Disney+ app gets five million downloads on first day in Europe

The Disney+ app has attracted over five million downloads in its first 24 hours of availability across Europe, according to third-party figures.

App Annie, which measures and monitors app downloads, said the app for the newly launched service had been downloaded millions of times across the UK, Ireland, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland – with the French roll-out delayed until 7 April. The firm estimated that Germany was the most popular market for the app, followed by the UK, Spain and Italy.

The figure even surpasses the US launch, where the app was only downloaded three million times in the day following its launch.

In its report, App Annie said: “With schools closed, parents will be looking for ways to keep their children occupied. Disney+, with its array of kid-friendly programs, might be part of the solution for many households.”

Attributing the app’s initial success solely to the Coronavirus is doing it something of a disservice though, with the firm also saying that Disney+ is the 7th ranked non-gaming app by consumer spend worldwide so far in 2020 which, it says, is “particularly impressive considering that this performance was based on only five markets, with the US being the main driver of consumer spend.”

The report goes on to say that usage of the Disney+ app has been comparable to other streaming services, with users spending an average of 3 hours and 10 minutes per month in the app. Netflix is markedly ahead with 4 hours and 20 minutes per month, but it is close to other Disney-owned streamer Hulu, which sees average usage of 3 hours and 20 minutes per month.

App Annie concludes that should the adoption rate be similar to that of the service in the US, “it would make Disney+ one of the largest streaming services by monthly active users in every European market it launched in.”

Disney+ launched on March 24 with over 500 films and more than 350 series, including 26 originals. It is available for £5.99/€6.99 per month, or £59.99/€69.99 for an annual subscription.

For an in-depth analysis of the streamer’s European launch offer, including the range of shows available, its comparable cost across territories, how it will reach consumers, and the impact of Coronavirus on its longer term success, click here.