After more than four years of planning and an “unprecedented” marketing campaign from the Walt Disney Company, Disney+ is set to make its debut on Tuesday.
Disney, of course, is far from the only company jumping into the streaming wars. Apple launched its own streaming platform earlier this month, and AT&T’s and NBCUniversal’s services are both set to debut next year.
But Disney+ has been closely watched in the past year as the media powerhouse went on a spending spree to buy out companies like Hulu, which it took over from former co-stakeholders AT&T and Comcast, as well as 21st Century Fox, which it bought for $71 billion in March. That gave the House of Mouse, which already owned well-regarded studios like Marvel and Pixar, even more assets for its streaming platforms, movies, theme parks and merchandise.
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In an earnings call last week, Disney chief executive Bob Iger said the company developed an “unprecedented marketing campaign, drawing on every existing connection the Walt Disney company has with consumers.” The goal: to “launch big and scale fast.”
Still, Disney+ is unlikely to come close to Netflix’s 150 million worldwide subscribers, at least in its first year. According to analysts at MoffettNathanson, Disney+ is expected to reach 18 million global subscribers by the end of 2020. Even though that would represent a fraction of Netflix’s customer base, analysts believe the Disney+ service is likely to catch on with consumers and continue growing.
Here’s what you need to know about the Disney+ launch:
Basically everything under the House of Mouse
Disney+ has such an expansive library that it released a 3-hour trailer last month to showcase all its programs. By comparison, Apple had a relatively bare-bones launch earlier this month. At $6.99 per month, Disney+ will debut with 10 original movies, specials and series. It’s also expected to release more than 45 original programs within a year of its launch.
The debut will include a live-action Star Wars series called “The Mandalorian,” which is written by the actor and director Jon Favreau and follows a lone gunfighter after the fall of the Empire. Other shows include a live-action retelling of “Lady and the Tramp,” a holiday comedy starring Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader in “Noelle,” and the scripted series “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.”
With its lineup of reboots, spinoffs, prequels and sequels, Disney+ is leaning into its preternatural ability to leverage nostalgia into billions of dollars. For instance, Disney is planning three Star Wars television series just as its big-screen “Skywalker” trilogy comes to an end this December. It’s also planning on Disney Channel reboots of beloved shows, like “Lizzie McGuire,” for next year.
Where can you watch it?
Subscribers can start Disney+ with a seven-day free trial before paying the monthly fee, or the $69.99 yearly subscription. A bundle that includes Hulu and ESPN+ will cost $12.99 per month. That puts Disney+ on par with Netflix’s standard subscription service, which starts at the same price.
Hulu’s most basic service costs $5.99 a month, or $11.99 for the ad-free version. HBO Now costs $14.99 per month, while Netflix starts at $8.99. Amazon Prime Video membership costs $8.99 per month. CBS All Access costs $5.99 per month and $9.99 to go commercial-free. (CBS All Access is owned by CBS Corp., the parent company of CBS News.)
Streaming users can watch Disney+ through devices on Apple, Google, Microsoft, Sony and Roku. They can also watch through Amazon Fire, Samsung and LG gadgets. Meanwhile, Verizon is offering Disney+ for free to many of its customers.
Don’t forget about Hulu
The spotlight may be on Disney+, but Disney has not forgotten about Hulu, which it announced will become the streaming home for the FX Network in March. The network, which Disney bought last year as part of its 21st Century Fox acquisition, will be a “key content driver” for Hulu, according to Disney CEO Bob Iger. FX has earned 57 Emmy wins since 2014 for its shows that include “American Horror Story,” “The Americans” and “Fargo.”
Next year, Hulu will debut four new series, including “Devs,” a drama series set in Silicon Valley; “Mrs. America,” an equal rights story starring Cate Blanchett; “A Teacher,” a story about a high school teacher caught having an affair, starring Kate Mara; and “The Old Man,” an action thriller starring Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow.
“The FX presence on Hulu, combined with original production from our ABC and Fox Television Studios and our Fox movie studios, including Searchlight, will greatly enhance Hulu’s consumer proposition,” Disney’s Iger said in the earnings call last week.
