Sept 23 (Reuters) - Walt Disney ( DIS ) said on Tuesday

it will raise prices for its flagship Disney+ streaming service

in the United States next month, as the entertainment giant

pushes to bolster profits from its digital platforms.

Starting October 21, the ad-supported Disney+ plan will

increase by $2 to $11.99 per month, while the ad-free premium

tier will rise $3 to $18.99 a month. Annual premium

subscriptions will jump $30 to $189.99.

Bundled packages combining Disney+ with Hulu and ESPN+ will

also see price hikes, according to the company's website.

Disney ( DIS ) is facing heightened public scrutiny following the

recent controversy over the temporary removal of Jimmy Kimmel

Live! from ABC, which sparked calls to even boycott the

company's services.

Disney+ launched in November 2019 at $6.99 per month,

gradually raising its prices since then as part of a broader

strategy to stem losses and turn streaming into a growth engine.

Its streaming business had achieved profitability for the first

time last year

It is the fourth consecutive year Disney ( DIS ) has raised its

subscription prices. The company imposed a 38% price hike in

December 2022, followed by further increases in October of 2023

and 2024.