Curious Incident: ABC Suspends Jimmy Kimmel on Disney+ and Hulu

Last month, when ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the impact wasn’t just felt in late-night TV. The fallout spilled over into streaming, where it was reported that cancellations on Disney+ rose to 1.7 million during the week of September 17 to September 23. Surprisingly, this controversy resulted in a curious phenomenon across Disney+ and Hulu.

Some subscribers were upset and decided to cancel their subscriptions in protest, while others rushed to sign up. According to Variety, data from research firm Antenna showed that Disney’s streaming platforms experienced double their usual cancellation rates in September 2025, but also saw a significant increase in new subscribers.

On September 17, ABC announced the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the host made controversial remarks. This decision sparked outrage and prompted major ABC affiliates to temporarily pull Kimmel’s show from their schedules. Viewers took to social media to voice their displeasure, leading to a spike in cancellation rates on Disney+ and Hulu.

Despite the cancellations, Disney+ and Hulu also saw a surge in new sign-ups in September compared to the previous months. Disney+ added an estimated 2.18 million new subscribers, while Hulu welcomed 2.11 million new sign-ups. So, while many users were hitting the cancel button, an equal number were joining in, perhaps intrigued by the controversy.

When Jimmy Kimmel returned to air on September 23, his comeback episode broke records with the highest viewership numbers in the show’s history. This streaming paradox, born out of modern media and politics, showcased a mix of outrage and curiosity on subscriber charts.

Additionally, alongside the late-night drama, the streaming price hikes added another layer to the cancellations. Disney raised subscription prices across its platforms in late September, which may have also contributed to some cancellations. While some cancellations were due to political reasons, others were purely based on economics.

In the end, the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel had ripple effects not only in late-night television but also in the world of streaming, where subscribers made their voices heard through their actions.