Disney+ could lose 2 crore subscribers after ceding IPL media rights
Walt Disney Co. could lose as many as 2 crore of its Disney+ subscribers after being outbid for the streaming rights to Indian Premier League cricket matches this week.
The estimate, from Media Partners Asia, means the company may have trouble reaching its goal of as many of as 26 crore global Disney+ subscribers by 2024, according to Vivek Couto, executive director of the research firm.
“IPL drives customer acquisition,” he said in an email. “It’s regarded as entertainment not just sports by Indian households – women and men.”
Few consumer products have been as successful as Disney+. The service, which offers unlimited Disney movies and TV shows, garnered 1 crore subscribers on its first day in November 2019 and boasted nearly 13.8 crore at last count.