Disney+ and Hulu Add Over 12 Million Subscribers in Strong Q4 Amid Kimmel Controversy
Disney closed FY2025 with a streaming surge — Disney+ added 3.8 million and Hulu 8.6 million subscribers in Q4 — even amid controversy over Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension. Direct-to-consumer income jumped 39% as Disney prepares to merge its streaming platforms.
Disney+ and Hulu saw strong Q4 growth in 2025, adding over 12 million subscribers ahead of their full merger next year.
Disney ended its 2025 fiscal year on a high note, with Disney+ and Hulu collectively adding 12.4 million new subscribers in the September quarter — well ahead of Wall Street expectations. The growth came despite a brief controversy surrounding ABC’s suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, which initially sparked some subscription cancellations.
📈 Disney+ and Hulu End FY2025 With 195.7 Million Subscribers
According to the company’s latest earnings report, Disney+ gained 3.8 million new subscribers in Q4, reaching 131.6 million total, while Hulu added 8.6 million, driven largely by its expanded distribution deal with Charter Communications. The combined total for Disney’s two major streaming platforms now stands at 195.7 million subscriptions as of September 27, 2025.
Helping boost Disney+ sign-ups was the September 3 debut of “Lilo & Stitch”, the live-action remake that became the second-biggest Disney+ premiere ever with 14.3 million views in five days, just behind The Little Mermaid (2023). FX’s “Alien: Earth” also delivered record-breaking numbers, becoming the biggest FX premiere on Disney+ and Hulu to date.
📺 Kimmel Controversy Didn’t Derail Growth
Industry watchers had predicted slower Disney+ growth following backlash over Jimmy Kimmel’s temporary suspension after his remarks on “the MAGA gang.” While cancellations briefly spiked, new sign-ups surged at the same time, according to analytics firm Antenna, helping offset any potential subscriber losses.
💰 Direct-to-Consumer Income Surges 39%
Disney’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) segment — which includes Disney+ and Hulu — saw a 39% increase in operating income, reaching $352 million, on 8% higher revenue ($6.25 billion). The results highlight the company’s successful streaming turnaround amid challenges in traditional TV and box office performance.
Average revenue per user (ARPU) for Disney+ remained flat at $8.09/month, while Hulu’s ARPU slipped 2% to $12.20/month due to lower wholesale rates in the Charter deal.
💡 Hulu-Disney+ Merger Plans Underway
Following Disney’s complete acquisition of Hulu from Comcast in June, the company is moving ahead with plans to fully integrate Hulu and Disney+ into a single streaming app by 2026, though standalone options will remain available. Outside the U.S., Hulu has replaced Star as Disney’s global entertainment brand.
Meanwhile, the company’s price hikes, which took effect on October 21, are expected to impact subscriber retention in the coming quarter.
🏁 Disney Ends Subscriber Reporting
This marks the final quarter in which Disney will report streaming subscriber figures, following a decision similar to Netflix’s move earlier this year. The company stated that such metrics are now “less meaningful” in evaluating business performance.
Disney’s sports streaming arm ESPN Select had 24.1 million subscribers as of June 2025, prior to its rebranding and the launch of ESPN Unlimited, a $29.99/month all-access streaming bundle.
