Disney Q2 2025: Profit on track but expect turbulence
Disney continued to grow profitability across its three segments, even as streaming subs and revenue remain stagnant. Stoked by Trump-uncertainty, headwinds could have ramifications for leadership succession planning
Challenges to Disney+ engagement may not yet be impacting subscriptions but it will compromise the fame of core IP assets and therefore monetisation opportunities
Green shoots are finally emerging from Disney's games strategy with Disney+ entering Fortnite
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Disney Q1 2025: Subscriptions firm, but engagement threatened
6 February 2025Disney's phase of consolidation began with profit growth for its streaming business, pushed up by price rises with subscriber numbers reasonably flat. Emboldened by less churn than expected, Disney+ will be more expensive sooner rather than later
Disney+'s UK reach—a proxy for subscriptions—remains firm but under pressure with engagement materially suffering as the flow of new programming has slowed. Library content is D+'s strength, but viewing of it is correlated with new releases
The creation of sports channel bundle Venu ran the risk of accelerating the decline of Disney's linear business. The service's delay and failure to launch may have given time for the company to reappraise its approach to linear
Disney Q4 2024: Building stage over, time for growth
15 November 2024Disney believes it has turned a corner, laying out positive forecasts for the next two years, featuring annual, double-digit EPS growth. Streaming is now reliably profitable, although its low and generally inert ARPU will inevitably have to be stoked by more price rises
In the UK, Disney+ continues to trail Netflix in a number of core metrics—reach, engagement and habituality—but Rivals signals the potential of a positive trajectory
Similarly, although Disney's relatively patchy theatrical release schedule has had an effect on Disney+, a strong next six months should flow through to service growth
Streaming fell back into the red again, although with further price hikes on the way—along with "modest" Disney+ subscriber growth—next quarter should see the beginning of a profitable trajectory
In the UK, Disney+ continues to grow engagement—if not necessarily subscriptions—however, we still await a boost from local scripted originals
While the performance of Disney's core segments appears to be stabilising, 2024 remains a year of unfinished projects
Disney Q2 2024: Streaming breaks even
8 May 2024There were no flashy announcements this quarter as Disney highlighted its streaming business—the Entertainment component reaching profitability—with its turnaround offsetting the decline in the embattled Linear segment
In a reasonably stagnant UK SVOD market, Disney+ continues to grow household reach and engagement across almost all age demographics. One driver is its top content, which is more likely to be completed and rewatched than competitors'
Disney is searching for new technology leadership. Its current structure is segmented and depowered, requiring a single leader responsible for overarching technology direction to best combat streaming costs and reach platform scale efficiency
Disney Q1 2025: Subscriptions firm, but engagement threatened
6 February 2025Disney's phase of consolidation began with profit growth for its streaming business, pushed up by price rises with subscriber numbers reasonably flat. Emboldened by less churn than expected, Disney+ will be more expensive sooner rather than later
Disney+'s UK reach—a proxy for subscriptions—remains firm but under pressure with engagement materially suffering as the flow of new programming has slowed. Library content is D+'s strength, but viewing of it is correlated with new releases
The creation of sports channel bundle Venu ran the risk of accelerating the decline of Disney's linear business. The service's delay and failure to launch may have given time for the company to reappraise its approach to linear
Disney Q4 2024: Building stage over, time for growth
15 November 2024Disney believes it has turned a corner, laying out positive forecasts for the next two years, featuring annual, double-digit EPS growth. Streaming is now reliably profitable, although its low and generally inert ARPU will inevitably have to be stoked by more price rises
In the UK, Disney+ continues to trail Netflix in a number of core metrics—reach, engagement and habituality—but Rivals signals the potential of a positive trajectory
Similarly, although Disney's relatively patchy theatrical release schedule has had an effect on Disney+, a strong next six months should flow through to service growth
Streaming fell back into the red again, although with further price hikes on the way—along with "modest" Disney+ subscriber growth—next quarter should see the beginning of a profitable trajectory
In the UK, Disney+ continues to grow engagement—if not necessarily subscriptions—however, we still await a boost from local scripted originals
While the performance of Disney's core segments appears to be stabilising, 2024 remains a year of unfinished projects
Disney Q2 2024: Streaming breaks even
8 May 2024There were no flashy announcements this quarter as Disney highlighted its streaming business—the Entertainment component reaching profitability—with its turnaround offsetting the decline in the embattled Linear segment
In a reasonably stagnant UK SVOD market, Disney+ continues to grow household reach and engagement across almost all age demographics. One driver is its top content, which is more likely to be completed and rewatched than competitors'
Disney is searching for new technology leadership. Its current structure is segmented and depowered, requiring a single leader responsible for overarching technology direction to best combat streaming costs and reach platform scale efficiency