How Disney+ Beat Out Netflix To Become King of Streaming Subscribers

Disney+ fortuitously launched in late 2019, right before the pandemic hit. With people around the globe opting to stay home more than ever before, it was the perfect moment for Disney to premiere their endeavor.

It’s taken three years of stellar content and incredible marketing for the beloved service to finally overtake streaming giant Netflix. Although Netflix paved the way, preparing audiences across the globe for an unprecedented streaming era, it was inevitable that Disney would eventually take the lead.

With the addition of Hulu and ESPN+, the company has just surpassed Netflix in subscriber counts. Netflix reported over 220 million global paid subscribers at the end of its second quarter.

Now, Disney+ overtakes the company with over 221 million global streaming subscribers! The monumental feat comes at an interesting time for the Walt Disney Company.

Yesterday, Bob Chapek and other Disney executives revealed that Ad-supported streaming is coming to Disney+ along with price hikes reflecting the changes. Options for packages with ads and without ads will be available in bundles for subscribers, much like many other streaming services.

News broke at the Walt Disney Company’s third quarter 2022 earnings call, broadcast live via audio webcast. Disney fans listening in were treated to a plethora of information regarding the current mind frame of the Walt Disney Company.

Other interesting information came out about Disney’s thought process on Annual Passes and Magic Keys, the beloved programs typically available to Guests at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.

So, what is the reason behind Disney+ streaming service success? Disney’s content simply blows the competition out of the water. With big names such as Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar, Disney is home to some of the most popular franchises in history.

As The Guardian points out, Netflix boasts a few hits, such as Stranger Things (2016), The Witcher (2019), and The Crown (2016), but the series’ fail in comparison when it comes to the scale of Disney’s projects. Add to that the giant list of celebrity names that can now be viewed on tv shows in the comfort of your own home, and it’s no wonder Disney has found such incredible success!