ESPN Streaming Step-Up Going “Extremely Well,” With 80% Of Subscribers Also Taking Disney+ & Hulu, Bob Iger Says

Core Insights - ESPN's direct-to-consumer streaming service launched in August has been a significant success, with 80% of new sign-ups opting for the Trio Bundle that includes Disney+ and Hulu [1][3] - In the fiscal fourth quarter, Disney added over 12 million subscribers, reaching a total of 196 million, with ESPN drawing 2.1 million sign-ups from its launch through September 30 [2] - The strong uptake of the Trio Bundle is seen as a positive indicator for reducing future churn rates [3] Subscriber Growth - Disney's streaming service exceeded expectations by adding more than 12 million subscribers in the fourth quarter, bringing the total to 196 million [2] - ESPN's new streaming outlet is not intended to be regularly reported on, as it complements the declining linear operations [2] User Engagement - The new service has performed exceptionally well with new users, including both former multichannel linear subscribers and new customers interested in ESPN [4] - Pay-TV subscribers have also engaged more deeply by authenticating their subscriptions to access programming via the ESPN app, with encouraging authentication rates reported [4] Features and Personalization - The app includes personalized features such as a tailored version of SportsCenter and TikTok-like vertical videos, with the algorithm effectively curating content based on user interactions [5]