Even with all of the other streaming services already available, it looks as though many, including Wallstreet analysts, think the war for consumers will really occur in November when Disney+ rolls out to take on the current king of the hill, Netflix. Despite it being a family-targeted service, Disney is investing billions in crafting older-skewing original programming like ‘The Mandalorian’ and various Marvel series. Plus Disney+ will cost $6.99 while Netflix just upped its monthly rate to $12.99.
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Streaming Observer, partnered with Mindnet Analytics, to poll 602 US Netflix subscribers — out of a total of 58 million — to poll whether these subscribers planned to ditch Netflix in favor of Disney+, and the result was only a meager 2.2% stating that they planned to go exclusively to Disney+. 12.3% said that they might make the switch. Keep in mind that this is just what they might do at this time. Once November arrives, even the ones who for sure plan to switch over may wind up not doing it, especially if Netflix makes some major announcements of new seasons of favorite series or exciting brand new projects.
But based on this sampling… um, math stuff indicates that this could translate to Netflix losing 8.7 million US subscribers, which accounts for $116.9 million a month.
Also according to the survey, 2 out of 5 Netflix subscribers will try out Disney+ when it launches, and 1 in 5 will subscribe to both. Not surprisingly, subscribers with kids under 15 were more interested in Disney+.
But if it makes Netflix feel any better, a whopping 40% of those polled said that they had zero interest in Disney+. Guess not everyone’s a ‘Star Wars’/Marvel fan. And in a completely separate survey, viewers were asked if they could only choose one streaming service to subscribe to, 44% selected Netflix.
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Netflix saw 9 million more subscribers sign up in the first three months of 2019, bringing its global market to 139 million, and the company has stated that it expects to sign up 8.9 million more by the end of the year.
One of the most-anticipated new additions this year will be ‘Stranger Things 3’ coming in July. And it is fully expected that ‘Stranger Things’ and another major Netflix draw, ‘The Crown’ will continue for years to come, so that may keep some streaming along.
One final thought, there is some speculation that Disney+’s $6.99 per month rate will only last for a limited time, perhaps the first year to get subscribers hooked, before jumping up after that. But we’ll have to wait and see if that pans out.
What do you plan to do? Stick with Netflix, switch to Disney+, or try both?
