Apple TV+ Competitor Disney+ Already Has Over 28 Million Subscribers

[jlc1978]

Apple’s challenge is, as pointed out, the need to develop new content since they lack Disney’s catalogue and franchises. Disney can spin off shows for Disney+ and have a built in fan base from the franchise. Apple needs to create franchise, a slow and difficult task. Disney also has ESPN with the opportunity get crossover viewers, as well as Hulu. Disney simply has too many ways to gain subscribers and leverage content. Netflix is probably in the weakest slot since they lack other products, unlike Apple and Amazon, to rely on for cash

 

[Darth Tulhu]

That's called HBO Max. It will have LOTR, Matrix, GoT, Hobbit, Looney Tunes, Friends, etc.

The major exception is Harry Potter, because WB sold the rights to NBCUniversal.

UUUGHHHH. Dammit WB. DAMMIT!! Having GoT and LOTR in the same Network means one WON'T get the attention it deserves, and I mean LOTR. HBO already has a bazillion great first-party shows, but I worry about this.

My dream died as quick as a lightsaber strike.

Thanks for the info, though. I'll look into this and see what's up.

 

[topmounter]

’Competition’ is not the word I would use.

 

[Baymowe335]

Unfair comparison.

The 28.6 million Disney+ subscriber number isn't just for North America. The number includes subscribers in the U.S., Canada, Netherlands, Australia, etc. whereas the 67.66 million (not 61 million) Netflix subscribers is just for U.S. and Canada.

https://s22.q4cdn.com/959853165/files/doc_financials/2019/q4/FINAL-Q4-19-Shareholder-Letter.pdf

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EDIT...

Didn't scroll down far enough. Now I see the 61.04 million U.S. subscriber number.

It should also be pointed out that "about 20%" of the subscribers are getting free 1 years subs courtesy of Verizon. Is anyone giving away a free subscription to Netflix? If not, then the Disney+ number is 28.6 million - 5.7 million (20%) = 22.9 million.

The fact Disney+ has gotten nearly 30M subscribers since a Nov 12th official launch (only about 10 weeks) is the story here. Netflix has had just a little longer. If you think Disney isn’t going to be able to go toe to toe with Netflix for subscriber count, you are going to be sorely mistaken.

Disney is the undisputed king of content.

 

[jlc1978]

Hmm, I feel that labeling something you can opt-out of as "force fed" is a stretch at best.

Combine that with the voicing of an objection to social justice and this smacks of otherism, something which I personally despise almost as much as the Jedi. What is bad for some of us, is bad for ALL of us.

Interestingly, I feel social justice is AT THE CORNERSTONE of MOST art, and DEFINITELY cinematic/televised art. It challenges conventions. Stan Lee did it somewhat subtly with the X-Men, and many of the Best Picture Academy Award winning films did it as well.

The issue I have is the move to remove art which voices opinions or portrays aspects of society unexceptable today. To me, one point of art is to make people think and challenge assumptions, to eliminate or replace controversial dialogue or stop showing shows because they challenge today’s viewpoint is anthetical to art’s purpose. It’s the discussion that is important, surpressing that only allows it to thrive underground until it can break out.

Luke did, after all, shout first.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

Apple’s challenge is, as pointed out, the need to develop new content since they lack Disney’s catalogue and franchises. Disney can spin off shows for Disney+ and have a built in fan base from the franchise. Apple needs to create franchise, a slow and difficult task. Disney also has ESPN with the opportunity get crossover viewers, as well as Hulu. Disney simply has too many ways to gain subscribers and leverage content. Netflix is probably in the weakest slot since they lack other products, unlike Apple and Amazon, to rely on for cash

Disagree on Netflix vehemently. The majority of their first-party stuff is really good, and more importantly, diverse. They are unmatched here, and far, FAR better than Apple. The fact that they have SO MUCH content also puts them above Disney+ for me.

If I was forced to pick just ONE service, Netflix would be it. As it stands, for me, it'll always be Netflix, and then I add something else. And that something else right now (and it will be for a while) is Disney+.

 

[Baymowe335]

Truth be told, Disney+ is garbage. I'll be canceling ASAP. I need some meet and potatoes versus cartoons and super heroes..... The subscribers will drop hard after 2 years.

Post more comedy. So 2 years from now, fewer than 28M subscribers for Disney+?

Even if Disney were just cartoons and superheroes, there is plenty of market for that. Have you ever heard of kids?

Also if you haven’t noticed, superheroes are kind of popular....even with adults. I mean, Avengers did OK at the box office.
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Disagree on Netflix vehemently. The majority of their first-party stuff is really good, and more importantly, diverse. They are unmatched here, and far, FAR better than Apple. The fact that they have SO MUCH content also puts them above Disney+ for me.

If I was forced to pick just ONE service, Netflix would be it. As it stands, for me, it'll always be Netflix, and then I add something else. And that something else right now (and it will be for a while) is Disney+.

Don’t forget, this is early innings for Apple. Apple could buy all of Netflix, easily. Hell, they could buy all of Disney if they really wanted it and were willing to pay up.

Disney is the king of content, but most of Netflix content watched is still licensed. Apple can buy/license Whatever content they want, depending on how serious they want to get with their spending. Apple basically has unlimited resources. For now, I believe they are largely testing the waters.

 

[sw1tcher]

Oh, they’re paying for it...because Verizon is pay for it.
Nothing is free. Just included with what you pay...for now.

Verizon's paying Disney for the service, not the subscribers. The monthly dues for wireless or FiOS didn't go up (yet?).

My point is if Verizon wasn't giving out free 1 year subs, how many of those ~ 5.7 million people would be subscribing to Disney+ on their own?

 

[cmaier]

My wife and I happily pay for Disney+ and it works on all our devices. We got multiple “free” trials of Apple TV+ and we haven’t used it even once, and we STILL feel like we want some kind of refund, just for the principle of it not being supported on LG WebOS *and* they haven’t updated the Apple TV hardware in ages.

Apple tv+ works fine on my LG WebOS tv (as of today )

 

[Spock]

Aside from the fact that Disney+ has such a backlog of titles and top tier franchises... I just appreciate how everything is family friendly. I'm so sick of all the TV-MA content that is getting produced. So many good show concepts out there from other platforms that go too deep into the smut because they think they need all that garbage to make it an appealing show/movie.

Star Trek isn’t even family friendly anymore.

 

[Peepo]

Since I got Disney+ and after watching Mandalorian, Marvel movies in 4K, and a few other things it feels like there is nothing new added. Netflix is always adding new shows... even seems like ATV+ has added more shows than Disney+ has since launch.

 

[cmaier]

Star Trek isn’t even family friendly anymore.

It’s funny, because Picard is great, then suddenly in episode 2 someone says “****” for no apparent reason.

 

[Spock]

I am NO prude - but the amount of F-bombs on "The Morning Show" (which I'm actually enjoying quite a bit) is... annoying. It's unnecessary. It's the the sign of writers who don't take the time to write something more original for the characters to say.

It was on a commercial cable station originally, so they were probably not allowed to use the F-word, but look at what "Mad Men" was able to do dramatically (and comically) without resorting to unrestrained vulgarities.

As for Disney+, I signed up for the "pay for 2 years, get 1 free" promotion and I'm kind of regretting it. It's been live for almost 3 months and every time I log in.. it's just the same old stuff. But.. the letterboxed version of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"... I've watched about TEN TIMES. James Mason ROCKS.

20,000 Leagues was one of the first movies I watched on Disney+, it’s such a classic.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

The issue I have is the move to remove art which voices opinions or portrays aspects of society unexceptable today. To me, one point of art is to make people think and challenge assumptions, to eliminate or replace controversial dialogue or stop showing shows because they challenge today’s viewpoint is anthetical to art’s purpose. It’s the discussion that is important, surpressing that only allows it to thrive underground until it can break out.

Luke did, after all, shout first.

You mean Han shot first? Star Wars is GL's brainchild. I doubt it was outside pressure that made him change it. It was a personal decision.

I honestly don't know who's doing what you say; suppressing anything. You'll have to be more specific. I don't know which country you're in, but in the US the arts are addressing more issues and driving more dialog today than ever, especially given the current political climate. Where before only the European-American ethnic majority had most of the voice, now studios are making a better effort to represent the population more widely than EVER.

And yet, when you look at the amount of content out there today, it's not even close. Minorities are very much the minority in representation, by a WIDE margin. This is not an objection so much as an observation (the majority of the US population is still European-American, last I checked).

So to me, people complaining about this issue are, well, not of the same mind as I. They whine about the 2 small slices of the pie they had to share when they got the REST OF IT for themselves.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Apple’s challenge is, as pointed out, the need to develop new content since they lack Disney’s catalogue and franchises. Disney can spin off shows for Disney+ and have a built in fan base from the franchise. Apple needs to create franchise, a slow and difficult task. Disney also has ESPN with the opportunity get crossover viewers, as well as Hulu. Disney simply has too many ways to gain subscribers and leverage content. Netflix is probably in the weakest slot since they lack other products, unlike Apple and Amazon, to rely on for cash

Netflix has its loyal base and they announced an investment of nearly $18 Billion in new content for 2020. Apple has been growing its stock pile of new content and Disney+ has not. Disney+ really has very little `new' content worth watching, and most of its content that is established has been watched to death.

Apple won't announce subscribers, just Services Revenue Growth, and it is growing rapidly.

Apple investing in new shows and already extending several, even before being shown shows a commitment to the long game.

The losers long-term will be NBC/CBS/ABC traditional outlets. Streaming Content isn't managed the same as OTA content and thus will show more mature audience content w/o the shackles of the past.

Apple investing in Satellites isn't just for more accurate GPS tracking. It's for leverage against the Fiber Distribution corporations who will lobby Congress for a piece of the action very soon.
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You mean Han shot first? Star Wars is GL's brainchild. I doubt it was outside pressure that made him change it. It was a personal decision.

I honestly don't know who's doing what you say; suppressing anything. You'll have to be more specific. I don't know which country you're in, but in the US the arts are addressing more issues and driving more dialog today than ever, especially given the current political climate. Where before only the European-American ethnic majority had most of the voice, now studios are making a better effort to represent the population more widely than EVER.

And yet, when you look at the amount of content out there today, it's not even close. Minorities are very much the minority in representation, by a WIDE margin. This is not an objection so much as an observation (the majority of the US population is still European-American, last I checked).

So to me, people complaining about this issue are, well, not of the same mind as I. They whine about the 2 small slices of the pie they had to share when they got the REST OF IT for themselves.

The Majority won't be the majority by 2035. And they'd be wise to adapt.

 

[Craigwilliam]

I'm not sure that Apple+ has built up enough of a catalog to be compared to Disney+. Apple would have to buy a few movie studios before they got anywhere near the amount of content that Disney must have access to. As big a company as Apple has become, as content creators they are still just a boutique group with incredibly deep pockets.

 

[sw1tcher]

The fact Disney+ has gotten nearly 30M subscribers since a Nov 12th official launch (only about 10 weeks) is the story here. Netflix has had just a little longer.

How and, more importantly, why would anyone compare the two? Times are vastly different between now and then.

For one, cord cutting wasn't a thing when Netflix started offering their streaming service back in early 2007. Actually, cable tv subscribers were still in growth mode during that period.

Secondly, broadband service in the U.S. wasn't as widespread as it is now. The average down speed in 2007 was 1.9 Mbps. Good luck streaming with that (If I remember correctly, the best speed I was able to get back then was about 1 Mbps on AT&T DSL). Even in 2009 the average (advertised, not actual) down speed was 7-8 Mbps. People (myself included) can now get 1,000 Mbps down. Plus, you didn't have 4G LTE and smartphones back then which is how most of the younger generation are consuming their media now (Verizon didn't launch their 4G LTE service until Dec. 5, 2010 in a few cities).

Third, Netflix didn't start to offer their streaming service to other countries like Canada until late 2010, and to countries like Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, etc. until late 2011. Disney Plus was available in the U.S., Canada, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico during the 1st week of launch.

Fourth, Netflix's streaming content library at launch was slim compared to what Disney Plus had to offer. You need content to attract subscribers. Netflix didn't have any original content (House of Cards) until early 2013... 6 years later. Netflix was still generating most of their revenue through their DVD-by-mail service during those early days.

It's like when Disney boasts that a certain movie made over $1 billion. Not only are there more people in the world now, but ticket prices are also higher than they were 10-20 years ago and there's now greater access to foreign markets.

Oh, and we also had this thing called a great recession right around that time too. People tend to drop non-essential services when money is tight.

 

[Appleman3546]

Disney plus and Apple TV+ have different business models, one sells subscriptions and one sells devices

 

[notabadname]

I am enjoying ATV so far. I like the new original content that it and Netflix has over Disney (outside the Mandalorian). Unless you are looking for a steamer for the kiddies, I don’t care to watch the Disney Library again. So while their catalog looks massive, I find very little I feel like re-watching .People subscribed to HBO for 8 episodes of GOT. I wouldn’t count Apple out. When a 2 hour movie is $12 at the theater, I find the many hours of Apple, or any streaming service to be of very good value for any of their low prices. Sony didn’t see a competitor in Apple getting into portable music, same type of story with Blackberry. It’s a long game, and plenty of room.

 

[nutmac]

Isn't nearly everything on there original, which is why people buy it? The website itself is definitely worse than Netflix, but it doesn't really matter.

Original is a series or movie produced for the platform. Much of Disney+ consists of older contents, except few obvious ones like The Mandalorian and upcoming Marvel series.

 

[Baymowe335]

How and, more importantly, why would anyone compare the two? Times are vastly different between now and then.

For one, cord cutting wasn't a thing when Netflix started offering their streaming service back in early 2007. Actually, cable tv subscribers were still in growth mode during that period.

Secondly, broadband service in the U.S. wasn't as widespread as it is now. The average down speed in 2007 was 1.9 Mbps. Good luck streaming with that (If I remember correctly, the best speed I was able to get back then was about 1 Mbps on AT&T DSL). Even in 2009 the average (advertised, not actual) down speed was 7-8 Mbps. People (myself included) can now get 1,000 Mbps down. Plus, you didn't have 4G LTE and smartphones back then which is how most of the younger generation are consuming their media now (Verizon didn't launch their 4G LTE service until Dec. 5, 2010 in a few cities).

Third, Netflix didn't start to offer their streaming service to other countries like Canada until late 2010, and to countries like Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, etc. until late 2011. Disney Plus was available in the U.S., Canada, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico during the 1st week of launch.

Fourth, Netflix's streaming content library at launch was slim compared to what Disney Plus had to offer. You need content to attract subscribers. Netflix didn't have any original content (House of Cards) until early 2013... 6 years later. Netflix was still generating most of their revenue through their DVD-by-mail service during those early days.

It's like when Disney boasts that a certain movie made over $1 billion. Not only are there more people in the world now, but ticket prices are also higher than they were 10-20 years ago and there's now greater access to foreign markets.

Oh, and we also had this thing called a great recession right around that time too. People tend to drop non-essential services when money is tight.

However you want to spin it, Disney is the king of content and got almost 30M subscribers in 10 weeks.

They are both streaming services competing for eyeballs, so they will be compared...like it or not.

Netflix should be shaking in their boots because they are burning cash, don’t make much money, don’t have nearly the content of Disney, and even more competitors are coming.

I like Netflix...good company, but they are no Disney.

 

[neliason]

Aside from the fact that Disney+ has such a backlog of titles and top tier franchises... I just appreciate how everything is family friendly. I'm so sick of all the TV-MA content that is getting produced. So many good show concepts out there from other platforms that go too deep into the smut because they think they need all that garbage to make it an appealing show/movie.

I haven’t looked at Disney+’s offerings, but Disney sells the idea of family friendly more than it achieves it. Disney owned Miramax and put out plenty of ‘adult’ material. ABC, owned by Disney, has plenty of smutty content. Disney just doesn’t put out the most smutty through its Disney brand. They use a subsidiary. And even with Disney branded material they can slip in subtle smuttiness. But I too want a streaming service that doesn’t have the filth all the others do.

 

[PickUrPoison]

The title is incorrect. It suggests Apple TV+ is a competitor.

We watch both, but got to tell you the Disney+ service is far and a way better. Your article calling it an Apple TV+ competitor is wrong. Disney+ is taking on Netflix and Amazon. Apple TV+ is a sad joke and not yet worthy of being called a competitor. Now mind you we LOVED The Morning Show. Ground breaking and good acting. But Dickinson, just weird, couldn't even finish one episode. Heard that SEE is absolutely painfully vulgar so I am not sure I want to even risk any time to find out for myself. Their catalog is very sketchy and limited. Unlike Disney+ with great originals and of course the full catalog. For super Disney nerds, the documentaries, Imagineering and Waking Sleeping Beauty are GREAT and TOGO was very good! The Mandalorian is not their only new original content.

Apple TV+ has 25 shows. 25. Why is it considered a competitor?

’Competition’ is not the word I would use.

Three months. That’s how long AppleTV+ has been around. Sure Apple’s new to the game. Disney’s been developing content for 80+ years, and Netflix is an OG streamer, 12+ years.

But competition is exactly the right word. Whether you like it or not isn’t really relevant. Just like Apple was a competitor to Nokia and Blackberry upon the iPhone’s release.

You can be sure that Netflix and Disney absolutely consider Apple a competitor. They know better than to ignore a player in their space with the resources and track record of success of Apple.

Five years from now, when Apple’s got 300-500 movies, shows, documentaries and series—some with three or four seasons behind them—Apple’s catalog won’t be nearly as sparse. Ten years from now, Apple will have thousands of hours of content, and a number of breakout hits.

As mentioned by others, Apple is playing the long game. If they want to supplement their catalog with existing content that’s always an option. They’ve got hundreds of billions of dollars in cash and the ability to issue maybe another half trillion in stock with which to do it.

 

[itsmilo]

I cancelled mine cuz I just don’t have the time to rewatch things for nostalgia when there are so many new shows / movies to catch up with on Netflix or the actual cinema

 

[FightTheFuture]

I cancelled mine cuz I just don’t have the time to rewatch things for nostalgia when there are so many new shows / movies to catch up with on Netflix or the actual cinema

i like nostalgia as much as the next guy but I don’t want to be trapped in it. It’s like buying a season of NHL.tv and rewatching all the wins of a championship season. There’s new, current games too. The world doesn’t stop because you like star wars.