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Antenna: Disney+ and Hulu Cancellations Doubled After Kimmel Suspension

Disney disputes the third‑party estimates, noting they exclude some wholesale subscriptions.

Overview

  • Subscription analyst Antenna reported Disney+ churn rose to 8% and Hulu to 10% in September, estimating roughly 3 million Disney+ and 4.1 million Hulu cancellations in the U.S.
  • Both services also saw higher gross additions, with about 2.18 million new Disney+ sign‑ups and 2.11 million for Hulu that partially offset the cancellations.
  • The spike coincided with ABC’s Sept. 17 suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! after FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s criticism and affiliate preemptions; ABC reinstated the show on Sept. 23.
  • Attribution remains murky because Antenna excludes some wholesale channels, billing timing can lag, and Disney announced price increases on Sept. 23 that took effect Oct. 21; Disney says its internal cancellation figures are lower.
  • Disney plans to stop reporting subscriber counts for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ beginning with fiscal 2026 disclosures, reducing future visibility into churn and sign‑up trends.