Disney Tops Netflix in the Streaming Showdown
Los Angeles – The biggest name in entertainment is cruising past the streaming giant Netflix, boasting 221.1 million subscriber bases from Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, just eclipsing Netflix’s 220.7 million. Here’s what’s going on.
Price hikes are coming
- Disney+ (ad‑free) will jump 38 % to $10.99 (≅ S$15.08) in December.
- On Dec 8, Disney will roll out an ad‑supported tier for $7.99 – the same amount it charges for the ad‑free version today.
- Hulu’s price climb is modest: $1–$2 extra monthly, depending on the chosen plan.
These new tiers came with a side‑kick: Disney+ Hotstar in India will face new hurdles as the company blocks the broadcast rights to the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket.
A “camera‑ready” forecast
- Disney now projects 215 million to 245 million Disney+ subscribers by September 2024 – a touch of a slump from the earlier 230‑260 million range.
- Crunchy numbers: 80 million new Disney+ Hotstar customers by September 2024, plus “other” Disney+ traffic of 135‑165 million.
Financial groove
Even with a $1.1 billion loss last quarter in the media & entertainment arm, Disney’s theme parks are thriving and the overall hit rate for revenue is up 26 % to $21.5 billion this year. Adjusted earnings per share for the quarter ended July 2 surged 36 % to $1.09.
Profit ready ahead – Disney anticipates the streaming unit will clear a profit by the end of fiscal 2024, even after last quarter’s $1.1 billion loss.
Wrapping it up
Disney’s milestone is a signal that the classic “Mouse House” is not just keeping pace with Netflix – it’s racing ahead. Analysts note that while Netflix is the slow bowler, Disney’s global reach, “now that the streaming wave is catching fire,” is still wide open for growth.
