Disney+ hits US$2-billion mark in global consumer spend

Driven by subscriptions, exclusive releases, strong IP and international expansion, video streaming service Disney+ has joined the likes of Netflix, YouTube, Tencent Video, and iQIYI in surpassing the US$2-billion milestone in lifetime global consumer spend.

In 2021, the Disney+ streaming app ranked second in terms of global app store consumer spend, lagging behind only YouTube. International expansion has been a key strategy fueling global growth for Disney+ in 2021, with top markets driving spend, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Brazil, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Disney+ also attributes its continued success with its lineup of exclusive content. In 2021, downloads in the US spiked 40% for the 30 days after the release of the film Luca, compared to the 30 days prior.

The platform has also leveraged exclusive streaming releases in tandem with theatrical releases, often requiring a subscription and additional one-off payment. Strong IP through the Walt Disney Company, Pixar and Marvel Studios, among others, coupled with timely releases, is continuing to encourage new subscribers and long-term retention to the service, Disney+ reported.