The war between streaming services is only beginning. Although Netflix was initially only one of very few streaming services available, the market has grown exponentially in recent years. With the Coronavirus pandemic that hit in 2020, the numbers for streaming services have only continued to increase. Now with platforms like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and many more, it can be hard to keep track. As for now, however, the numbers are actually quite surprising. In fact, it’s just been revealed that Disney has surpassed Netflix in subscribers.
As noted via BBC, “the firm reported 221.1 million subscribers across its three streaming platforms at the start of July.” The aforementioned three streaming platforms include Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus. The three are often marketed together in a bundle as they’re all owned by Disney. So, with those numbers in mind, it means that Disney has just barely beaten Netflix as that streaming service continues to lose subscribers. It was noted, however, that Disney might still have some issues with subscriber growth – as they recently lost streaming rights for cricket in India.
Furthermore, Disney Plus is preparing to update their prices later this year. This will include the introduction of an ad-funded tier available at the current $7.99 price. Meanwhile, the ad-free tier will be raised to a price of $10.99 per month. While some subscribers might be disappointed with this change, it’s been stated that executives don’t think it will harm the service in the long-term. And, considering the massive number of blockbuster properties available on the service, they’re probably right. Fans love their Marvel and Star Wars content – and Disney Plus is the best way to get it.
As for Netflix, their most recent quarter revealed a loss of nearly one million subscribers. This brought their total number of subscribers down to 220.67 million. With the 221.1 million mentioned above, one can see how Disney is just barely beating out Netflix. And while the numbers will surely fluctuate in the near future – it’s worth noting how new Disney Plus is. Netflix has been in the game for a long time. But Disney’s plans are just beginning.
So, at this point, it certainly looks like we have a clear winner for the time being. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for updates as we have them.