Disney Plus raises prices again following Jimmy Kimmel cancelation controversy

Jimmy Kimmel’s late night talk show has returned after two ABC affiliates refused to lift the suspension and Disney reportedly lost major money.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! caused controversy last week after the host made a few comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

He didn't stop there, as he also appeared to make fun of the way Donald Trump was dealing with the political activist's death.

After his monologue, ABC made the choice to suspend the show ‘indefinitely’, and this led to major backlash online.

Even politicians argued that this seemed to be censorship and not in line with the US' freedom to speak freely.

However, less than a week later, Disney announced that Kimmel’s show would be returning, but that didn't stop The Walt Disney Co. from losing a staggering amount of money 'overnight'.

The company is hiking its Disney+ prices (Thiago Prudencio/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

While many were happy to learn that Kimmel would be back on TV, Sinclair Inc. and Nexstar - ABC affiliates - confirmed they will not air Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

This will impact around one quarter of ABC's total audience reach.

Disney, which owns ABC, seems to have also been facing its own troubles in light of the suspension.

Market Watch reported Disney stocks lost 2.31 percent in the last week following the news of Kimmel’s cancellation, and according to Al Jazeera, Walt Disney Co. lost billions from its stock market value 'overnight' when news of the affiliate strike broke.

Disney+ price increases

Disney has since announced that it will be increasing prices for various streaming service bundles, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN channels.

Subscribers reportedly started being notified of the changes, which will come into effect from October 21, on Tuesday (September 23).

It comes after the company previously alluded to the price hikes in its third-quarter earnings call.

Here's what's changing:

• Disney+ with ads service will rise from $9.99 to $11.99 per month
• The ad-free premium version will increase from $15.99 to $18.99 per month
• Hulu's ad-supported plan will go from $9.99 to $11.99 per month
• The UK will also have its annual subscription increase to £99.90

ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel from his late night spot, he's since returned (Michael Le Brecht/Disney via Getty Images)

Other bundles for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN will also have price changes too.

As the third price increase in three years, it comes amid a rather awkward time for the company.

The Kimmel controversy could also see ABC lose millions of viewers of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which will result in Disney missing out on money, according to a brand expert and publicist.

Crystal Gorges told FOX Business: "ABC and Disney are already under a microscope with the FCC pressure being so public, so viewers can easily connect the dots and interpret a suspension as political compliance rather than a programming decision."

The expert said the 'financial danger isn’t so much advertisers walking away as it is alienating loyal viewers who see it as censorship'.

"Loyal viewers who tune in night after night, or who pay for Disney/ABC bundle subscriptions, could feel like their voices are being silenced," Gorges added. "That sense of alienation can quickly snowball into organized opposition, social media movements, or even subscriber cancellations."

He said the 'long-term monetary risk comes from the ripple effects of being seen as caving to outside pressure', such as politics.

UNILAD has reached out to Disney for comment.