Disney Struggles on the Streaming Charts
A few years ago, Nielsen introduced its streaming charts around the same time that Disney+ arrived.
Don’t overlook the timing there. Nielsen had developed a long relationship with companies like Paramount/CBS, NBC, and Disney.
Photo: Disney+
Once those companies started their streaming services, Nielsen needed to update its product to remain relevant.
Since then, Disney has remained a frequent presence on the Nielsen streaming charts, but some weeks are better than others.
Photo: English Jargon
The latest charts are definitely not the kind CEO Bob Iger wants to see. Yes, Disney has struggled on the streaming charts.
Here’s what just happened and what probably comes next.
Thank God for Bluey
Disney+
First, let’s discuss the oddity of streaming data. This particular chart covers the week of February 19th through February 25th, 2024.
As is the norm with the Nielsen charts, it’s about a month behind, presumably so that Nielsen and its clients can protect their proprietary data.
Photo: Taylor Swift
Disney can and will publish its own data when it’s beneficial to do so.
As proof, remember that Disney revealed how well Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour had performed during its first three days on Disney+.
Photo: Taylor Swift
We’ll discuss that more in a bit, but it’s a strange aspect of how Nielsen addresses the emerging streaming market.
That reality brings us to Disney, which just suffered through a slow February, but will claim an excellent March.
Photo: Disney+
The Nielsen streaming charts come with an odd bit of lag, which makes these conversations strange. But here we go!
After winning the past two weeks on the Nielsen charts, Bluey slipped to third this time.
Disney+
The adorable pup did nothing wrong, though. I mean, does she ever?!
Instead, Bluey’s weekly performance of 1.081 billion minutes remains well above par for the series.
Photo: Disney+
The only reason Bluey finished third is that the competition increased mightily.
Netflix released the latest remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender and a new season of Love Is Blind.
Photo: D23
Those two programs alone totaled roughly five billion viewing minutes, which is absolutely massive.
In box office terms, you can think of it as having two $80 million openers during the same weekend.
Photo: Disney+
Overall, Bluey only lost 90 million viewer minutes from last time.
To a larger point, one billion viewer minutes is often enough to win the week.
Disney+
Bluey only lost because of Netflix’s glut of new, popular content.
Disney’s Other Hits
Photo: Hulu
For yet another week, Disney took the goose egg on the Originals chart.
Since Percy Jackson & the Olympians ended, the only ray of sunshine for Disney here was the return of The Bear.
Photo: Disney
After that series cleaned up during awards season, fans rightfully took another look at Hulu’s best series.
However, Disney+ hasn’t had a hit of similar scale and may not until we discuss The Eras Tour, which will be in the Movies category anyway.
Photo: THIERRY CHESNOT/GETTY IMAGES
Meanwhile, Hulu will claim a blockbuster soon, with Shogun two weeks away from debuting on the Nielsen charts.
Until then, Disney won’t have a presence in the Originals top ten.
Photo: The New York Post
The surprise comes on the Acquired chart, where Bluey is Disney’s only entry.
Criminal Minds didn’t make the cut this week due to an emerging phenomenon on Netflix.
USA
Basically, the most popular streaming shows today are the USA Network’s programs from 10-15 years ago, a joke a friend made on our podcast.
Currently, Suits and Monk are listed in the top ten, with other USA Network classics possibly coming soon.
Photo: Disney
So, the top ten’s entry point was 593 million viewer minutes, something Criminal Minds couldn’t manage.
Due to all this great television, the Movies chart deflated during the week in question, though.
Photo: Disney
That fact worked well for Disney+, as Moana surged to 384 million viewer minutes.
Even better, Encanto returned to the charts for the first time in a while.
The beloved Disney film earned 221 million viewer minutes.
As I’ve referenced in the past, I suspect 175-225 million viewer minutes is the range for several Disney movies like Avengers: Endgame, Frozen/Frozen II, and Encanto.
Photo: CinemaBlend
So, that’s the three Disney titles that charted during the week in question.
About the Eras Tour
Photo: Disney
We can discuss one other Disney+ title today, and it’s The Eras Tour.
As I’ve previously mentioned, Nielsen’s streaming data can be a bit subjective.
Photo: Disney
The company captures audio of its participating viewers so that it can identify which programs are being streamed in the household.
That’s…an elaborate tactic, and it’s fraught with issues that could disrupt the data.
Photo: Disney
Also, Nielsen only includes television views, which isn’t the way that many people watch their favorites on streaming.
So, when Disney announces a streaming number, we can be sure it’s right. When Nielsen does, there’s a bit more intrigue.
Photo: Taylor Swift
Keeping that in mind, we can do a bit of extrapolation regarding The Eras Tour on Disney+.
We know that the first episode of Loki season two gained 10.9 million views in three days.
Photo: Taylor Swift
When the Nielsen numbers for that week came out a month later, the charts indicated 446 million viewer minutes.
Disney just confirmed The Eras Tour as having 16.2 million viewer minutes, which is 48.6 percent more than Loki’s premiere.
Photo: Taylor Swift
If Nielsen has handled its part correctly, The Eras Tour should debut on the charts with about 663 million viewer minutes.
Frankly, I’m expecting more, but that’s what the extrapolation would suggest.
Photo: Taylor Swift || Sometimes she has special guests during this section!
Also, you should understand that less wouldn’t be surprising.
Many Taylor Swift fans are streaming this film on their phones instead.
Photo: Taylor Swift
So, a lesser total would reflect Nielsen’s ratings blind spot more than anything else.
That’s something to watch in three weeks when Nielsen releases the Movies chart for the first few days of The Eras Tour.
Photo: simplemost.com
PS: If that number seems low, please remember that it only reflects three days of data.
MickeyBlog Logo
Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below, and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon!
Feature Photo:Source: Ivan Marc / Shutterstock.com
