Disney+ now has 54.5 million subscribers worldwide, a new total announced today during the company's quarterly earnings call.
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That means Disney has gained 4.5 million Disney+ subscribers since April 8, when it said that Disney+ had 50 million subscribers. Disney+ launched in November and has grown to almost $55 million subscribers over the course of the last six months.
Disney's significant growth earlier this year came from launches of the service in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, France, Switzerland, and India, but the service has also seen a boost with everyone sheltering in place and working from home.
54.4 million subscribers is well ahead of Disney's projected figures for the growth of Disney+. When the service launched, Disney estimated that it would see 60 to 90 million subscribers worldwide by the end of 2024, but if the current growth rate keeps up, Disney will hit that goal this year.
Apple has not provided subscriber numbers for Apple TV+, so there's no direct comparison to make to Disney+. Apple has been providing a free year of service to everyone who purchases a new Apple device, so it will take some time before Apple has large numbers of paying subscribers.
Disney+ has a major edge over Apple TV+ because Disney has an established catalog of content along with many popular Star Wars and Marvel franchises to offer. "The Mandalorian," the key show Disney+ premiered with, received more attention than any of Apple TV+'s launch shows, including "The Morning Show," "Dickinson," "See," and "For All Mankind."
Though Disney+ growth is solid, Disney lost about $1 billion in operating income in the March quarter due to the shuttering of its theme parks worldwide, including Disneyland in Anaheim, California and the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Top Rated Comments
They are only giving away 1 month of free trial, unlike Apple that is giving an entire year of AppleTV+ with the purchase of a device. I expect more people cancelling AppleTV+ after their trial than Disney+.54.5 Million on free trial ? they will not be paying for those when this is alll over. I’ve worked in customer service to know they will either contact customer service to report that they have cancelled before the trial ended or they will call the bank to file a dispute ??
That is a subjective matter of opinion. IMO, the Mandalorian is far better than anything I have seen on Apple TV.Except Disney doesn't have exciting original content (besides their Marvel and Star Wars series, which aren't showing up for a year). Apple continues to pump out good stuff. That's the key difference there.
Yes, I'd much rather re-watch those tv shows than watch some of Apple's crappy original content.OK. If you like re-watching shows from your childhood or have been living under a rock for the last 20 years. I have seen these in theaters and on DVD many times. I can't get excited about old content.
TV+, however, isn't quite as good. What would save it or make it better is *some* familiar content in abundance so we can watch other stuff.
I'm not referring to new shows (or original content), I'm talking about stuff like Home Alone 2, Frozen, Toy Story, all the Avenger movies...Disney+ catalog alone is sickening.Cool story. Disney+ simply doesn't have enough original content worthy of adults. It's kid stuff and teenager fare. Not a mature service at all. That whole "Apple aversion to graphic content" seems to have been a typo, because clearly Disney is guilty of that, not Apple.
They have one show that was popular, The Mandalorian. In 8 months. I suggest you sign up and see just how little the service actually has to offer adults.
What is good on every streaming service is subjective. I tried the Morning Show and found it boring as hell (and I like the actors in it). The new movies not showing up for a year is kind of annoying and I expect that changes in the future as license deals expire. I get both services free for a year. At the end of the year I'll pay for Disney, but unless Apple keeps giving free years when I buy devices or substantially ups their game for shows I find interesting, I'll be cancelling. But others will clearly feel differently.Very subjective. The Mandalorian is not better than The Morning Show or Servant. Unless you're a Star Wars person, or just prefer Mando.