Disney to Stop Reporting Subscriber Numbers for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+

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Disney has decided to stop sharing subscriber data on a quarterly basis for its streaming platforms such as Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. This decision mirrors Netflix’s earlier choice and will be implemented starting from the September 2025 quarter for ESPN+, and the first quarter of the fiscal year 2026 (which spans the final three months of calendar 2025) for Disney+ and Hulu.

Streaming Metrics Deemed “Less Meaningful”

In a shared announcement, Disney’s CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston expressed that paid subscriber numbers and Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) are no longer suitable indicators for assessing the success of our business operations.

In their recent financial statement, executives expressed a commitment to consistently expanding their businesses and matching their financial reports with their operational methods. They noted that since they started disclosing the number of paying customers and average revenue per user, their direct-to-consumer approach and overall business climate have undergone changes.

Rather than using traditional financial metrics, Disney has decided to focus on reporting “Profitability from Direct-to-Consumer Entertainment,” as they find this measurement more aligned with their approach to assessing their advancement and strategic decisions.

Industry-Wide Shift

In the spring of 2024, Netflix unveiled a surprising decision: they would cease to disclose their quarterly subscriber numbers. This announcement, both on Wall Street and in Hollywood, came as a shock. Netflix explained that membership figures are merely one aspect of their broader business model, emphasizing engagement, revenue, and operating margin as more relevant indicators instead.

Currently, Disney is adopting a comparable strategy, expressing that their reporting adjustments will more accurately depict “the evolving media environment, the distinctive characteristics of our combined resources, and how we function.

Current Subscriber Figures

In the upcoming phase, you won’t receive any more public updates. However, Disney has already disclosed recent figures as part of their Q2 2025 report.

  • Disney+: 128 million (up 1.8 million from the prior quarter)
  • Hulu: 55.5 million (up 800,000)
  • Combined Disney+/Hulu: 183 million (up 2.6 million overall)

I’m thrilled to share that it’s projected that the number of Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions will surge past 10 million during the July-September quarter, primarily due to our enhanced partnership with Charter. While the company anticipates a more subtle growth in Disney+ subscribers individually. As an admirer, I can’t wait to see these services continue to expand and entertain audiences worldwide!

In related news, Disney also announced Disney+ will be absorbing Hulu.

ESPN is also getting an expanded streaming service.

Streaming Segment Profit

During the June quarter, Disney’s streaming division generated a profit of approximately $346 million, representing a 6% increase in revenue compared to previous periods. Although Disney has chosen to stop reporting subscription numbers, it seems clear that the company is prioritizing profitability and utilizing alternative metrics for measuring their success.

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2025-08-07 18:34