Digital TV Research: Disney+ Forecast to Reach 101 Million Subscribers

Five global platforms will have 529 million SVOD subscribers by 2025, according to Digital TV Research, which is forecasting Disney+ to reach a total of 101 million subscribers.

These five global platforms—Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV+, Disney+ and HBO Max—will add 257 million subscribers between 2019 and 2025, doubling their total.

Disney+ will be the biggest winner, according to Digital TV Research, by taking its total to 101 million subscribers. Netflix will increase by 70 million subscribers, revealing that there is still growth for the most established platform. However, Netflix will only add 6 million subscribers in the U.S.

Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research, said: “Competition is intense, with several platforms ‘reclaiming’ content from others and with price wars in place. Furthermore, there are several exclusive distribution deals.”

Murray continued: “Only 29 percent of Netflix’s subscribers will be in the U.S. by 2025. The proportion will be as high as 80 percent for the younger HBO Max.”

HBO Max will have 30 million paying subscribers by 2025—if non-payers are included, this figure could be tripled. The same is true for Apple TV+, which Digital TV Research forecasts will have 27 million paying subscribers by 2025.