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Disney Plus reaches 50 million subscribers globally

Could meet the company's target of 60-90 million global subs four years early

Disney has revealed its streaming service Disney Plus has now reached 50 million subscribers globally.

The company announced at the beginning of February that the streamer had secured close to 29 million subscribers. The new number means subscriber sign-ups have grown by 75 per cent in two months.

Much of that will have been driven by Disney Plus’ launch in Western Europe at the end of March, while the company said the platform’s launch last week in India, where it is offered in conjunction with the existing Hotstar service, already accounts for approximately eight million paid subscribers.

Disney had set a goal of 60-90 million subscribers by the end of 2024. With the latest figures, it could reach its target four years earlier than expected.

“We’re truly humbled that Disney Plus is resonating with millions around the globe, and believe this bodes well for our continued expansion” said Kevin Mayer, chairman of Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International.

He added, “Great storytelling inspires and uplifts, and we are in the fortunate position of being able to deliver a vast array of great entertainment rooted in joy and optimism on Disney Plus.”

Tech, media and telco analyst Paolo Pescatore told TVBEurope that while Disney Plus was always likely to meet the company’s publicly announced target, its biggest challenge will be keeping users entertained. “It is fair to say that many users would have signed up to the annual offer or bundles on both sides of the pond. This will help maintain its total base steady for the first year,” he added.

“However, Disney and others are not immune to the current challenges of filming new shows. This will have a knock on effect next year.

“All eyes are now on Netflix’s first quarter results to see if Disney Plus has had a negative impact on its subscriber base (especially in North America),” said Pescatore.