The entertainment giant Disney faced a massive subscriber exodus following its controversial suspension of Jimmy Kimmel‘s late-night talk show, according to recent reporting.
Reporter Marisa Kabas, founder of The Handbasket, revealed that more than 1.7 million subscribers canceled their paid Disney streaming plans between September 17 and September 23—a staggering 436 percent increase over the usual churn rate. The cancellations reportedly spanned Disney’s streaming portfolio, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN subscriptions.
The timing of the subscriber revolt coincided with Disney-owned ABC’s decision to suspend “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on September 17, following intense pressure from Trump administration officials and conservative critics over the host’s comments regarding the assassination of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.
The controversy erupted after Kimmel‘s Monday monologue, where he criticized attempts to pin down the assailant’s political motivations.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr swiftly condemned Kimmel’s remarks, accusing the comedian of appearing to
“directly mislead the American public”
and warning that Disney and ABC’s local affiliates could face regulatory consequences if action wasn’t taken against the host.
The financial impact was immediate. Major broadcasting affiliates, including Sinclair and Nexstar—companies seeking FCC approval for billion-dollar mergers—quickly distanced themselves from the program, adding pressure on Disney’s bottom line.
Disney had originally planned to announce streaming price increases on Tuesday, September 24. However, the mounting subscriber losses and public backlash reportedly accelerated the company’s decision to reinstate Kimmel on September 23, just one day before the planned pricing announcement.
The price hikes, which took effect 30 days later, were substantial across Disney’s streaming portfolio. The Disney+/Hulu bundle with ads jumped from $11 to $13 per month, Disney+ Premium increased from $16 to $19, the basic Disney+ with ads tier rose from $10 to $12, and Hulu + Live TV climbed from $83 to $90 per month.
Industry analysts noted the timing was likely deliberate. With over a million subscribers already leaving by Monday, Disney executives probably recognized that announcing price increases while defending an unpopular suspension would worsen financial losses.
Several right-leaning podcasters condemned the suspension, led by Tom Segura, Andrew Schulz, and others. Joe Rogan was initially absent from early reactions but later shared Schulz’s perspective, explaining he had been on a hunting trip without his phone.
“Jimmy’s a good guy. He’s a smart guy. He’s a funny guy,” Rogan said, recalling Kimmel’s earlier work, including the prank film Windy City Heat.
The podcast host argued that Kimmel and other late-night hosts have become too politically entrenched, sacrificing entertainment value for ideological messaging. “I think they got so political and they had to ground themselves in it so much that it took away from how fun those shows could be,” Rogan explained during his JRE appearance with Santino.
Rogan remained firm in opposing government interference in comedy and free speech. “I definitely don’t think that the government should be involved ever in dictating what a comedian can or cannot say in a monologue.”
Ultimately, he backed Kimmel, though he noted that Kimmel “made his bed, so to speak,” by showcasing his leftist bias.
When Kimmel returned to the airwaves, he did not issue the apology critics demanded. Instead, he acknowledged that his comments may have
“felt either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both”
while emphasizing that
“it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man”
.
The host used his return to reinforce the importance of free speech protections, a message that resonated with many Disney subscribers who had canceled in protest.
The affiliate blackout continued for several days even after Disney’s reinstatement decision, with more than 20 percent of ABC affiliates initially refusing to air Kimmel‘s return episode. Sinclair and Nexstar eventually restored the program to their stations, citing their
“responsibility as local broadcasters”
and noting
“thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers and community leaders”
.
The incident exposed the financial vulnerabilities entertainment companies face when caught between political pressures and audience expectations. Matthew Dolgin, a senior equity analyst at Morningstar, noted that
“the relationship with Disney is far too important for these firms to risk”
, suggesting that affiliate considerations ultimately drove the resolution.
