24 Interesting Disney TV Facts, Figures and Statistics (2020)

Posted By: Craig Smith

Last updated on: 01/21/20

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.

disney tv facts wonderful world of disney

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:

over 100

Last updated 10/1/16

Number of languages Disney-branded channels are available in:

34 languages

Last updated 10/1/16

Number of countries Disney-branded television reaches:

163

Last updated 10/1/16

Year the Disney Channel began broadcasting:

1983

Year that Disney merged with ABC:

1996

Percentage of ESPN that Disney owns:

80%

Estimated number of ESPN subscribers:

90 million subscribers

Last updated 11/23/16

Estimated number of subscribers for international ESPN channels:

127 million

Last updated 10/3/15

Number of domestic channels ESPN operates:

8

Last updated 10/1/16

Number of Disney Channel Subscribers:

Number of Disney Junior Subscribers:

Number of Disney XD Subscribers:

Number of Freeform (formerly ABC Family) subscribers:

Percentage of A&E networks that Disney owns:

50%

Last updated 10/31/16

Number of A&E subscribers:

Number of History channel subscribers:

Number of Lifetime network subscribers:

Number of Lifetime Movie Network subscribers:

Number of FYI network subscribers:

Number of Viceland network subscribers:

Percentage of Hulu that Disney owns:

100%

Number of affiliates that ABC has agreements with:

242

Last updated 10/1/16

Number of television stations that ABC owns outright:

8

Last updated 10/1/16

Percentage of US television households that ABC reaches:

almost 100%

Last updated 10/1/16

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About the Author

Craig Smith
I am founder and editor of DisneyNews.us. My passion for all things Disney goes pretty far back but was deepened by two semi-recent developments:1) The birth of my son (who is now 7 years old and can't get enough Disney); and 2) Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm/Star Wars (did I mention I was a super Star Wars geek?)I recently came to the realization that I spent a significant portion of my day reading articles about Disney and watching it with my son, so it only made sense that I would start sharing some of what I read and see and building a little community around it.Other interests include Disney, Sports, 80's Nostalgia, LEGO, Star Wars and Tech Gadgets. Other sites include DMR and VideoGamesStats.com.