Did you have technical difficulties with Disney+ streaming services on its launch day? You weren’t alone, but there was definitely a good reason. There were over 10 million subscribers by the end of launch day, far exceeding all expectations and analytical projections estimated. When this number was announced today, Disney’s stock also went up 3%.
Disney+ offers content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. It has everything from movies (like the blockbusters “Avatar” and “Avengers:Endgame”), TV shows (like the upcoming Lizzie Mcguire), documentaries, and Pixar shorts, to original and (amazing) exclusive content like the “The Mandalorian,” a live-action “Lady and the Tramp,” and “The Imagineering Story.” For a complete list of all title in alphabetical order: click here.
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User complaints came in almost as soon as the app became available for download, and throughout the day many users had issues either logging in or watching content… and the bottom line is that they just weren’t fully prepared for this many people signing up and using the service at the same time. As of Sunday, analytics company Jumpshot reported there were 1.9 million subscribers who had pre-ordered, and other analysts had only predicted the service would reach 8 million subscribers by the end of 2019.
Disney did not specify how many logins were free-trial users and how many were actual subscribers. There is no number yet of how many people signed up for the free year trial through Verizon. Those numbers will not be released until the next earnings report. The Hollywood Reporter says Disney executives project Disney+ to reach “between 60 million and 90 million global subscribers by 2024.” Netflix currently has has 158 million subscribers. That has been over the course of 12 years of streaming market dominance, and with losing contracts to carry certain content it will be interesting to see where they sit by 2024. Netflix just also signed a multi-year agreement today with Nickelodeon.
Launch day issues should always be expected (just ask any gamer), and despite mass complaints, there were plenty of subscribers on social media who managed to stay composed, expressing their patience and understanding. Our thought is, if it was going to have issues, this was a good one to have! These subscriber numbers exceeding all expectations will hopefully pressure Disney executives to release more content at a faster pace and/or ahead of schedule!
We hope anyone who called off to work got to watch something yesterday for their efforts, but if you need an excuse to show your boss, or just want a good chuckle, Just Disney has you covered with our (not real) “Disney+ Launch Disease!”
Did you sign up yesterday, or pre-order in advance? What did you watch yesterday? Tell us in the comments and join Just Disney over on social media!