Since launching at the end of March, Disney+ has already emerged as the third-largest subscription video on demand (SVOD) player, with 4.3 million subscribers.
In just five weeks Disney’s SVOD service had already carved out a 16.8 percent share of subscribers by the end of April, according to survey data from Omdia.
This put Disney+ in a league with the established market heavyweights, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, which claimed 58.4 percent and 46.9 percent of online subscribers in the UK.
“Disney+ arrived in the UK just as COVID-19 social distancing and quarantine measures commenced,” said Maria Rua Aguete, senior research director, video, TV and advertising for Omdia.
“Streaming services like Disney+ and Netflix have become the biggest winners during the lockdown as consumers have sought new entertainment experiences to keep themselves entertained. The content and user experience offered by these services have proven to be their key differentiators.
“In particular, the current catalogues offered by these services have become increasingly alluring to viewers, given than the pandemic has halted production of new video content.”
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The Omdia survey is an online survey conducted twice a year examining consumer behaviour, with a focus on television and video services. Aguete revealed her SVOD research findings at the Videoscape Europe event (June 11).
Streaming services like Disney+ also are reaping the benefits as subscriptions fall for competitive pay TV and over-the-top (OTT) sports-focused platforms, such as DAZN.
These same dynamics are also propelling the success of Disney+ in other regions. Disney is now the No.4 ranked SVOD provider in the United States. Disney in April claimed a 25 percent share of US SVOD subscribers, compared to 29 percent for Hulu, 47 percent for Amazon Prime Video and 60 percent for Netflix.
One out of four US households now has access to Disney+, Omdia’s survey revealed.
Join us for Videoscape Europe, a free digital event focused on how media companies can triumph in the fast-moving, premium video streaming marketplace. Live stream June 11.
