Disney Plus and Hulu have reported impressive profitability gains over the past few months, showcasing a remarkable turnaround in their financial performance. In its latest fiscal report for the second quarter, released on Wednesday, Disney revealed that the combined operating income from these streaming services surged to $336 million, a substantial increase from just $47 million during the same period last year.
This leap in profitability is particularly noteworthy as it comes after Disney Plus and other platforms, including ESPN Plus, achieved profitability for the first time last August. Since then, the operating income for Disney's streaming business has consistently shown an upward trend, highlighting the effectiveness of their strategic initiatives.
As the streaming market continues to evolve, competitors like Paramount Plus, NBC’s Peacock, and Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max have also turned a profit in the past year, all striving to catch up with Netflix. Unlike Netflix, which has shifted focus away from just reporting subscriber numbers, these platforms are actively working on enhancing their profitability metrics.
In an additional boost to its performance, Disney Plus reported a gain of 1 million subscribers in the US and Canada, bringing its total subscriber count to 57.8 million. This increase in both profitability and subscriber base comes on the heels of recent price hikes across Disney’s services and the introduction of a password sharing crackdown. Under this new policy, customers are charged an extra $6.99 per month to share their accounts with individuals outside their household.
During the earnings call on Wednesday, Disney's CEO, Bob Iger, noted that the paid sharing feature on Hulu is “kicking in,” indicating a positive response from users. Furthermore, Disney Plus has recently introduced an ESPN tile and a bite-sized version of SportsCenter. These additions are part of the preparations for the launch of a standalone ESPN streaming service anticipated this fall.
Bob Iger also hinted that details regarding pricing and the launch timing of the new ESPN service will be revealed “very soon.” He previously teased this upcoming streaming offering back in February, emphasizing that the company aims to provide ESPN “however the consumer wants it, wherever the consumer wants it.” This forward-thinking approach highlights Disney’s commitment to adapting its services to meet consumer demands in an increasingly competitive streaming landscape.
