ESPN+ reached 8.5 million subscribers in Disney’s Q3 2020 earnings report, which was released today.
Last quarter, the company revealed ESPN+ reached 7.9 million subscribers. In February, ESPN+ reported 6.6 million subscribers at the end of 2019 and 7.6 million as of Feb. 4.
Much of the growth from earlier this year came from a half a million new subscribers who joined to watch the McGregor UFC fight. In total, ESPN+ had 1mm PPV buys of the fight.
When sports fully return, expect ESPN+’s numbers to keep growing as they continue to add live sports to the streaming service. Earlier this year, ESPN won the streaming rights to the entire PGA Tour and that matches will be shown on ESPN+.
A new study conducted by ESPN last month found that 59 percent of sports fans are not only anxious to see live sports return to TV, but they plan on watching as much as they can. The number is up slightly from the 56 percent of respondents who said the same in a similar study conducted in April.
According to Multichannel, the new study also found that more fans are in favor of professional and college sports coming back without spectators. In the new survey, 78 percent of respondents said they would support resuming sports without fans in the stands. The number is up from 68 percent in April. Only 22 percent of respondents were opposed to the idea.