Digital data and research company eMarketer estimates that Disney+ will top its sister service Hulu in viewer numbers by 2024.
The research shows that, while Netflix is still on top with 168.9 million viewers, Disney+, which launched in November 2019, is on track to have 72.4 million viewers this year.
Note: this post has been updated to show that the eMarketer study is counting viewers as individuals of any age who watch video via an app or website at least once per month. These are not the same as subscriber numbers, as they account for households with multiple family members all using the same account.
By 2024, eMarketer estimates that the number of viewers for Disney+ will be 123.4 million, making up 52% of OTT viewers. With that rate of growth, Disney+ will surpass Hulu’s viewers with 123.4 million vs 115.6 million.
“Since its launch, Disney+ has been able to grow quickly by using a low price point and leveraging a vast library of content,” said Eric Haggstrom, eMarketer forecasting analyst at Insider Intelligence. “Bundled offerings with Hulu and ESPN+, as well as distribution deals with Verizon, have enabled it to grow new subscriptions quickly and reduce subscriber churn.”
The research goes on to show that in 2020, 225.4 million viewers are using a streaming service at least once a month. That number is expected to rise to 237.1 million in 2024.
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