Disney+ and Hulu Experience Millions of Cancellations Following Jimmy Kimmel's Suspension
Disney+ and Hulu saw millions of cancellations in September, with churn rates doubling after Jimmy Kimmel's brief suspension, though new sign-ups partially offset losses.
Millions dropped Disney/Hulu after Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension: data
New York Daily News
Overview
- Streaming platforms Disney+ and Hulu experienced a significant increase in subscription cancellations during September, following the brief suspension of host Jimmy Kimmel.
- Disney+ saw its churn rate double from 4% to 8%, leading to approximately three million subscriber cancellations for the service in that period.
- Hulu's churn rate also doubled, reaching 10%, which resulted in over four million cancellations, contributing to a combined loss of over 7 million subscribers.
- Specifically, around 3 million Disney+ subscribers and 4.1 million Hulu subscribers canceled their services in September after the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" suspension.
- Despite these substantial losses, both Disney+ and Hulu also reported an increase in new sign-ups during September, partially offsetting the total subscriber decline.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by portraying Jimmy Kimmel's suspension and subsequent subscription cancellations as a direct consequence of political pressure from the "Trump regime" and "Trump-aligned" figures. They use evaluative language to delegitimize conservative criticism, emphasize Trump's perceived authoritarian tendencies, and connect the events to a broader narrative of suppressing critical voices.
"However, signups were higher in September for both Hulu and Disney+ than the prior five months."
Chicago Tribune"Despite the rise in cancellation rates, both Disney+ and Hulu saw an uptick in new sign-ups in September, offsetting some of the loss, according to Antenna."
BBC News"The cancellation rate for subscriptions to Disney+ and Hulu in the U.S. doubled after ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late night TV show under pressure from the Trump regime."
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FAQ
Jimmy Kimmel was suspended due to controversial comments he made about the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, linking the alleged killer to the MAGA movement. This sparked significant backlash including boycotts and subscription cancellations, resulting in a doubling of churn rates for Disney+ and Hulu in September with millions of cancellations.
Disney+ lost approximately 3 million subscribers as its churn rate doubled from 4% to 8%, while Hulu lost about 4.1 million subscribers with its churn rate doubling to 10% in September, totaling over 7 million combined cancellations.
Yes, both Disney+ and Hulu reported an increase in new sign-ups during September, which partially offset the large losses from cancellations.
The suspension triggered political reactions including President Trump praising the suspension, calls from broadcast groups like Nexstar and Sinclair to pull the show from stations, and debate about free speech, regulatory influence, and corporate decision-making in entertainment.
Upon returning on September 26, 2025, Jimmy Kimmel's show drew approximately 6.2 million live viewers, tripling usual ratings and generating his most-watched opening monologue with over 20 million YouTube views in 24 hours, indicating a strong audience response despite the controversy.
History
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