Disney+ and Hulu to stop accepting subscriptions via the App Store

Disney+ and Hulu , video streaming services owned by the Walt Disney Company, have stopped accepting subscriptions using in-app purchases on the App Store. From now on, users who want to use the service on their iOS apps will need to sign in to the app after registering as a paid member on the website.

Hulu and Disney+ No Longer Support Signups and Payment Using App Store - MacRumors
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/10/21/hulu-disney-plus-no-app-store-signup/

Disney+ and Hulu ditch App Store In-App Purchase billing
https://9to5mac.com/2024/10/21/disney-hulu-app-store-in-app-purchase/

Apple has long been pushing streaming platforms available on its App Store to allow users to subscribe directly through in-app purchases, a move that has frustrated service providers because they have to pay Apple a 15-30% commission on in-app purchases.

Following class action lawsuits and investigations by regulatory agencies, the terms were changed to allow 'reader applications' that allow users to read subscribed content such as magazines, books, newspapers, music and videos to include links to external websites in the app from 2022. In January 2024, iOS apps were also allowed to include 'links to payment systems by means other than in-app purchases.'

Then, in mid-October 2024, many Internet users reported that the option to subscribe through the Disney+ and Hulu iOS apps had been removed. From now on, new users will not be able to subscribe directly through the iOS apps, but will be directed to subscribe through an external website.

At the time of writing, the Disney+ and Hulu help centers also explained that it was not possible to sign up or re-subscribe via the App Store.

Partner Payments
https://help.disneyplus.com/ja/article/disneyplus-ja-jp-third-party-subscription#apple

Managing an Apple-billed Hulu account
https://help.hulu.com/article/hulu-manage-apple

New users will be able to watch content on their Apple devices as before by first creating a Disney+ or Hulu account on an external website and then signing in to the iOS app. Users who already subscribe through in-app purchases on the App Store will not be affected and will not need to choose a new payment method.

Disney is raisingthe prices of Disney+ and Hulu starting October 17. MacRumors, an overseas media outlet, said that the abolition of in-app purchases also appears to be part of an effort to increase streaming revenue.

Disney isn't the first company to remove subscriptions from the App Store: Spotify has already discontinued payments through the App Store, and Netflix has blocked new and returning subscribers from signing up through the App Store, and has begun informing existing customers in some countries to switch their payment method through the App Store.

Netflix starts refusing to accept payments through Apple - GIGAZINE