Data from a Streamlytics report revealed that the streaming service of choice for most African-Americans is Disney+ amongst all the new entrants. More than half of respondants said they are highly likely to sign up for Disney+ compared to newer services such as HBO Max and established services such as BET+, at 62%.
The data intelligence company’s survey on Emerging Streaming Platforms looked at new streaming services that were launched within the past 12 months. Even as BET+ holds a catalog of new African-American-focused content from headliners such as Tyler Perry, consumers still chose Disney+ more.
Disney+'s timeliness and relevance to its Black content could be one of the reasons why the streaming platform attracts more Black viewers than does BET+ with its all-Black cast shows. During the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, BET's top offerings were mostly light-hearted drama, nostalgic sitcoms, and celebrity-packed entertainment. During that same period, Disney+ hosted its Black content.
Similar to peers like Netflix, Apple, and Hulu, Disney+ focused on pushing out more content about the Black experience at a time when social justice became a central national focus. Its shows featured characters whose challenges were survival, feistiness, triumph, resilience, and overcoming inequality in pursuit of the American guarantee of equality. While BET+ has its Black actors, culture, and content, but little more beyond that - Disney+ integrates Black content with timely, inspirational, emotional, and relevant appeal, further attracting audiences.
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