Disney Loses 1.7 Million Streaming Subscribers After Jimmy Kimmel Suspension: Report
Disney has reportedly lost 1.7 million subscribers across its streaming platforms in the week following the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show.
Disney has reportedly faced a sharp drop in subscribers after temporarily pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! off air, with more than 1.7 million paid accounts cancelled in a single week. According to reporter Marisa Kabas, founder of The Handbasket, cancellations spiked between Sept. 17 and 23 across Disney+, Hulu and ESPN.
Posting on Bluesky on Sept. 29, Kabas wrote, “Disney saw more than 1.7 million total paid streaming cancellations during the period 9/17-9/23, a Disney source confirms to me. The total includes Disney+, Hulu and ESPN.”
Kabas added that the figure represented a 436% increase compared with usual losses during the same period. She had previously revealed in The Handbasket that Disney was preparing a subscription price increase, which was formally announced shortly after Kimmel’s reinstatement. Her source suggested that Disney rushed the show’s return to soften the fallout ahead of the price hike.
A report in Engadget stated that the timing of the price rise may further accelerate cancellations, as viewers frustrated with the controversy weigh up the value of continuing their subscriptions.
Gizmodo reported that hashtags urging people to cancel Disney-owned streaming platforms quickly gained traction on social media after Kimmel’s suspension. Though the show is now back on air, it is reportedly uncertain how many of those subscribers will actually return.
Why Jimmy Kimmel Live! Was Suspended
Jimmy Kimmel Live was taken off air on Sept. 17 after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reportedly pressured local television stations to drop the programme. The suspension came days after Kimmel commented on the killing of MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk, who was shot while speaking on a college campus in Utah on Sept. 10. Though Kimmel later clarified that he did not intend to suggest political motives, his remarks fuelled widespread outrage online.
Brendan Carr, the FCC chairman, criticised the late-night host on a podcast, calling his behaviour “some of the sickest conduct possible.” He also issued warnings to broadcasters that aired the show, remarks that were interpreted by some as threats.
In response, Disney-owned ABC suspended the programme, only to reverse the decision on Sept. 22. The broadcaster confirmed the show would return the following night, with affiliates across the US resuming normal broadcasts from Sept. 23.
