Linear Shows Drive Big Subscriber Numbers to Disney+, Hulu | Charts

By Christofer Hamilton

Disney’s latest quarterly results drew a sharp contrast in its entertainment segment. Linear TV remained soft, while Direct‑to‑Consumer (DTC), or its streaming services, over‑delivered. DTC operating income rose 39% to $352 million, and total Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions climbed to 195.7 million, up 12.4 million over the prior quarter. 

Parrot Analytics’ Streaming Economics shows how original content on both Disney+ and Hulu has been a major driver of subscriber signups in the past year.  Disney+ originals accounted for the largest share of subscriber acquisitions by series in the past year (25.5%). Hulu ranked second, its originals accounting for nearly 12% of new subscribers that signed up to either Hulu or Disney+ in the past year.