Disney+ App Outpaces Streaming Rivals With 40.9 Million Downloads
Walt Disney Co.’s new streaming service seems to have had a record-setting start.
According to a study by SensorTower Inc., Disney+’s second month garnered 13.5 million, or 33 percent, of the 40.9 million installs it’s seen since launch. Comparatively, 29 percent of HBO Now’s downloads during its first 60 days came from its second month.
The Disney+ downloads across the App Store and Google Play have generated almost $100 million in user spending, according to the study. That’s four times as much as the HBO Now app earned in its first two months.
However, the study excludes many of the devices that viewers use to watch Disney+ -- such as Roku, gaming consoles or Amazon Fire TV -- meaning it only captures a fraction of the revenue Disney is generating from streaming.
Priced at $7 a month, Disney+ is a bet that the company can attract as many as 90 million subscribers worldwide in five years. It’s relying heavily on original programming aimed at an existing fan base, such as “The Mandalorian, the first live-action “Star Wars” series. It also includes a library of past Disney hits.
Disney+ benefited from launching in several countries, unlike the initial launch of HBO Now. But even just measuring U.S., the app racked up 34.3 million downloads and $81.5 million. About 85% of downloads have been in the country, with the remainder spread across Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands.
Netflix Inc. remains the dominant paid streaming platform, with 150 million subscribers globally.