Disney to Stop Reporting Subscriber Numbers for Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+
Disney has announced that it will be following in the footsteps of streaming giants like Netflix by no longer reporting the number of subscribers for its Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ services. The company stated that metrics such as paid subscribers and average revenue per unit (ARPU) have become “less meaningful to evaluating the performance of our businesses.”
In a quarterly earnings commentary released by Disney CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston, it was revealed that the company will discontinue reporting subs and ARPU for Disney+ and Hulu starting from the first quarter of its fiscal 2026. The same will apply to ESPN+ as of the September 2025 quarter.
The decision to stop reporting these metrics is part of Disney’s effort to manage its businesses for sustained growth and to align its financial reporting with its operational strategies. The executives mentioned that while subscriber numbers and ARPU will no longer be disclosed, Disney will provide information on Entertainment Direct-to-Consumer profitability.
The company believes that this new approach to reporting will better reflect the changes in the media landscape, the unique assets of Disney, and how management evaluates the success of its strategic initiatives.
In terms of performance, Disney’s streaming revenue increased by 6% for the June 2025 quarter, with the segment turning a profit of $346 million. The combined subscribers for Disney+ and Hulu reached 183 million by the end of June, marking an increase of 2.6 million compared to the previous quarter. Core Disney+ subscribers stood at 128 million, showing a sequential growth of 1.8 million. Hulu subscribers also saw a net gain of 800,000, reaching 55.5 million.
Looking ahead, Disney is projecting a total increase of more than 10 million subscribers for Disney+ and Hulu for the July-September 2025 period, driven primarily by an expanded Charter deal. The company expects a “modest increase” in Disney+ subscribers for the current quarter.
Overall, Disney’s decision to shift its focus from subscriber numbers to profitability reflects the changing landscape of the streaming industry and the company’s strategic priorities.
