Introduction:
Disney+ is a popular streaming platform that has recently faced a decline in its number of subscribers. Despite the expectations of Wall Street analysts, Disney+ lost 4 million subscribers in the first quarter of 2023, bringing the total number of subscribers to 157.8 million. In this blog post, we will explore the reasons behind this decline and the future plans of Disney+.
Le perdite degli abbonati:
The second consecutive quarterly decline of Disney+ can be attributed to the loss of 4.6 million subscribers on Disney+ Hotstar, the version of the service offered in India and some parts of Southeast Asia. Last year, Disney lost the streaming rights of cricket matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL), leading to a reduction in the growth targets of Disney+ Hotstar in India. In addition, Disney+ lost approximately 300,000 subscriptions in the United States/Canada, reaching 46.3 million, while gaining almost 1 million subscriptions in international markets excluding Disney+ Hotstar.
HULU:
During the earnings call of Disney+ held on Wednesday, CEO Bob Iger announced that Hulu’s content would be introduced on Disney+ during the year with a « unique experience. » Disney will continue to offer Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ as standalone options. Iger explained that this is a logical progression of their DTC offerings that will offer more opportunities for advertisers while giving bundle subscribers access to more solid and simplified content, ultimately resulting in a more unified streaming experience.
Conclusion:
Disney+ has experienced a decline in subscribers due to various reasons, including the loss of streaming rights of cricket matches in India and a decrease in subscriptions in the United States/Canada. However, Disney+ is planning to introduce Hulu’s content on the platform, which will provide a unique streaming experience. Disney will continue to offer standalone options for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. The combination of Disney+ content with general entertainment is a strong proposition for subscribers, acquisition, and retention, ultimately leading to a more unified streaming experience.
Source : blog.screenweek.it
