New original programming continues to be a major draw for viewers as, according to some new data from Parrot Analytics, Disney’s streaming service Hulu continues to pull in viewers for major shows such as “The Bear” and “Shogun”.

Hulu currently has the third-largest catalogue of films and shows on SVOD platforms, behind Netflix and Max. This is boosted by Disney continuing to license TV shows, which make up a large portion of its viewership.

FX has proven to be a huge win for Hulu, with the studio producing just 3-4% of the TV Shows available on Hulu (and via Hulu On Disney+), but its content drives about 6-7% of Hulu’s TV demand, which demonstrates how FX shows consistently outperform their availability.  

In terms of viewership, FX is the fourth most popular TV studio, behind Fox, ABC and Hulu Originals, since those all have more titles available on Hulu and Hulu On Disney+.

This new data also shows how Hulu’s overall demand for exclusive content continues to grow, with the recent releases of “The Bear” and “Shogun” being the major factors in this boost.

It’s also worth noting that subscriber churn has also been reduced, which could be down to the mix of content and different bundles available, such as with Disney+ and ESPN+ and now also with Max and Disney+. According to the new states, in the second quarter of 2024, churn dropped to an all-time low of 3.4%, down from 5.7% in the last quarter. 

The broader strategy of investing in high-quality exclusive content is thought to help keep subscribers engaged and reduce churn.

Disney is currently finalising its deal with Comcast to work out the final valuation for Hulu, which, once complete, will allow Disney to move forward on plans, likely resulting in Hulu and Disney+ merging to compete with Netflix, Amazon and Max.  Internationally, most of Hulu’s content is already available within Disney+ under the Star hub.

Roger’s Take: FX is, without doubt, one of the cornerstones of Disney’s television business and provides high-quality shows.  They make some incredible shows.  However, Disney continues to show that while it has been heavily investing in original shows over the past few years, it has been reducing how many it makes, often removing those originals from the platform if they underperform. 

Do you think FX is the best Disney-owned studio for TV content?  Let me know on social media!

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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