Netflix still sits on the throne of streaming supremacy. But that throne is getting crowded. Disney+ launches in November with a brand-name bonanza that forces you to pay attention. It is a challenger worth watching, even if it arrives with a price tag that signals a shift in how we pay for entertainment.
The executives at Disney know something real about war. They know conflict costs money. And they know the streaming wars will end up costing everybody something, sooner or later.
If you are sitting at home with a massive 65-inch 4K TV. If you binge video on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop while commuting. Then Disney+ has to be in the running for your entertainment dollars. That reality makes King Netflix and all the other pretenders to his throne deeply uneasy.
“We are confident… that the combination of our unrivaled storytelling, beloved brands, iconic franchises, and cutting-edge technology will make Disney+ a standout in the marketplace.” — Bob Iger, Disney CEO
The competition is about to get expensive.
How Much Does Disney+ Cost to Watch?
The service launches on November 12, 2019. That is the date your options change. The cost for an annual subscription is $6.99 a month. Or $69.99 for the year. That price includes unlimited downloads. It is nearly half the price of Netflix.
Netflix currently offers two different streaming plans ranging from $12.99 to $15.99 a month. Disney+ undercuts them on price but hits them on exclusivity.
In addition to its impressive back catalog, Disney plans to release 25 original series and 10 original films in the first year alone. But bingers beware. The new series will be released just once-a-week. Think HBO. Not Netflix, which drops entire seasons at once. This changes how you plan your week. It changes how you talk about your favorite show on Tuesday morning.
When Disney+ launches, you can watch through Apple Store or Google Play store apps. iPhones, iPads, and Android devices are supported. Streaming devices like Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast will work too. Some gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox will support it. You can download content to watch offline.
What Content Is On Disney+ Immediately?
Disney+ launches with a fraction of the video available on 22-year-old Netflix. The library is smaller. But what it has is instantly recognizable. To competitors, that library is infinitely desirable.
Here is what you get on day one:
- The animated Disney movie oeuvre. Expect classics like “Fantasia,” “Bambi,” “101 Dalmatians,” and “Frozen.” Legal hurdles and licensing agreements mean not everything is there yet.
- Disney live-action movies. “The Parent Trap” and “High School Musical” are ready to stream.
- Disney channel shows. “Kim Possible” and “That’s So Raven” are included.
- Pixar movies. “Up,” “The Incredibles,” and the entire “Toy Story” saga are there from the start.
- Marvel movies. “Iron Man” and “Thor: The Dark World” are accessible immediately.
- The Star Wars movie franchise. Almost the entire saga is available.
- National Geographic. “Amazing Planet” and other nature documentaries.
- “The Simpsons.” Thirty seasons are included thanks to the 21st Century Fox acquisition.
Fox classic movies like “The Sound of Music” and “The Princess Bride” will eventually arrive. Other TV shows follow soon after.
Original Programming Strategy
Disney is pouring millions into its own programming. They are not just relying on nostalgia. They are building a future.
Marvel shows “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “WandaVision,” and “Loki” are in production. They are taken from the latest films. They star the actors who played the roles in the movies.
A live-action remake of the 1955 classic “Lady and the Tramp” is in the works. Tessa Thompson voices Lady. Justin Theroux plays the Tramp.
There is also a Christmas comedy called “Noelle.” Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader star.
A new Star Wars series, “The Mandalorian,” is backed by writer/director/producer Jon Favreau. He is of “Iron Man” fame.
Disney+ promises lots more. The goal is to make a run at Netflix. It wants to stay ahead of streamers already out there like Hulu, CBS, and Amazon. It is getting a jump on streamers to come. HBO Max from AT&T’s WarnerMedia division. NBCUniversal’s to-be-named service. Apple TV+.
It is a rapidly crowded space. Billions of dollars are at stake. This is the next step in home and on-the-go entertainment. Paid TV subscriptions continue to plummet.
Even if these services are not an immediate money-maker for big corporations like Apple and AT&T, they serve another purpose. They gather consumer information. They market things like new computers and iPhones and cell phone plans to users. The scramble is on.
Competitor Moves
HBO Max arrives in the spring of 2020. It carries the entire 10-season, 236-episode run of “Friends.” The comedy leaves Netflix after this year. It has trailed only the American version of “The Office” in viewership.
The company reportedly paid some $100 million for it in 2019. Netflix has some 150 million subscriptions worldwide. The 90 million or so non-U.S. accounts will still carry “Friends.”
The landscape is shifting. Prices are rising. Content is splitting. You have to choose where your loyalty goes. Or pay for everything. The choice is yours.
