New data from research company Parks Associates has shown that Disney+ is now the fourth most popular streaming service in the US, just behind the “Big 3” Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. The research firm’s Market Snapshot: Disney+ and Apple TV+ highlights the impact of the entry of Disney+ and Apple TV+ in OTT market, including insights into the factors driving their growth.

Disney+ has skyrocketed to 25% adoption among US broadband households after just six months in the market. Apple TV+, which launched around the same time, has reached nearly 10% adoption. Disney+ and Apple TV+ are fourth and fifth, respectively, among SVOD services adopted by consumers.

Data presented in this Market Snapshot were drawn primarily from an online survey of more than 10,000 consumers fielded between March 8^th and April 3^rd to heads of broadband households, after the COVID-19 crisis had begun in the United States. Additional data from the market snapshot:

• Nearly three in ten broadband households report their use of online video services has increased because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
• 81% of Disney+ subscribers subscribe to Netflix, as do 72% of Apple TV+ subscribers.
• Nearly one-half of Disney+ subscribers canceled another OTT service over the last 12 months, as did roughly two-thirds of Apple TV+ subscribers.

“Disney took a broad-based content approach to its Disney+ service, including its Pixar, Stars Wars, Marvel, Nat Geo, and 20th Century Fox properties to make it broadly appealing, far beyond its traditional audience of families with young children,” said Steve Nason, Research Director, Parks Associates. “Very few Disney+ subscribers subscribe only to this service, so households are not picking up Disney in place of another service but adding to their home’s other OTT services. We will see, as household budgets tighten up, if Disney+ has done enough to become an ‘essential service’ for its subscribers.”

Disney+ also benefited from promotions such as the introduction of the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle and its partnership with Verizon where unlimited mobile subscribers and new internet subscribers get a free year of the service.

“Apple TV+ promoted a small stable of original programming and is now looking to supplement that with more third-party content,” Nason said. “Apple TV+’s growth is due largely to a free year of service for those who recently purchased an Apple device, which brings the firm’s brand loyalists into the service. Apple TV+ does have a higher percentage of exclusive non-Netflix subscribers, plus a higher number of households that recently cancelled another OTT service, so it appears Apple does have a core group of dedicated subscribers. Apple’s challenge is to expand beyond that group.”

What streaming services are you subscribed to?

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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