Disney Plus Tops 50M Subscribers Worldwide

The Walt Disney Co. said that its streaming service Disney+ now has more than 50 million subscribers worldwide.

The fast growth of Disney+, launched five months ago, is a ray of good news for Disney, whose theme-park business has been battered by the Coronavirus pandemic. The virus, which is keeping people indoors, may actually be encouraging sheltering in place consumers to sign up for the streaming service.

“We’re truly humbled that Disney+ is resonating with millions around the globe, and believe this bodes well for our continued expansion throughout Western Europe and into Japan and all of Latin America later this year,” said Kevin Mayer, chairman of Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International. “Great storytelling inspires and uplifts, and we are in the fortunate position of being able to deliver a vast array of great entertainment rooted in joy and optimism on Disney+.”

Related: Disney Plus Accounts for 18% of Internet Video Traffic in Some European Countries

Launched first in the U.S. Disney+ has rolled out in eight Western European countries in the past two weeks. Last week, the streaming service became available in India, where it is being offered in conjunction with the company’s Hotstar services. Disney+ already has about 8 million subscribers in India.

Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.