Home Entertainment Disney+ had over 10 million subscribers on day one

Disney+ had over 10 million subscribers on day one

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Since Disney+ launched in North America two days ago, we’ve been frantically trawling the internet and trying all kinds of MacGyver tricks to get access to Disney’s new streaming platform from down here in South Africa. Eventually last night, we got a method that let Disney+ accept our payment details and actually log into the service… and then nothing worked. No videos would start streaming at all. This could be another currently unassailable geo-fence blocking us, or it could just be the fact that Disney+ is currently getting hammered.

Since launch, there have been numerous reports from folks in the US and Canada about issues with logging in or launching videos or even just struggling to navigate the interface. Disney, who is usually known for its slick products, has been apologizing for the technical hiccups during the launch of its highly-anticipated service. But it would appear that it’s that massively high anticipation levels that probably caused the issues.

As both Collider and Variety report, over 10 million new subscribers tried to sign onto Disney+ on 12 November. That is a crazy amount. How crazy? Well, according to industry insiders, Disney had been anticipating hitting 8+ million subscribers by the end of the year. They exceeded that on the very first day! That is incredible.

Variety notes that Disney+’s low $6.99 price point, an aggressive pre-order campaign that began at D23 in August already, Verizon’s free one-year giveaway to their unlimited wireless customers, and more all added to this insane day one rush. It also has to be noted that a number of those “new subscribers” may not stick around as many signed up using the 7-day free trial being offered. Either way, it was still very impressive to the point where it drove up Disney’s stock by 5%. Disney’s initial forecasts had been to 60 – 90 million subscribers worldwide (with a third of that number in the US) by 2024 as they complete their initial roll-out phase. If the service keeps on this current pace, it will make that number easily. Hopefully, we’ll have found a way to join those subscribers way before then.

Last Updated: November 14, 2019

66 Comments

  1. They would have had 10 million and ONE if they just allowed me to legally sub

    Reply

    • Son of Banana Jim

      November 14, 2019 at 09:45

      They just don’t want our randelas 😛 (but I have this sneaking suspicion our old friends at Multichoice have a hand in it again)

      Reply

  2. justlikemo

    November 14, 2019 at 09:37

    all for their chance to see Jar Jar Binks

    Reply

    • Pariah

      November 14, 2019 at 09:37

      Meesah likey dees numbers, okey dey.

      Reply

      • justlikemo

        November 14, 2019 at 09:37

        okey day

        Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      November 14, 2019 at 09:37

      On fire?

      Reply

      • justlikemo

        November 14, 2019 at 09:37

        if he’s not they probably will burn their screens when he opens his mouth

        Reply

      • Pariah

        November 14, 2019 at 09:37

        • Hammersteyn

          November 14, 2019 at 09:37

          I believe him, he killed lots of people’s love for Star Wars.

          Reply

          • Pariah

            November 14, 2019 at 09:37

            So it wasn’t the midichlorians or just fatigue from the same fucking boring story for 9 movies? Gotcha

          • Hammersteyn

            November 14, 2019 at 09:37

            They shake the story up, in the last one they finally covered space fuel

          • Pariah

            November 14, 2019 at 11:51

            *Made from midichlorians

          • Hammersteyn

            November 14, 2019 at 11:52

            lol

      • Hammersteyn

        November 14, 2019 at 09:37

        I like to imagine his organs being cooked while he’s still alive because he’s impaled by a lightsaber

        Reply

  3. Hammersteyn

    November 14, 2019 at 09:37

    Meanwhile, you know, in countries like us or places that they can’t find on a map like Suriname or Jersey.
    https://media3.giphy.com/media/2w5Okcb1Sh5Rkvb95i/giphy.gif

    Reply

    • For the Emperor!

      November 14, 2019 at 09:45

      You would make a great Dread Pirate Roberts ☠️

      One of my favourite movies ever!

      Reply

      • Original Heretic

        November 14, 2019 at 09:45

        Gggg-ello. My name is Inigo Montoya…

        Reply

        • Son of Banana Jim

          November 14, 2019 at 09:45

          And.. you killed my fatha!

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            November 14, 2019 at 10:07

            I am your father!

          • Original Heretic

            November 14, 2019 at 12:17

            Must be why he’s so ugly.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            November 14, 2019 at 12:33

            He’s not ugly, he’s cute… like a warthog. The scars add character.

          • Son of Banana Jim

            November 14, 2019 at 12:17

            Noooooooooooooooo! Not this nightmare again!

          • Original Heretic

            November 14, 2019 at 10:07

            PREPARE TO DIE!

          • For the Emperor!

            November 14, 2019 at 10:14

            Hehe he almost said it as much as Jon Snow said “I don’t want it. She is my queen. I bent the knee” ?

    • Admiral Chief

      November 14, 2019 at 09:37

      • justlikemo

        November 14, 2019 at 11:52

        sure what eva you call urself, as soon as you have the stuff, let me know

        Reply

        • Pariah

          November 14, 2019 at 11:59

          First one’s free!

          Reply

      • For the Emperor!

        November 14, 2019 at 09:45

        I have abandones the high seas and retired to a Netflix account and DVD’s…but Mandalorian make me miss the open seas again!

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief

          November 14, 2019 at 09:45

          ARRRRRRRRR

          Reply

        • Son of Banana Jim

          November 14, 2019 at 09:45

          Honestly, I say take one last voyage on the HMS PilferMeOysters. The Mandalorian is definitely worth flying the jolly roger… aaarr!

          Reply

          • For the Emperor!

            November 14, 2019 at 11:06

            I will see if my “subsidiary” gets it for me…but this feels like something I will need to binge…

  4. thatotherbrandon

    November 14, 2019 at 09:45

    Okay, spill – what payment method did they accept if you can only use a US bank card?

    Reply

    • Original Heretic

      November 14, 2019 at 09:45

      It’s Disney.
      They also accept blood and children.

      Reply

      • Son of Banana Jim

        November 14, 2019 at 10:07

        And your soul… don’t forget the section where you can put down your soul.

        Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      November 14, 2019 at 10:27

      You can sub through a US iTunes account if you have an iDevice. That means you just need to load up on US iTunes vouchers. Only problem, still, is getting content to actually stream.

      Reply

      • Son of Banana Jim

        November 14, 2019 at 10:27

        Isn’t it still fraud though? Especially, address fraud… (which as I understand is actually actionable via international law) if you have a US iTunes account and you’ve listed your home address as a McDonalds in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

        Not that I would ever do such a thing…

        Reply

      • thatotherbrandon

        November 14, 2019 at 12:39

        Some people are actually – illegally, I would assume – selling Disney+ accounts on Reddit.

        Reply

  5. Son of Banana Jim

    November 14, 2019 at 09:45

    But will they stay after the 7-days? I’ll admit, the Mandalorian’s first episode was freaking amazing. It was the first Disney-created Star Wars thing that hasn’t made me projectile vomit in disgust. It reminded me of Firefly, Clone Wars, and a cool western – all in one.

    I hate to praise Disney but I was actually pleasantly surprised by the episode. It felt far too short, but they packed so much into it.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      November 14, 2019 at 09:45

      Ask Llew

      Reply

  6. Admiral Chief

    November 14, 2019 at 10:14

    That is a lot of Maclunkies

    Reply

    • Son of Banana Jim

      November 14, 2019 at 10:27

      I wonder what’s the current exchange rate for Rands to Maclunkies….

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief

        November 14, 2019 at 10:27

        Divide by zero

        Reply

        • Son of Banana Jim

          November 14, 2019 at 10:27

          But if I do, it could mean the end of reality…

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief

            November 14, 2019 at 10:33

            At least there are no more Maclunkies then

  7. G8crasha

    November 14, 2019 at 10:33

    I used alternative means to get The Mandalorian, and what I can say is that it wasn’t too bad! To be honest, I have no idea what other series are available on the service ATM. When I think Disney+ now, I think The Mandalorian!

    Reply

  8. G8crasha

    November 14, 2019 at 10:33

    I used alternative means to get The Mandalorian, and what I can say is that it wasn’t too bad! To be honest, I have no idea what other series are available on the service ATM. When I think Disney+ now, I think The Mandalorian!

    Reply

  9. BradeLunner

    November 14, 2019 at 11:14

  10. Alien Emperor Trevor

    November 14, 2019 at 10:27

    I can appreciate them wanting to take their time with the roll out and to get it right, but four years to not even reach the whole world seems very conservative and counterproductive. This absolute hard line approach to geo-locking content, particularly with original content, also doesn’t inspire much confidence in their approach to the market for me. People literally want to give them money for it and they’re refusing for some reason. It’s new original Star Wars and Marvel content – people *will* pirate it if you flatly refuse to sell it to them, and no amount of whining about morality and entitlement will change that.

    To me it seems like they don’t actually want to be in the streaming business for themselves, they’re doing it because they feel forced to, and different parts of the company are fighting to preserve their turf. I imagine DVD sales will take a nice hit, for example.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      November 14, 2019 at 10:27

      +1

      Reply

    • Son of Banana Jim

      November 14, 2019 at 10:27

      “… new original Star Wars and Marvel content – people *will* pirate it if you flatly refuse to sell it to them, and no amount of whining about morality and entitlement will change that”

      Pfft! How dare you rationalise blatant criminal behaviour. Those nautical acquisition experts (presumably from third world countries) must be put in jail or thrown in labour camps in China. How dare they sail the seven seas and not wait for Multichoice to repackage the content for their redundant, overpriced and ageing infrastructure. Why can’t they wait a year or two to watch it on DSTV? Or another 10 years so that they can watch it on SABC?

      Think about how you’re all harming the CEO of Multichoice’s chances of owning another mansion in Cape Town? Don’t you understand, piracy is not a victimless crime. it’s a gateway drug to real crime, degeneracy and deviancy! Stop sailing today! Join the right side of history. Get DSTV today! Pay your TV Lic!

      hahahaha!

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        November 14, 2019 at 10:33

        If I could download a car, I would.

        Reply

      • Admiral Chief

        November 14, 2019 at 10:27

        Ok boomer

        Reply

  11. G8crasha

    November 14, 2019 at 10:33

    I used alternative means to get The Mandalorian, and what I can say is that it wasn’t too bad! To be honest, I have no idea what other series are available on the service ATM. When I think Disney+ now, I think The Mandalorian!

    Reply

    • Son of Banana Jim

      November 14, 2019 at 10:33

      I’m keen to check out the What If series, but I’m still not sold on subbing.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief

        November 14, 2019 at 10:41

        I’m quite keen to see the “What If Banana was a Real Boy” show

        Reply

  12. richard paton

    November 14, 2019 at 17:38

    I have not yet tried it but would Smart DNS and US PayPal work ?

    Reply

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