Fly You Fools! Disney's Streaming Numbers Are Here and They're Wilder Than a Balrog!

A Wizard's First Impression

Hmph it seems the House of Mouse has been busy. News reaches me even in my quiet study filled with maps and the lingering scent of pipe weed that Disney boasts of 157 million souls globally watching their ad supported streams. 157 million! That's nearly as many orcs as Sauron could muster at his peak! Though I suspect these souls are far less… troublesome. Still a number to ponder wouldn't you agree? Especially considering it seems these numbers are for the average over the last six months. One does wonder about the peaks and valleys don't you think?

Not All That Stream Are Lost… Except Maybe in the Methodology

Ah but here's a twist worthy of the Misty Mountains themselves! While the old world of television has its well worn paths for measuring viewership this newfangled 'streaming' remains a tangled thicket. It seems even Disney with all its might admits there's no single gleaming standard for gauging how many eyes are truly glued to their moving pictures. They claim to be forging a 'globally consistent approach,' but I've seen more consistent behaviour from a hobbit after second breakfast!

Speak Friend and Enter… the Ad Supported Tier

Indeed Disney is keen to show us these statistics while at CES. Rita Ferro a name I daresay is not Elvish speaks of Disney sitting at the intersection of sports entertainment and 'high value audiences.' It seems they are eager to declare themselves purveyors of valuable audiences. As if we didn't already know! The audacity! But I digress. They are offering a 'transparency' in their methodology they say. Transparency? I shall believe it when I see it and not before. I've seen more transparency in the depths of Moria.

Ten Seconds to Doom? More Like Ten Seconds of Ads!

Their measurement it seems involves counting accounts that have endured more than ten seconds of ad supported shows. Ten seconds! Why a hobbit can barely finish lighting his pipe in that time. And each account is multiplied by some 'estimated users per account'. They've certainly mastered the art of estimation. Furthermore users watching on multiple devices are counted for each device! De duplication they call it. I should hope they do it. Seems a rather… inflated number wouldn't you say?

One Does Not Simply… Avoid Ad Supported Tiers

Ah the allure of the 'cheaper ad supported tiers.' Much like the One Ring they offer power at a cost. Bob Iger the CEO it seems is steering customers toward these tiers. Price hikes on the commercial free options you see. A subtle nudge or perhaps a shove towards the light of advertising. Indeed more than half of new U.S. Disney+ subscribers seem to be making that choice. A sign of the times perhaps.

A Glimmer of Hope in the Financial Quagmire

But hold! There's a flicker of hope amidst the accounting ledgers. While revenue per user has dipped slightly their combined streaming business shows signs of life. A profit of $321 million compared to a loss in the previous year. It seems even in the digital age there's a chance for redemption. We shall see what February 5th brings when their next financial figures are unveiled. Until then I shall continue to watch and perhaps enjoy a spot of tea and second breakfast while I contemplate these numbers.