Disney’s streaming service now reaches 54.5 million subscribers around the world.
The entertainment giant gave the details in a conference call on Tuesday, saying that the global lockdown had helped bolster the number of people who were watching the nine-month-old Disney+.
The 54 million figure includes the 8 million subscribers to the Indian streaming service HotStar, acquired through the purchase of the former Fox property Star.
Disney’s new chief executive officer Bob Chapek repeated a line from predecessor Bob Iger that direct-to-consumer streaming was the company’s “priority”.
Given the impact of coronavirus on other Disney businesses it is also a vital one, though it is beginning to reopen its theme parks, starting with Shanghai next week.
Film and TV production has been halted and sports suspended indefinitely.
Revenue for the quarter increased from $1.1 billion to $4.1 billion in what is only the second full quarter when Disney+ was in operation. But otherwise grim results saw second quarter profits tumble 91% to $475 million.
Disney estimates that by 2024 the service will have between 60 and 90 million subscribers. Disney believes it could hit the lower end of that estimate this year, some four years ahead of schedule.
