With Disney getting into the streaming game, a big question is what kind of an impact will it have on the industry? Our guess is that it will be a big one.
Disney is about to unleash its new service, Disney+, and if you have not heard about it, here is what it will provide.
Disney is going to allow subscribers to access its entire movie library, from classics like “Bambi” and “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” to the upcoming “Frozen II.” On that front it will be a no-brainer purchase for anybody with little kids looking for an easy way to deliver kid-safe content to TVs and mobile devices.
Disney is also throwing in Pixar content. This means kids will have access to anything they want to see without looking through DVD cases, or searching for things in a dozen different services. It is a perfect turn-key solution to parents.
Disney will also showcase Marvel and “Star Wars.” Not only will it be providing access to the past adventures of the two universes, which span more than 30 films, but with original content based on the properties. It will also be the streaming home of all of the fourth-coming movies from both franchises.
There are three series based off “Avengers: Endgame” on the way alone, as well as “The Mandalorian,” a show centered around a bounty hunter set in the “Star Wars” universe.
The Disney+ service will be a very intriguing offer at $7.99 per month, but what could really blow the doors off the industry is the service bundle that the company will offer that includes Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu (with commercials) for $11.99.
Hulu has already been established as an easy entry to watch current shows from every broadcast TV network outside of CBS, and even offers a number of CBS titles from earlier seasons of current shows. It also offers full series runs of many cable series. Hulu also has contracts to offer films from numerous studios, and, like Disney+, has plans for new original shows to come.
But the big thing that Hulu can offer in the bundle is adult-centered content. While Disney+ will be a PG-13 universe, Hulu will not be bound by such rules, leaving it open to gritty content.
ESPN+ is a relatively new kid on the block that is quickly building a reputation as a go-to place for combat sports. It also streams MLB games, soccer, football and is the home of the “30 for 30” ESPN film library.
Between its three-headed monster of kid content, sports content and grown-up/primetime content, Disney has an offering on the way that could affect Netflix going forward. Whether it affects Netflix though, the services are going to set a new precedent for pricing and value that other later entries will have to deal with.
AT&T hopes to build its own streaming service around its conglomeration of rights, which include HBO, Turner and more, and has even announced a streaming service of its own called HBO Max. But coming on the heels of Disney+ and the new bundle, it may look like an also-ran, especially if it can not at least match the price. And based on AT&T’s pricing for its other services, I would not expect it to try.
Disney is about to show everyone why it has spent the last 10 years acquiring major properties with an eye to the future. The rest of the industry better hope it can at least be complementary.
Ryan Downey is the executive director and editor of The Streaming Advisor.
