How Disney’s Channels Are Doing in the Era of Shrinking TV Bundles

Walt Disney Co.’s annual report shows that while all of its TV networks have lost subscribers, smaller outlets like the Lifetime Movie Network shrank faster than more-popular channels such as ESPN2.

Disney, like other TV companies, is addressing the loss of traditional TV subscribers by putting its channels in skinny bundles -- lower-priced packages such as Dish Network Corp.’s Sling TV. But to keep costs low, distributors leave channels out, which is why ESPN’s audience fell by 2.3 percent to 86 million in the past year, while ESPNU lost 4.5 percent to 64 million.