Disney+ subscriptions drop following Jimmy Kimmel suspension

A recent spike in cancellations of Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions has raised eyebrows, with many pointing to the temporary suspension of TV host Jimmy Kimmel as a potential cause. Data from analytics firm Antenna revealed that Disney+ saw its churn rate double from the average 4% to 8%, resulting in about three million cancellations, while Hulu experienced a similar increase to 10%, equating to more than 4 million cancellations.

The controversy began when Disney suspended Kimmel after he made comments about the shooting of Charlie Kirk, leading to debates about free speech. ABC, which airs Jimmy Kimmel Live, reinstated him within a week following a backlash. The swift decision to take Kimmel off the air came after pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr, who threatened to revoke ABC’s broadcast license.

Critics, including writers, actors guilds, lawmakers, and the ACLU, condemned Disney’s move as censorship and a violation of free speech. Calls for boycotts of Disney’s services began circulating, with protests in California and vocal support for Kimmel from hundreds of celebrities and Hollywood creatives.

The latest data from Antenna suggests that Disney may have suffered financially from the backlash, with increased cancellation rates for Disney+ and Hulu in September compared to previous months. However, it’s important to note that other factors, such as price increases for subscription plans, may have also contributed to the surge in cancellations.

Despite the rise in churn rates, both Disney+ and Hulu saw an increase in new sign-ups in September, helping to offset some of the losses. Disney declined to comment on the situation, while Hulu has yet to respond to inquiries.

Overall, the impact of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension on Disney’s streaming services remains uncertain, but the recent data indicates a noticeable shift in subscriber behavior following the controversy. It will be interesting to see how Disney navigates these challenges as it continues to compete in the competitive streaming entertainment landscape.