AMC+ EXPECTS TO SURPASS ONE MILLION SUBSCRIBERS BY THE END OF 2020

AMC+, AMC Network’s recently launched streaming services bundles, expects to surpass one million subscribers by the end of the year. The platform includes ad-free access to networks like AMC and BBC America, an on-demand library with shows like “Mad Men” and AMC streaming services Shudder, Sundance Now and IFC Films Unlimited.

The subscription bundle launched in June but only for Comcast customers. Since then, it has added Dish Network, Sling TV, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV to its list of distribution partners, and this increased availability is what will soon push AMC+ past the one million subscriber mark, according to the company.

AMC Networks previously expected its four targeted SVOD services – Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now and UMC – to have between 3.5 million and 4 million subscribers combined by the end of 2020. Now, the company expects they will have more than 4 million by that point and, with AMC+ added to the mix, AMC Networks hopes to have between 5 million and 5.5 million streaming subscribers.

“As a reminder, this is a goal that we previously didn't anticipate reaching until the end of 2022. So, we are fully two years ahead of plan and are far exceeding our earlier expectations,” said Josh Sapan, CEO of AMC Networks, who also added that AMC Networks will double its streaming subscriber count in one year.

The company expects its streaming business to generate approximately $200 million in revenue, up approximately 100% year over year. “In just 12 months we've also doubled the amount of revenue for our company coming from the streaming business. And we do think it's important to underscore that for a company of our size, the impact of 5 million subs today and 10 million, 15 million or 20 million subs in the future is very significant in terms of transforming the composition of our top line revenues,” Sapan noted.