ABC’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! might have contributed to a rise in cancellations of Disney+ and Hulu, according to new statistics. Subscription analytics company Antenna indicated that Disney+’s monthly churn rate increased from four percent in August to eight percent in September, coinciding with ABC’s decision to take Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air for a week following Kimmel’s remarks regarding far-right commentator Charlie Kirk’s assassin. Hulu, which is also under Disney’s ownership, experienced its churn rate climbing from five percent in August to 10 percent in September.
Kimmel’s suspension led to a wave of calls to boycott Disney and its streaming platforms, with public figures such as Tatiana Maslany and Cynthia Nixon participating. Disney reportedly lost more than 1.7 million subscribers across Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN during the period from Kimmel’s suspension announcement to his return to air.
The monthly difference is notable, as subscriber churn usually stays consistent. Nonetheless, a Disney source informed The Hollywood Reporter that Antenna’s figures appear to be higher than Disney’s internal data, and it remains uncertain how Antenna factors in changes to subscription plans in its churn calculations.
Kimmel’s suspension was not the sole factor that could be influencing Disney+ subscriptions. Soon after announcing Kimmel’s return, Disney disclosed price increases for Disney+ and Hulu. These hikes, effective Oct. 21, will position Disney+ and Hulu’s ad-supported and basic ad-free tiers as the priciest among leading streaming services.