Disney+ scores 5m UK and EU downloads in 24 hours

Disney+ has racked up more than five million new app downloads since its European launch on 24 March, according to third party data.

The dedicated streaming service - home to movies and TV series from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic - has launched this week into the UK and EU region, having previously been available in the US and Canada since November.

Data firm App Annie found in the seven markets it expanded to this week - the UK, Ireland, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland - the Disney+ app was downloaded 5 million times.

App Annie market insights manager Adithya Venkatraman said in a blog post: “The variety of streaming service options, along with consumers’ growing comfort on mobile has resulted in a 50% growth in sessions in Entertainment apps globally from 2017 to 2019.

“While local players acting like aggregators will likely see increased traffic as a result of the Disney+ launch, others need to continue delivering engaging content to continue attracting consumers.”

However, the figures do not represent an increase in paying customers as Disney+ subscribers can download and install multiple apps across devices, with each account able to create seven profiles and have access to four simultaneous streams.

App Annie data includes mobile apps but not connected-TVs or access through the Disney+ website, and may exclude a portion of its users.

• Read more Disney+ launches in Europe

As of 3 February, Disney+ has gained 28.6 million subscribers, the media conglomerate announced earlier this year.

Year-to-date in 2020, Disney+ is the seventh ranked non-gaming app by consumer spending worldwide, according to App Annie. Tinder, YouTube, Netflix, TikTok, Tencent Video, and iQIYI are ahead, however the European launch of Disney+ could see it move higher up the ladder.

Venkatraman said that as of December 2019 Disney+ users are spending an average of three hours and 10 minutes per month in the app, compared to established players like Netflix which saw users on the service for four hours and 20 minutes per month, while Hulu, which is majority-owned by Disney, ranked for three hours and 20 minutes per month.

He added: “With increased social distancing measure taking effect in the US and across the world, free streaming service Pluto.tv (a subsidiary of ViacomCBS), saw a 75% week-over-week increase in time spent on Android phones in the US during the week of March 1-7, 2020.

“This is indicative of homebound consumers looking for new movies and series. The recent acquisition of Tubi TV by FOX, and the planned April 6th launch of Quibi further highlight the increasing competition among video apps for consumers’ time and money.”

• Read more Fox hunts $500m acquisition of Tubi