Netflix’s subscribers have slowed sharply in the first half of this year compared to 2020 because of the popularity of Disney+ among families, the loss of popular licensed content, and other streaming competition from the major studios.
At the end of June 2021, Netflix’s subscribers in the US and Canada dropped by 430,000. Netflix’s weak growth in the first half of 2021 resulted in 5.5 million net subscriber additions worldwide, compared to 25.9 million in the first half of 2020.
Surprisingly, after posting stellar results, Disney+ announced on Tuesday that subscriber growth for the streaming service would slow in the fourth quarter because of covid-related restrictions.
Netflix Expands Into Family Programming to Challenge Disney’s Dominance
Netflix will acquire the film rights to the complete works of Ronald Dahl, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and The Fantastic Mr. Fox. The rights deal is rumored to be north of $750 million and expands on the pact between the two to adapt more titles together.
The announcement marks Netflix’s most significant move in family programming, a move designed to counter the rapid success of Disney+. There are two Dahl-based films currently in production–Netflix is working on Matilda, and Warner Bros. is filming a Wonka prequel.
After Rapid Growth, Disney+ Announced Subs Will Slow
The combined streaming services of Disney’s empire are hot on the heels of Netflix. The company has 173 million subscribers through July, including Disney+ with 116M, Hulu 42M, and ESPN+ 15M.
In North America, Disney+ has amassed 39 million subscribers, but its success overseas is remarkable, including 38 million subscribers in India alone, a market Netflix and others have struggled to decode.
Last year, Disney+ became available in over 30 major markets, including Latin America, Europe, and Asia. After this international expansion, Disney+ subscribers have doubled in the last year, and Hulu subscribers jumped up 60% year-over-year. However, Disney’s live television option, Hulu TV, saw subscribers decline every quarter last year; it currently has 3.7 million subscribers.
Surprisingly, the company said on September 21 that subscriber growth for Disney+ will slow in the fourth quarter due to lockdown-related production delays. Walt Disney Studios has 61 films and 17 episodic series’ at various stages of production.
Licensed Content Still Drives Netflix’s Viewership
Now that NBCUniversal reclaimed The Office for its Peacock streaming service ($500M for five years) and Friends traveled back to WarnerMedia for HBO Max ($425M for five years), Netflix is about to have a new hit series, the 1989 show about nothing Seinfeld. Netflix acquired the five-year streaming rights from Sony Television two years ago for $500 million that covers all 180 episodes. Prior to Netflix, the show was streaming on Hulu for the last six years, which cost the company $130-180 million annually.
The Office and Friends were by far the most-watched content on Netflix. Although Netflix dominates the top ten shows among its streaming peers, but only two of the top ten streaming on Netflix are originals–Outer Banks and Virgin River.
As major media conglomerates continue expanding their own paid and free streaming services, fewer hit shows will be available to third parties like Netflix, resulting in fewer opportunities to license popular content to attract new subscribers.
Worldwide Film & Television Distribution Intelligence
Get unparalleled access to market intelligence reports that draw on financial data and insights from dozens of content distribution deals worldwide between key industry participants, including — Distributors, Producers, Broadcasters, MPVDs, Pay Television Providers, and Streaming Exhibitors.
Film and Series distribution rates and terms deriving from dozens of agreements for rights to transmit films and episodic television via PayTV and SVOD.
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Licensing Terms & Included Programs:
Pay-1 & SVOD Rate Cards for Motion Pictures and Series Exhibited Worldwide in Multiple Availability Windows
- Motion Pictures: Pay-1, First Run, Second Window Features, Recent Library Features (Tiers AAA,A,B,C), Library Features (Tiers AAA,A,B,C), Current and Premium Made-For-TV Films and Direct-To-Video Films, covering many license periods over the last decade
- Episodic TV: Current, Premium, Premium Catalog (1HR & 1/2HR), Catalog Series (1HR & 1/2HR), and Catalog Miniseries + Case Studies on Current Mega Hit, Catalog Mega Hit, and Premium Catalog, covering many licensing terms from 2012-2024
- Because most-favored-nation rates operate in practice, the rates and terms apply to a diverse range of content and distributors worldwide in multiple availability windows.
Apple TV+ Will Double Its Content Production Output
Apple TV+ plans to double its output of new shows and films, to reach at least one release per week next year. Through the first half of 2021, Apple TV+ has about 42 million subscribers, but only half of them actually pay for the service. Most subs are still getting a free trial; some trials last a year with select Apple product purchases.
While Apple TV+ app is available on multiple devices, the company is now paying for a dedicated button on Roku remotes. These dedicated buttons are the norm for leading streaming services but out of character for a company that shelters its brand.
Streaming Viewership Plateaus as Per Household Paid Services Expand
The US streaming market is still growing in paid SVOD services per household, which is approaching five, up from three in 2019. Overall, half of US households have at least three subscription video services.
However, US streaming viewership has topped out recently at 28% of overall viewership, as evidenced in the chart from Nielsen below.
Splitting the Difference: Why Warner Bros. and Comcast Are Carving Up Their Empires
Warner Bros. Discovery and Comcast are restructuring to separate their declining linear TV networks from streaming divisions, signaling the end of linear television’s dominance. This strategy, framed as a means to enhance value, highlights the sector’s collapse as advertisers and viewers shift to digital platforms. Mergers or sell-offs are imminent.
Continue Reading Splitting the Difference: Why Warner Bros. and Comcast Are Carving Up Their Empires
SVOD Trends in 2025: International Variability, Advertising, and Pricing Adjustments
Content and pricing strategies are shifting as platforms focus on retaining subscribers with live sports and bundled services. Sports rights, such as those for the Champions League and NFL, have driven substantial growth for Paramount+ and Peacock—Prime Video benefits from integrating most major streaming services into one platform.