Disney+, Hulu cancellations spike following Kimmel’s suspension

Both Hulu and Disney+ experienced a significant rise in cancellations in August, following Disney's brief suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” — Image credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images

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Summary

Cancellation spike

Disney saw a significant increase in the number of cancellations for its streaming platforms in September.

Jimmy Kimmel suspension

The drastic jump in cancellations came the same month Disney announced it was suspending Jimmy Kimmel over his comments about Charlie Kirk’s killer.

Streaming prices

The cancellations also came in the same month Disney announced price increases to its basic plan and bundle deals.

Full story

Both Hulu and Disney+ experienced a significant rise in cancellations in August, following Disney’s brief suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on ABC. The rate of cancellations doubled for both streaming platforms, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The cancellations come after some celebrities, including Cynthia Nixon and Howard Stern, said they were dropping their subscriptions and told others to do the same.

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The Journal looked at data from subscription analytics company Antenna. It found that the rate of customer defections for Disney+ jumped from 4% to 8%. For Hulu, the rate doubled from 5% to 10%.

Antenna estimated that 7 million subscribers canceled in September — 3 million for Disney+ and 4.1 million for Hulu, which is also owned by the Walt Disney Co. That number is drastically larger than a previous report, which stated 1.7 million subscribers canceled their subscriptions between Sept. 17 and Sept. 23.

How it all began

ABC and Disney suspended late-show host Jimmy Kimmel on Sept. 17 over his comments about the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Owners of some ABC-TV affiliates — including Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair — also announced they would not carry the show.

Kimmel returned to the air about a week later, with more than three times his normal viewership. Preliminary Nielsen ratings indicated 6.3 million viewers tuned in for Kimmel’s return. That number does not include streaming figures.

Shortly after Disney put Kimmel back on air, Nexstar and Sinclair agreed to return the show to their stations.

Subscription price hikes

A recent rise in subscription prices could also be a factor in the number of cancellations. On Sept. 24, Disney announced it was raising prices for its plans and bundles.

The Disney+ ad-supported plan rose from $9.99 to $11.99 per month. The ad-free version increased to $18.99 monthly. Bundle price changes were as follows:

The Disney+ and Hulu ad package will rise by $2.
The Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN bundle will increase by $3.
Packages that include Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max will also cost $3 more each month.

Julia Marshall (Morning Digital Producer)

Julia Marshall is a morning digital producer at Straight Arrow News. Thanks to her extensive newsroom experience, Julia has a keen eye for news and extensive experience in writing and editing content across all topics and platforms.

Alan Judd (Content Editor) contributed to this report.

Tags: ABC, Disney, Disney Plus, Hulu, Jimmy Kimmel

Why this story matters

The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's show on ABC and the resulting spike in Disney+ and Hulu cancellations highlight the influence of public response on corporate actions and the intersection of entertainment, free speech and consumer behavior.

Subscriber backlash

A significant increase in subscription cancellations for Disney+ and Hulu followed the suspension, demonstrating how consumer reactions can lead to rapid shifts in streaming service metrics, according to Antenna and coverage from major news outlets.

Free speech debates

The suspension sparked nationwide discussions over censorship and the role of corporate and regulatory pressure on media content, with multiple organizations and public figures both criticizing and supporting Disney's decision.

Corporate decision-making

Disney's choices regarding content moderation and subsequent price changes for its streaming services illustrate the complex balance between managing brand reputation, regulatory environment and consumer expectations.

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Community reaction

There were widespread calls for boycotts on social media and from celebrities, with hashtags like #CancelDisneyPlus trending and public figures announcing their cancellations in protest or support.

Context corner

The controversy centers on free speech debates following ABC's suspension of Jimmy Kimmel for comments about Charlie Kirk, reflecting ongoing tensions about media, politics and corporate responses to public pressure in the U.S. entertainment industry.

Policy impact

ABC and Disney’s handling of the situation may influence how media conglomerates respond to future political or cultural controversies, both in content decisions and in subscriber retention strategies.

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Sources

The Wall Street Journal

Bias comparison

Media outlets on the left emphasize a "surge" in cancellations driven by "boycotts" from consumers "outraged" by the suspension, linking it to "Trump administration pressure" while also noting overall sign-up increases.
Media outlets in the center provide specific churn rates like "4% to 8%" and frame the situation as "censorship" or "Government intrusion," sometimes using "modest churn" or "soar.
Media outlets on the right portray Kimmel as "spreading disinformation" and airing "nightly screeds," highlighting his "Drag Skit" and "Uses Kids As Props" to frame the event as a consequence for "less than popular demand" content.

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