.
• Potential impact on subscriber growth and regulatory scrutiny.

While the higher fees aim to fund a slate of new series and films, the ultimate effect on Discovery+’s competitive position will hinge on content performance and how quickly the company can translate higher revenue per user into profit growth.