Disney Unleashes New Streaming Platform –And It’s a Hit

Disney is hopping on the subscription train. This is not Disney’s first attempt at making a subscription service for their customers, they created one called Disney Anywhere that had a more limited selection than the Disney+ release; the new service shows a clear step-up from their previous attempt. Disney+ released November 12, 2019.

Presenting hit shows ranging from the Wizards of Waverly Place to, the recently bought from FOX, The Simpsons. For 6.99 per month or 5.83 if paid annually, you have access to old, nostalgic movies and new blockbusters; Disney shows from franchises such as Star Wars, Marvel, and even National Geographic. 

This subscription allows viewers to have that nostalgic feeling and relive their younger days. Do not think that the app just offers shows and movies from the past it also offers completely new movies such as the Lady and the Tramp live action remake and the High School Musical the series as well. In addition, it has an entire category dedicated to the mini shorts that would appear before every Pixar film. 

However, the app is already said to be having technical difficulties due to unprecedented success from their marketing techniques. The service is now getting 10 million subscribers just from its first day sales. Yes, Disney + has all the past movies but with old movies comes old customs. There have been complaints on the old movies warning stating that the film has “outdated cultural depictions”, experts saying it is not enough. Disney’s new streaming subscription will give members unlimited access to ad-free movies and shows with HD and Ultra HD viewing from anywhere and anytime.

In addition, Disney + allows for downloadable content and just as Netflix can create personal profiles with images ranging from Daisy Duck, Han Solo, and Forky. Those that already purchased the subscription stated that the interface of Disney is quite similar of that of Netflix, having previews when entering the app and having various categories. When people noticed their favorite shows such as Daredevil and Jessica Jones, Disney Marvel show were being removed from Netflix they started to panic and did not know what was occurring until Disney + was announced. 

When asking Ferguson students how they felt about the new app, a few responded that Disney is just going for cash grabs. People were bothered that they would have to jump into another subscription. Yet, there was a high anticipation for the release, being a big step in the direction of the future for the Disney Company. 

With all these subscription services already put out there like Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix, etc…, the total can be quite overwhelming. To compensate, Disney is teaming up with Hulu and ESPN for 12.99 a savings of up to 5 dollars then if subscribed to all three separately.

Compared to its rivals, it is definitely the cheaper alternative with all the content and quality it offers. According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the launch of Disney + is a historic moment as it marks a “new era of innovation and creativity”. The release of the Disney + application is only the beginning of what is to come in the future as the subscription service continue to grow and prove to consumers that their subscription is definitely worth the move. The possibilities for subscription services are limitless.