Overview
- Adam Smith, Disney’s chief product and technology officer, raised the possibility of free Disney+ content during a company streaming town hall on Thursday, July 9, according to employees and reporting.
- The discussions are early and informal with no decisions, timelines, market rollouts, or list of shows confirmed by Disney.
- Executives are examining a freemium approach that would make some content available for free with more ads while keeping new releases and premium catalog behind paywalls to limit subscriber loss.
- The push responds to rapid growth in Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) platforms, which Nielsen shows rose from 12.7% of U.S. TV viewing in April 2024 to 18.7% in April 2026.
- Disney already sells ad-supported Disney+ bundles and is testing engagement moves like short-form vertical video and always-on channels as part of a broader plan to regain viewers from YouTube, Tubi and The Roku Channel.