Home / Business and Economy / Disney+ Subscriber Exodus Looms Amid Kimmel Suspension and Price Hikes
Disney+ Subscriber Exodus Looms Amid Kimmel Suspension and Price Hikes
3 Oct
Summary
- Consumer sentiment for Disney plunges, especially among Democrats
- Potential for over 1.7 million streaming cancellations across Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+
- Disney+ brand awareness spike smaller than usual, more from Republicans than Democrats
According to a new analysis by Jefferies, consumer sentiment around The Walt Disney Company and its streaming service Disney+ has plunged in the last two weeks. The investment bank's data shows a sharp decline in sentiment among both Democrats and Republicans, with Democrats experiencing a larger drop.
For Democrats, the latest week marked the lowest sentiment for Disney in the last two years, while for Republicans, it's the lowest level since March 2025. Jefferies analyst James Heaney described this as "clearly a PR hit for Disney," though the data suggests a smaller impact on Disney+ than the brand as a whole.
Independent journalist Maris Kabas has reported that the total cancellations across Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ could exceed 1.7 million between September 17 and 23. This comes after Disney temporarily suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and announced upcoming price hikes for its streaming services.
While brand awareness for Disney has spiked in the last two weeks, the lift for Disney+ was much smaller and came more from Republicans than Democrats. Looking ahead, Jefferies and Bank of America analysts expect a modest impact on Disney+'s subscriber growth, but the situation remains a significant challenge for the company.
