Disney Plus, Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max and Apple TV Plus will collectively reach 910 million subscriptions by 2026 according to new figures from Digital TV Research.
The analysts predict the five major US-based platforms will control 53 per cent of the world’s 1.7 billion SVoD subscriptions by 2026.
Netflix will remain the largest player, adding 53 million subscribers to reach 275 million subs by 2026.
Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research, said: “Our previous forecasts based on June 2021 results estimated that Disney Plus would overtake Netflix in 2025. Based on the September 2021 results, we now expect that this will happen in 2027.
Despite a slower global roll-out than some of its competitors, new kid on the block HBO Max is predicted to have 83 million subscribers by 2026, up from 29 million by end-2021.
Earlier this month Disney reported reaching 118.1 million Disney Plus subscribers, up 2.1 million from the end of Q3. A decline from the prior quarter’s 12 million new subscribers, the results are consistent with CEO Bob Chapek’s warning in September that the service would “hit some headwinds” in Q4.
In comparison, Netflix beat analysts’ expectations, adding 4.38 million new subscribers to reach nearly 214 million worldwide.
