It seems that Disney has had enough of sharing content with other streaming services, especially Netflix. Never mind its substantial ownership stake in Hulu. In a bid to resolve this problem, the company has set up Disney Plus, also written as Disney+.
Disney Plus is a streaming service set to launch on November 12 in 2019. The service will place its focus on film and television content generated by Disney Studios and Walt Disney Television. However, there are also plans to include content from National Geographic, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox, Pixar, and Marvel.
The Disney Plus service will directly compete with other streaming service built upon a subscription model. These include Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. Coincidentally, Disney happens to own most of Hulu. One of the brands it will be competing against when it launches its services later in the year.
Disney+ Content
In general, it is expected that Disney Plus will have about 7,000 TV episodes in addition to 500 movies. This content will come from several providers in addition to Disney Channel shows. However fresh content by 20th Century Fox will not be available for streaming on Disney Plus as soon as it is available. But this will change in 2022 when the arrangement the studio has with HBO comes to an end.
However Disney Plus will have exclusive rights to The Simpsons’, and viewers will have a chance to watch all thirty seasons when it launches. In addition, Captain Marvel’ will be the first theatrical release to stream on Disney Plus exclusively. Other popular movie titles that Disney Plus subscribers can expect when the service is up and running include Rogue One and The Force Awakens. In addition to other films in the Star Wars franchise.
In addition to this content, the company has spent a lot of money to create original content for the streaming service. Fortunately for the clients, the service will also be free from ads.
Any Original Content?
Absolutely, the company will also offer original content. This will include Monsters At Work’, a show that will be based on Monsters Inc. movies. The streaming service will also include the show, High School Musical: The Show, an original production as well. Another original Disney Plus show will also stream through the service, and it will feature Jeremy Renner who will be slipping back to his original role as Hawkeye specifically for this purpose.
Another show, What If, will also be part of the original content available through Disney+. It will be based on a Marvel comic book series based on the same title. Then there will also be The Mandalorian, an original production. It will be set between the time of Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. The first season of this show will have 8 episodes, according to Jon Favreau. Jon will be in charge of the live-action production.
The animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which will conclude the series, will also be included in the Disney Plus streaming service. These are just a few of the original productions that will be available to Disney Plus users, many other productions have been planned as well.
But obviously, Disney Plus cannot rely on original content alone. It has to offer its users value for their money and compete with top streaming services, all of which get content from outside as well.
Hardware Support
The Disney+ service will be available for streaming through web browsers on PCs, but it will also be available through digital media player apps and even mobile phones. Where possible, the content will be available in 4K and HDR. Already, the company has confirmed that the streaming service will be available on Roku and PS4.
However, the service will likely be available on many other devices, including Amazon Fire, Chromecast, and even Apple TV. This is based on the fact that the presentation showcasing the service had these devices featured. In fact, the service was also shown running on Nintendo Switch, which at the moment, only supports Hulu and YouTube.
Disney Plus App
On April 11, it became clear that Disney Plus had deals to get an app that would allow it to be on various devices including smart TVs, tablets, and even smartphones among other devices including Roku and PS4. With the tablet app, users will enjoy unrestricted mobile content downloads.
Price
The company is yet to confirm how much its services will cost. However, Disney CEO, Bob Iger said that the price of Disney Plus service will be much lower than that of Netflix. The lower price might have something to do with the fact that the service will have considerably less content volume in comparison to existing streaming services.
More specifically, the service is set to cost $6.99 a month, or $69.99 a year. That includes full access and all in 4k. That should be a welcoming price point considering that Netflix can cost up to $15.99 a month.
Geographical Availability
The Disney Plus streaming service will be available in the United States. However, there are plans to roll out the service in all major regions in the world over the next two years. This was revealed during the company’s Investor Day event.
How Disney Plus Compares Against Other Streaming Services
Without a doubt, Netflix will be Disney Plus’ main competitor. While this popular streaming services obviously has a huge library of shows and films, including a lot of original content, it does not offer as favorable a price on its services as Disney Plus does.
Disney Plus seeks to set itself apart by offering high-end content that will give it a place among the leading streaming service providers in the world at the moment, including Hulu.
Disney Plus vs Hulu
According to Bob Iger, Disney Plus will prioritize family-focused entertainment. That means R and TV-MA content will not be available through the streaming service. This will set it apart from Hulu, which will still remain to be a general entertainment streaming service.
Pros of Disney Plus Streaming Service
- A lot of popular shows will be available through this streaming service
- The service is a very favorable price
- Great original content is also available
- Simple user interface
Verdict
With so many subscription-based streaming services today, is this Disney streaming service worth paying for? That depends. For instance, if you are a fan of Marvel movies or even Star Wars, then subscribing to the service after it launches might be an irresistible proposition for you. Another reason this subscription service might be so tempting includes the fact that the subscription price is considerably lower in comparison to existing streaming service providers