How many Disney subscriptions were canceled? Update after Jimmy Kimmel controversy

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Jimmy Kimmel Live! has returned to television, however, recent data indicates that Disney and its streaming platforms experienced financial setbacks during the recent controversy. Consequently, investors are now requesting explanations.

If you’re not familiar with the situation, ABC cancelled Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show on September 17th, just two days after he delivered a monologue criticizing Donald Trump’s reaction to the passing of Charlie Kirk.

The story broke shortly after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr denounced Kimmel’s remarks and warned he might impose regulations on the Disney-owned network. Nexstar and Sinclair, which operate ABC affiliates, were the first to announce they would stop airing the show.

There was a strong public reaction: people online threatened to stop supporting Disney, and 400 celebrities signed a letter speaking out for the right to free expression. After discussions, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was back on ABC on September 23rd, with stations owned by Nexstar and Sinclair joining them three days later.

How many Disney subscriptions were canceled after Jimmy Kimmel?

The recent controversy involving Jimmy Kimmel seems to have financially affected Disney. According to a source within Disney who spoke with journalist Marisa Kabas this week, the company experienced over 1.7 million cancellations of paid streaming subscriptions between September 17th and 23rd.

As a big fan, I was really shocked to hear from the founder of Handbasket that the total number of cancellations includes subscriptions to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN. They also said something pretty incredible – that the number of people canceling their subscriptions in the week after they paused Kimmel was 436% higher than usual. That’s a huge jump! It really shows how much people were enjoying his show, and how much his absence impacted their decision to stay subscribed. You can find more details about this here.

While some reviewers believe the cancellations happened because of a price increase, it’s important to note that the period being measured concluded on September 23rd – the very same day the price increase was made public.

According to a report from Kabas last week, over a million people had ended their Disney streaming subscriptions by Monday. The source at Disney also indicated the company probably anticipated this number would keep growing as long as Kimmel wasn’t allowed to speak out, as Kabas reported. The source told Kabas that the company likely knew that trend would only continue the longer they kept Kimmel silenced. This suggests a potential connection between the cancellations and the handling of Kimmel’s situation.

So, how much money does Disney lose with 1.7 million canceled subscriptions? It really depends on where those cancellations happened – which streaming service – and how much money each subscriber usually brought in. As of the third quarter of 2025, Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN together had 207.4 million subscribers. This is a significant number to consider when looking at these cancellations.

Let’s say the cancellations happened equally across all platforms, and people typically spend between $7 and $15 each month (this varies based on things like ads, package deals, and premium subscriptions). That means the lost monthly revenue would be around $12 to $25.5 million.

Even though Disney’s net worth is around $206.4 billion, this loss is quite small. However, despite being a minor financial impact given Disney’s massive size, it’s still important.

An unexpected increase is getting attention from investors, and that can worry the stock market. For a company that relies on a strong brand image, negative perceptions like these can be very damaging, particularly since they’ve already been affected by the recent price increase.

I saw what Kabas said, and it really hit home. He pointed out that even though Disney got some good feelings back when they announced Kimmel’s return, this price increase is almost guaranteed to cause another big wave of criticism. It’s like they were already in a really fragile position, and this could just push them over the edge. He’s right – it feels like they’re on perilously thin ice right now, and this is a risky move. It’s frustrating because we all want Disney to succeed, but things like this make it so much harder.

Disney shareholders could take legal action 

This is clear due to a possible legal issue, as Disney investors want to know more about what happened with Kimmel’s suspension. This comes after reports – which haven’t been confirmed – that the company may have lost around $4 billion because of the situation.

So, last week I heard that a bunch of investors – basically, lawyers representing the American Federation of Teachers and Reporters Without Borders – sent a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger. They’re asking for some answers about why Mr. Kimmel and his show were initially suspended. They want transparency into how that decision was made, which is pretty reasonable if you ask me.

So, I was reading that Disney’s stock took a pretty big hit after they suddenly pulled Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air. Apparently, it all started because the Chairman of the FCC, Brendan Carr, and some of ABC’s local stations were making threats. It seems Disney reacted quickly to that pressure, and the market didn’t like it!

The letter also points out Sinclair and Nexstar, and it’s interesting to note that Nexstar is currently waiting for the FCC to approve their $6.2 billion deal to buy Tegna. As a fan of media diversity, I’m keeping a close eye on this one, hoping for the best possible outcome for viewers. It’s a significant move that could really change things!

The statement explains that Mr. Kimmel and his show were taken off the air following remarks he made on September 15, 2025. These comments, delivered during his monologue, concerned the political discussion surrounding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

ABC temporarily removed Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its schedule but brought it back on September 23, 2025. However, the show wasn’t broadcast on roughly 25% of ABC’s local stations – specifically, those owned by Nexstar and Sinclair.

The decision to temporarily stop production of Jimmy Kimmel Live! led to widespread backlash, with many calling it an infringement on free speech. This prompted calls for boycotts and expressions of support for Mr. Kimmel from various unions. Additionally, Disney’s stock price dropped sharply as investors worried about potential damage to the company’s reputation and feared that Disney was giving in to undue pressure from the government and censorship from the media.

The investors have requested “copies of any meeting minutes, meeting agendas, and written materials” that were shared with the company’s board regarding Kimmel’s suspension. They need these documents within five business days of the letter, which was sent on Wednesday, September 24.

If the investors didn’t receive a response within the specified timeframe, the letter indicates they reserve the right to take legal action to obtain the requested documents and pursue any other legal options available to them.

As reported by Deadline, the group hasn’t yet received the materials they asked for, nor have they received a response from Disney. An insider described Disney’s strategy to the publication, stating, “This is a game of chicken, with someone giving way only at the last minute. They understand what’s at risk.”

It’s yet to be seen whether legal action will be taken against Disney.

Suspension backlash gives Kimmel a ratings boost

Even with some recent issues off-camera, Jimmy Kimmel Live! is still attracting more viewers. Last night’s (September 29) show, which was filmed in Brooklyn, included appearances by Ryan Reynolds, comedian Josh Johnson, and a musical performance by Public Enemy.

It’s important to realize that viewership numbers have fallen significantly since last Tuesday – the show’s return after being temporarily taken off the air. Nielsen reported 6.26 million viewers on that first day back, but that number decreased to 2.3 million by Thursday. This represents a substantial drop in audience size. The decline is noteworthy.

However, this number remains considerably higher than the average of 1.42 million seen between 2024 and 2025. It’s likely these figures increased now that Jimmy Kimmel Live! is back on stations affiliated with Nexstar and Sinclair, which reach about 20-25% of homes in the US.

His online engagement has been strong too, as his most recent monologue has garnered almost one million views in just six hours. This is a significant increase compared to his usual average of 240,000 views. 

You can also find information on whether Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? has been canceled by ABC, and about Robert De Niro’s recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s show.

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2025-09-30 13:52