In subscription terms, Netflix will add 60m subscribers between 2021 and 2027, but Disney+ is expected to overtake it by 2028.
The global SVOD subscriptions will increase by 550m between 2021 and 2027, leading to a total of 1.75bn subscribers to services like Netflix and Disney+, according to a report by Digital TV Research.
The total number of streaming subscriptions around the world is set to top 1.75bn by 2027, with China and the US collectively accounting for 48% of the total.
Two streamers are set to dominate, with Netflix in the lead at 282m subscribers, adding 60m in the interim period. Disney+ meanwhile is estimated to be at 276m subscribers by 2027, though the research firm said that the Disney streamer will overtake Netflix in 2028.
The report also noted that about 106m of Disney+’ subscribers will be in the 13 Asian countries under the Hotstar brand in 2027.
HBO Max is set to add 65m subscribers to a total 90m in 2027, while Paramount+ (including SkyShowtime) will increase by 55m subscribers to reach 88m by 2027.
Commenting on the findings of the report, Simon Murray, Principal Analyst at Digital TV Research, said: “China and the US had a similar number of gross subscriptions by end-2021. Due to government pressure, China’s growth is decelerating, with 374m subscriptions by 2027. The US will continue to grow, with 456m subscriptions expected by 2027.”
China’s domestic streaming players will be at 374m subscribers. Of that total, Tencent will be the largest at 135m, followed by iQiyi at 100m.
