Jimmy Kimmel Suspension Linked to Spike in Disney+ and Hulu Cancellations

Disney+ and Hulu saw a big jump in cancellations after Jimmy Kimmel’s short suspension from ABC, according to subscription tracking firm Antenna.

The company reported that monthly churn rates for Disney+ rose from 4 percent in August to 8 percent in September. Hulu’s churn also doubled, going from 5 percent to 10 percent.

Before September, Disney+ had steady cancellation rates around 3 to 4 percent each month. Hulu stayed around 4 to 5 percent.

Other streaming platforms like Peacock, Paramount+, and HBO Max kept their usual ranges, while Netflix maintained a low churn rate of 2 percent.

A source said that while the spike in cancellations was noticeable, it quickly settled. “People tend to be loud when dropping a service, but they often quietly return afterward,” the source said. Ratings for Kimmel’s show have also risen since he returned to the air.

The Antenna data comes with some cautions. A Disney source said it’s unclear how the company counts upgrades or downgrades in these figures, and the numbers may be higher than Disney’s own internal data. It’s also not certain how many cancellations were due specifically to Kimmel’s suspension versus planned price increases.

Kimmel was suspended for a few days after a September 15 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! where he made a comment about Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin. The remark went viral and was widely criticized online, sparking outrage. ABC brought Kimmel back on air in less than a week.

Many social media users encouraged followers to cancel Disney+ in protest. Influential radio host Howard Stern said he personally canceled his subscription over the suspension. “I had canceled Disney+ in protest of the move by Disney,” Stern said.

While it’s hard to know the exact financial impact, Antenna’s numbers suggest the spike could equal around three million lost subscribers. Billing cycles may mean these cancellations don’t show up in Disney’s next earnings report. The company has also announced it will stop reporting subscriber numbers in future reports.

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