Disney has confirmed it is considering launching a free, ad-supported tier of Disney Plus, as streaming platforms face growing competition from free-to-watch services such as YouTube. Speaking during the company's earnings call, Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro said the firm is "exploring a free product for consumers" that could help drive growth and reach price-sensitive customers who might not otherwise subscribe.

D'Amaro stopped short of confirming any concrete plans, stating there was "nothing specific to announce today," though he described a free tier as "definitely something that we're considering." The idea follows a Business Insider report from July, which said Disney's chief product and technology officer, Adam Smith, had raised the possibility at a company town hall. Disney also outlined broader plans to expand Disney Plus into a "digital centerpiece" for the company next year, incorporating games, merchandise and personalisation features, alongside a newly announced partnership with TikTok to bring Disney-branded fan content to the platform.