Fresh data released Monday, by Antenna—a leading analytics firm tracking streaming subscriptions and viewership—reveals a dramatic uptick in customer churn for Disney+ and Hulu during September, coinciding with ABC's controversial six-day suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
The move, which drew widespread backlash for perceived censorship amid post-election tensions, appears to have fueled boycott calls from fans and celebrities alike. While Disney insiders downplay the long-term impact and point to offsetting new sign-ups, the numbers underscore how a single high-profile decision can ripple through a company's streaming ecosystem.\
The Cancellation Surge: Antenna's report estimates that U.S. churn rates— the percentage of subscribers canceling monthly—doubled for both services from August to September. This translated to millions more drop-offs than in prior months, even as new subscriptions provided some buffer. Here's a quick breakdown based on the data:
These figures represent the highest churn since at least April 2023 for Disney's streamers, outpacing rivals like Netflix (steady at 2%) and even other services that saw minor upticks, such as Apple TV+ and Max. Net subscriber gains were still positive—Disney+ added about 800,000 overall—but the raw cancellation volume signals potential brand damage, especially among liberal-leaning demographics who viewed the suspension as a capitulation to conservative pressure.