Six years after Disney+ entered the streaming race, the service is no longer just a challenger, it’s a cornerstone of The Walt Disney Company’s entertainment strategy. And according to new viewership figures, audiences are responding in a big way.
Nielsen reports that seven of the ten most-watched series of 2025 streamed on Disney+ or Hulu. Bluey led the charge yet again, amassing 45 billion minutes viewed in the U.S. for the second consecutive year. Over on ABC, Disney’s linear network claimed the top six spots among Adults 18–49, fueled by titles including High Potential, Abbott Elementary, and Dancing with the Stars.
In their latest Q1 executive summary, Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman pointed to the company’s cross-platform dominance. “With audience and critical favorites across film and television, combined with our leading portfolio of sports offerings and award-winning news programming, we offer consumers a powerful streaming proposition,” they said in the recent Q1 executive summary.
The executives stressed that global growth remains a priority, particularly through investments in regionally produced programming. They also revealed that Disney+ is preparing a new wave of product improvements aimed at refining the user experience.
That evolution includes experimentation with artificial intelligence. Iger and Hugh Johnston detailed plans for AI-based planning tools and video generators to enhance advertising capabilities. Short-form and vertical video content is in the works as well, reflecting shifting viewing habits. Additionally, Disney+ will debut a curated collection of content produced with Sora AI after securing a new licensing agreement with OpenAI.
“These efforts are shaping a more personalized streaming experience and positioning us to deliver greater value to consumers,” the executives said, framing the upgrades as part of a long-term digital transformation.
Across the Atlantic, Disney+ is poised to become part of a sweeping streaming consolidation that could redefine subscription television in the UK and Ireland.
Sky has announced a new bundled offering that combines Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and Hayu into one Sky TV subscription. Launching at approximately £24 per month for new customers, the revamped Ultimate TV package integrates each platform directly into the Sky OS interface, reducing the need for multiple apps and separate payments.
“This marks a new era for Sky and NOW. In a world-first, we’re bringing together Sky, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and Hayu into a single Sky TV subscription,” said Sophia Ahmad, Chief Consumer Officer at Sky. “Nowhere else offers this breadth of incredible entertainment in a fully integrated experience, with everything customers love watching side by side so viewers can jump from show to show with ease.”
Netflix’s participation underscores how far the streaming ecosystem has evolved. Once a disruptor that operated entirely outside traditional pay-TV systems, the service will now coexist within a unified search and recommendation environment alongside premium channels and on-demand libraries.
Disney+ is central to the bundle’s appeal. Starting in March 2026, the ad-supported tier will be included as part of a new multi-year agreement between Disney and Sky. The deal also introduces a Disney+ Cinema channel for Sky Cinema subscribers, restoring a dedicated Disney-branded linear presence in UK households for the first time in years.
“We’ve grown Disney+ in the UK into our largest market across Europe over the past six years, and Sky is the perfect partner for our next wave of growth in the UK and Ireland,” explained Karl Holmes (General Manager, Disney+, The Walt Disney Company EMEA). “This agreement gives millions of Sky customers a simple, seamless way to enjoy all the great stories that Disney+ offers, and opens up a substantial new audience for content creators and advertisers.”
The expansion arrives as Disney+ heads into 2026 with a growing lineup of franchise installments and original programming, spanning Marvel adventures to new entries in the Star Wars universe. Being embedded within Sky’s ecosystem may attract viewers who have remained within the pay-TV fold rather than subscribing directly to individual apps.
HBO Max will enter the UK and Ireland market on March 26, 2026, with its ad-supported tier included in the Sky bundle, and Hayu will join later in the year. Sky Stream, Sky Glass, and Sky Q customers will gain access to unified search, combined recommendations, and shared “continue watching” features across platforms. Existing Disney+ and HBO Max users can migrate their accounts to Sky without losing their profiles.
In positioning itself as a single gateway to major streaming brands, Sky is offering a potential answer to subscription overload. Whether similar models take hold in other territories remains to be seen, but the collaboration marks a significant shift in how audiences may access Netflix and Disney+ in the years ahead.
In the United States, Disney is also streamlining its services by folding Hulu into Disney+ later this year, creating a more consolidated domestic streaming hub.
How do you feel about this big super streaming merger? Let us know in the comments down below!
