<p>Disney+ streaming service saw the number of paying subscribers leap beyond expectations in the recently ended quarter, as rival Netflix's client count ebbed, results showed Wednesday.</p>.<p>The number of people subscribing to Disney+ topped 152 million, up some 31 per cent from the same period a year earlier, the entertainment giant said in an earnings report.</p>.<p>Disney's bottom line was boosted by rising revenue taken in from its theme parks, which showed sign of recovering from stifled attendance during the pandemic.</p>.<p>"We had an excellent quarter, with our world-class creative and business teams powering outstanding performance at our domestic theme parks, big increases in live-sports viewership, and significant subscriber growth at our streaming services," said Disney chief executive Bob Chapek.</p>.<p>The 14.4 million Disney+ subscribers added in the recently ended quarter raised the overall number of subscriptions to its streaming services, which include Hulu and ESPN+, to 221 million, Chapek added.</p>.<p>The company also announced that an ad-subsidized version of Disney+ subscriptions will be offered in the United States starting December 8.</p>.<p>Rival Netflix has reported losing subscribers for two quarters in a row, as the streaming giant battles fierce competition and viewer belt tightening, though the firm assured investors of better days ahead.</p>.<p>The loss of 970,000 paying customers in the most recent quarter was less than expected, leaving Netflix with just shy of 221 million subscribers.</p>.<p>"Our challenge and opportunity is to accelerate our revenue and membership growth... and to better monetize our big audience," the firm said in its earnings report.</p>.<p>After years of amassing subscribers, Netflix lost 200,000 customers worldwide in the first quarter compared to the end of 2021.</p>.<p>Netflix said in its earnings report that it had expected to gain a million paid subscribers in the current quarter.</p>.<p>Netflix executives have made it clear the company will get tougher on sharing logins and passwords, which allow many to access the platform's content without paying.</p>.<p>In an effort to draw new subscribers, Netflix said it will work with Microsoft to launch a cheaper subscription plan that includes advertisements.</p>.<p>The ad-supported offering will be in addition to the three account options already available, with the cheapest plan coming in at $10 per month in the United States.</p>
<p>Disney+ streaming service saw the number of paying subscribers leap beyond expectations in the recently ended quarter, as rival Netflix's client count ebbed, results showed Wednesday.</p>.<p>The number of people subscribing to Disney+ topped 152 million, up some 31 per cent from the same period a year earlier, the entertainment giant said in an earnings report.</p>.<p>Disney's bottom line was boosted by rising revenue taken in from its theme parks, which showed sign of recovering from stifled attendance during the pandemic.</p>.<p>"We had an excellent quarter, with our world-class creative and business teams powering outstanding performance at our domestic theme parks, big increases in live-sports viewership, and significant subscriber growth at our streaming services," said Disney chief executive Bob Chapek.</p>.<p>The 14.4 million Disney+ subscribers added in the recently ended quarter raised the overall number of subscriptions to its streaming services, which include Hulu and ESPN+, to 221 million, Chapek added.</p>.<p>The company also announced that an ad-subsidized version of Disney+ subscriptions will be offered in the United States starting December 8.</p>.<p>Rival Netflix has reported losing subscribers for two quarters in a row, as the streaming giant battles fierce competition and viewer belt tightening, though the firm assured investors of better days ahead.</p>.<p>The loss of 970,000 paying customers in the most recent quarter was less than expected, leaving Netflix with just shy of 221 million subscribers.</p>.<p>"Our challenge and opportunity is to accelerate our revenue and membership growth... and to better monetize our big audience," the firm said in its earnings report.</p>.<p>After years of amassing subscribers, Netflix lost 200,000 customers worldwide in the first quarter compared to the end of 2021.</p>.<p>Netflix said in its earnings report that it had expected to gain a million paid subscribers in the current quarter.</p>.<p>Netflix executives have made it clear the company will get tougher on sharing logins and passwords, which allow many to access the platform's content without paying.</p>.<p>In an effort to draw new subscribers, Netflix said it will work with Microsoft to launch a cheaper subscription plan that includes advertisements.</p>.<p>The ad-supported offering will be in addition to the three account options already available, with the cheapest plan coming in at $10 per month in the United States.</p>