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Josh D’Amaro Confirms Disney is Exploring a Free, Ad-Supported Streaming Product to Reach Price-Sensitive Consumers

Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro confirmed during a recent earnings call that the company is exploring the launch of a free, ad-supported streaming product. This initiative aims to expand Disney's reach to price-sensitive customers while simultaneously accelerating ad revenue growth. D’Amaro noted that Disney possesses significant ad inventory, which could provide a competitive advantage over other advertising video-on-demand (AVOD) rivals. While the company has not yet made a specific announcement regarding the timeline or scope of the free offering, it is intended to serve as a 'top-of-funnel' strategy to drive growth for the Disney+ subscription service. This move comes as streaming platforms face increasing competition from FAST services like Tubi and The Roku Channel. Other major players, including Netflix, are also considering free tiers but remain cautious about potential revenue cannibalization. Disney's current streaming portfolio continues to show growth, with Disney+ and Hulu subscribers rising to 196 million as of late 2025.

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