Here are the more interesting Disney TV facts and statistics I was able to dig up. As always, I will be adding more and updating these periodically as I find new stuff. Be sure to check back regularly.
Disney has had a long and storied history with TV. I can still remember my family gathering in front of the TV every Sunday night to watch The Wonderful World of Disney. While Disney had a hit with their long-running weekly show, they dipped their toes more in the TV water with the launch of the Disney Channel in 1983 and subsequently developed a number of additional channels. Disney then went all-in on Television in 1996 with the purchase of ABC television and its various properties, including ESPN.
Image credit YouTube
I recently sat down to find out more about Disney’s television empire. Below is what I was able to find…
More ESPN Statistics can be found here.
Please note that some of these numbers are easier to find than others, so some of these are based on news reports and not official company tallies. All stats are linked to their source unless it was sent to me directly from the company. No stat listed should be considered in making any type of investment decision. In other words: This is the best I can find, but I don’t guarantee anything.
Disney TV Facts and Statistics
Number of Disney-branded television channels:
Last updated 10/1/16
Number of languages Disney-branded channels are available in:
Last updated 10/1/16
Number of countries Disney-branded television reaches:
Last updated 10/1/16
Year the Disney Channel began broadcasting:
Year that Disney merged with ABC:
Percentage of ESPN that Disney owns:
Estimated number of ESPN subscribers:
Last updated 11/23/16
Estimated number of subscribers for international ESPN channels:
Last updated 10/3/15
Number of domestic channels ESPN operates:
Last updated 10/1/16
Number of Disney Channel Subscribers:
- FY 2018: 314 million subscribers
- FY 2017: 313 million subscribers
- FY 2016: 298 million subscribers
- FY 2015: 290 million subscribers
- FY 2014: 282 million subscribers
- FY 2013: 271 million subscribers
- FY 2012: 253 million subscribers
Number of Disney Junior Subscribers:
- FY 2018: 228 million subscribers
- FY 2017: 223 million subscribers
- FY 2016: 214 million subscribers
- FY 2015: 204 million subscribers
- FY 2014: 182 million subscribers
- FY 2013: 160 million subscribers
- FY 2012: 125 million subscribers
Number of Disney XD Subscribers:
- FY 2018: 199 million subscribers
- FY 2017: 201 million subscribers
- FY 2016: 205 million subscribers
- FY 2015: 201 million subscribers
- FY 2014: 195 million subscribers
- FY 2013: 188 million subscribers
- FY 2012: 175 million subscribers
Number of Freeform (formerly ABC Family) subscribers:
- FY 2018: 88 million subscribers
- FY 2017: 90 million subscribers
- FY 2016: 91 million subscribers
- FY 2015: 93 million subscribers
- FY 2014: 94 million subscribers
- FY 2013: 98 million subscribers
- FY 2012: 97 million subscribers
Percentage of A&E networks that Disney owns:
Last updated 10/31/16
Number of A&E subscribers:
- FY 2018: 89 million subscribers
- FY 2017: 91 million subscribers
- FY 2016: 92 million subscribers
- FY 2015: 94 million subscribers
- FY 2014: 97 million subscribers
- FY 2013: 100 million subscribers
- FY 2012: 98 million subscribers
Number of History channel subscribers:
- FY 2018: 89 million subscribers
- FY 2017: 92 million subscribers
- FY 2016: 93 million subscribers
- FY 2015: 95 million subscribers
- FY 2014: 97 million subscribers
- FY 2013: 99 million subscribers
- FY 2012: 98 million subscribers
Number of Lifetime network subscribers:
- FY 2018: 88 million subscribers
- FY 2017: 91 million subscribers
- FY 2016: 92 million subscribers
- FY 2015: 94 million subscribers
- FY 2014: 96 million subscribers
- FY 2013: 100 million subscribers
- FY 2012: 98 million subscribers
Number of Lifetime Movie Network subscribers:
- FY 2018: 67 million subscribers
- FY 2017: 73 million subscribers
- FY 2016: 79 million subscribers
- FY 2015: 82 million subscribers
- FY 2014: 82 million subscribers
- FY 2013: 85 million subscribers
- FY 2012: 84 million subscribers
Number of FYI network subscribers:
- FY 2018: 54 million subscribers
- FY 2017: 58 million subscribers
- FY 2016: 68 million subscribers
- FY 2015: 69 million subscribers
- FY 2014: 65 million subscribers
Number of Viceland network subscribers:
- FY 2018: 67 million subscribers
- FY 2017: 70 million subscribers
- FY 2016: 68 million subscribers
Percentage of Hulu that Disney owns:
100%
Number of affiliates that ABC has agreements with:
Last updated 10/1/16
Number of television stations that ABC owns outright:
Last updated 10/1/16
Percentage of US television households that ABC reaches:
almost 100%
Last updated 10/1/16
