Disney May Split Out Star Wars and Marvel Into Standalone Streaming Services [Updated]

[Cashmonee]

I doubt this will happen.



It will only cost more money if you let it.

Who said that a cord cutter has to subscribe to every service all the time? Just subscribe for a few months, watch what you want to watch, then cancel for a few months. Many times, the streaming services have a free trial, so you might end up getting your first month free when you re-subscribe.

If a person cuts the cord, then get 10 different streaming services at the same time, then it is their own fault if they end up paying more than a cable bill.

True. But the way it is going, you are looking at a service per show. Not that bad obviously, but Netflix for House of Cards and Stranger Things (among others), Hulu if you want say Handmaids Tale, HBO for GoT, Disney for kids stuff, Marvel for MCU shows, ESPN for sports. It won't take a ton of these at $10-15 per month (ESPN could easily be $20) before you are back to cable-like bills. Plus the cost of internet without bundling and with data caps.

I get what you are saying. I just think the reality is that these companies think they have figured out a solution, and that is fragmentation with their own "great" content. Having said that, I think fragmentation will be their undoing. I think they overestimate people's appetite for TV, especially those under 30.

 

[jlasoon]

Looking into my crystal ball, I foresee modest revenue offset by a huge spike in piracy.

Physical media is next. 6TB disc + Bluray Disc + MakeMKV + PLEX = peace of mind. Add 600 day retention to Usenet for 4.99/month and you bypass all this crap!

 

[Juicy Box]

True. But the way it is going, you are looking at a service per show. Not that bad obviously, but Netflix for House of Cards and Stranger Things (among others), Hulu if you want say Handmaids Tale, HBO for GoT, Disney for kids stuff, Marvel for MCU shows, ESPN for sports. It won't take a ton of these at $10-15 per month (ESPN could easily be $20) before you are back to cable-like bills. Plus the cost of internet without bundling and with data caps.

I understand, but still, if a streamer ends up paying more because they need to have every service, and ESPN, then they have no one to blame but themselves.

I know a lot of people complain about having lots of different streaming services, each with their own exclusive content, but if people would subscribe to a few services at a time, then cancel after a few months of catching up on their favorite shows, then they could save a lot of money vs the cable service.

Now, if these streaming services start requiring a yearly based subscription, then I will start bitching as well.

I get what you are saying. I just think the reality is that these companies think they have figured out a solution, and that is fragmentation with their own "great" content. Having said that, I think fragmentation will be their undoing. I think they overestimate people's appetite for TV, especially those under 30.

It could lead to more pirating, like music in the late 90s - mid 2000s.

 

[Ritte]

This is why I pirate. And I don't do that to be cheap, my server costs about 20-30+ usd/month to maintain. (It would be cheaper for me to use Netflix, HBO and see 1-2 movies a month in cinema).

There's no platform that has "all I need", and often the quality sucks.

Spotify and Apple Music has more or less all of the available music, the quality is good enough (wouldn't mind lossless) and I don't need to subscribe to 4-5 platforms just to fulfill my needs.

When the movie and tv-industry starts to work like the music industry, and offer something good, I'm the first one interested.

Until then, Plex it is.

 

[alwaysbeincontact]

I think it was just a matter of this time happened. Good for Disney.

 

[kmj2318]

This fragmentation will probably fail. But I’m happy with a la carte tv because the only thing I pay for is HBO NOW. Hulu and Netflix, and any of the Disney properties, don’t interest me. And I’d never pay for cbs, nbc, and abc.

I’m not sure why everyone is upset. If you want something, you pay for it. And if you don’t want something, you don’t have to pay for it like you had to with bundles.

 

[budselectjr]

I'm going to subscribe to both the Mickey and Donald streaming services for sure, but I'm iffy on Goofy and Pluto.

Steamboat Willie channel for me

 

[Brien]

Apparently Disney believes they lost out on a penny or two here and there. Monetizing themselves out of the hearts and minds of those that can afford it.

I'm not sure if companies making decisions like this understand they are making themselves larger targets for pirates.

I think what we are really seeing (beyond the obvious greed and profit chasing) is a willingness for business to abandon the middle class. Disney has already effectively done so with its theme parks... poor/lower middle class families probably aren't their target anymore. Same reason Apple can crank up prices.

 

[AppleFan91]

So a year ago I had

• Comcast double play for $180 (w/HBO)
• Netflix - $10
Total - $190

Now I have

•Comcast internet for $100
• playstation Vue for $55 (thanks price hike)
• HBO Now for $15
• Netflix for $10
Total - $180

Hooray! Cord cutting saved me $10!

 

[Cashmonee]

So a year ago I had

• Comcast double play for $180 (w/HBO)
• Netflix - $10
Total - $190

Now I have

•Comcast internet for $100
• playstation Vue for $55 (thanks price hike)
• HBO Now for $15
• Netflix for $10
Total - $180

Hooray! Cord cutting saved me $10!

But you still have cable in reality. PS Vue is a cable service as much as Comcast or DirecTV. I am in the same boat. I signed up for DirecTV Now when it was $35/month. That's why I consider myself a quasi-cord cutter.

My breakdown for fun:

AT&T Gigabit (no cap): $80
Netflix: $11.99
DirecTV Now: $35

Total: $126.99

 

[eatrains]

This is why I pirate. And I don't do that to be cheap, my server costs about 20-30+ usd/month to maintain. (It would be cheaper for me to use Netflix, HBO and see 1-2 movies a month in cinema).

There's no platform that has "all I need", and often the quality sucks.

Spotify and Apple Music has more or less all of the available music, the quality is good enough (wouldn't mind lossless) and I don't need to subscribe to 4-5 platforms just to fulfill my needs.

When the movie and tv-industry starts to work like the music industry, and offer something good, I'm the first one interested.

Until then, Plex it is.

So you don't pirate because you're cheap, you pirate because you feel entitled. Got it. Way to rationalize theft.

 

[ddarko]

Iger mentioned that he and the company have also considered adding Marvel and Star Wars content into the new Disney streaming service. What's stopping this from happening is that they aren't sure that it would be "the right place for them [Marvel/Star Wars properties]," because of a potential lack of overlap between Disney and Pixar fans, and Marvel or Star Wars fans.

Right - I'm sure "potential lack of overlap" is the reason why they're thinking of launching separate services instead of offering everything in one. Curious the lack of overlap hasn't stopped them building the Star Wars theme parks at Disneyland and Disneyworld or the Iron Man ride at the Disneyland Hong Kong or Guardians of the Galaxy ride at California Adventure park. Sorry - what exactly is the connection between Guardians of the Galaxy and a theme park celebrating the history of California?

 

[Porco]

"...a potential lack of overlap between Disney and Pixar fans, and Marvel or Star Wars fans"

I love loads of Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm productions. Really quite odd to me anyone would be concerned that there isn't overlap from a vast number of fans of all those things.

I think what they actually mean is they worry about a potential of not squeezing every last penny out of all the fans who DO overlap and they know fine well overlap.

I don't like all this fragmented streaming services idea anyway. It's ultimately not going to be good for anyone, in my view. It's already a mess.

 

[EdT]

This is getting ridiculous. I'm sure they only want more money out of their content but at some point consumers have to push back. There is no way I'm paying for Netflix, Prime, Hulu, YouTube, Disney 1 and 2, etc. Especially if they are all trying to increase their individual profits by keeping prices similar. Instead of the Balkanization of cable companies it'll now be the content providers and paying to get what you want will end up costing even more.

Enough will be enough. I'm glad Blu-ray players will exist for years to come. At some point I'll say no more streaming and just do free over the air and whatever is on DVD/Blu-ray. Maybe go back to Handbrake if I want to "stream" stuff again.

There is already an effort both in this country and others to criminalize any form of ripping of DVD's or Blurays. I think Britain passed a law last year banning copying digital data including entertainment.

Even if such devices stay legal here, what do you do if Disney-or anyone else-simply quits making DVD's or Bluerays? No high quality source material to make your digital copy from.

 

[iDuel]

I hope that consumers vote with their wallets on this one and send a clear message to Disney that their proposed business model will not be effective.

Coming back to reality, I'm sure that consumers will no doubt pay for this which will further encourage other studios and streaming services to fragment their libraries.

 

[Cashmonee]

There is already an effort both in this country and others to criminalize any form of ripping of DVD's or Blurays. I think Britain passed a law last year banning copying digital data including entertainment.

Even if such devices stay legal here, what do you do if Disney-or anyone else-simply quits making DVD's or Bluerays? No high quality source material to make your digital copy from.

Criminalizing your customers usually does not breed success. History say you will have one of two outcomes. One, piracy will increase. Two, the worst case scenario, and maybe more likely at this point and in the future, people stop caring about your content and find other ways to entertain. Younger people are not nearly as tied to TV shows and movies.

 

[EdT]

Criminalizing your customers usually does not breed success. History say you will have one of two outcomes. One, piracy will increase. Two, the worst case scenario, and maybe more likely at this point and in the future, people stop caring about your content and find other ways to entertain. Younger people are not nearly as tied to TV shows and movies.

I agree, but for a period of time they will make more money, until the backlash hits.

 

[mmm1345]

I'm going to subscribe to both the Mickey and Donald streaming services for sure, but I'm iffy on Goofy and Pluto.

I would do Mini Mouse and the Frozen streaming services. Because I can't Let It Go.
[doublepost=1502301213][/doublepost]

Criminalizing your customers usually does not breed success. History say you will have one of two outcomes. One, piracy will increase. Two, the worst case scenario, and maybe more likely at this point and in the future, people stop caring about your content and find other ways to entertain. Younger people are not nearly as tied to TV shows and movies.

Why should a company care about a bunch of thieves? You weren't going to buy there stuff legally ANYWAY. This is the most asinine excuse for being a thief i've ever heard - I can't get what I want, so I'll steal it and it's the person I'm stealing from fault because they wouldn't give me what I want.
[doublepost=1502301318][/doublepost]But this is what everyone spent the last 5 years (or the invention of message boards) claiming they wanted. To be able to buy ONLY what they want. Oh right, they thought these companies would give their stuff away for free or only charge $1 a network.

 

[Cashmonee]

I would do Mini Mouse and the Frozen streaming services. Because I can't Let It Go.
[doublepost=1502301213][/doublepost]

Why should a company care about a bunch of thieves? You weren't going to buy there stuff legally ANYWAY. This is the most asinine excuse for being a thief i've ever heard - I can't get what I want, so I'll steal it and it's the person I'm stealing from fault because they wouldn't give me what I want.

I don't disagree with you at all. The problem is those types of practices don't stop the people who would pirate anyway. However, they do encourage those who would normally buy your product if it were readily available at a reasonable price and in an easy to get fashion to pirate it instead. That includes things like login sharing.

 

[Westside guy]

I have to disagree with those who are saying Disney is just trying to recoup the equivalent of their carriage fee, which is rather small. A popular brand like Disney would be on the "want" list of a large percentage of households.

This is an attempt to greatly expand their profits. It's what businesses do when they see a potential opportunity. But I'm not willing to subscribe to a dozen streaming services...

It unfortunately looks like the best economic model for my family is going to continue with disc rental (e.g. RedBox, Netflix), followed by the purchase of the tiny number of movies we think we'll want to rewatch - followed by ripping those discs, and continuing to run my own streaming server on leftover old hardware (currently a 2006 MacBook Pro).

 

[mmm1345]

So a year ago I had

• Comcast double play for $180 (w/HBO)
• Netflix - $10
Total - $190

Now I have

•Comcast internet for $100
• playstation Vue for $55 (thanks price hike)
• HBO Now for $15
• Netflix for $10
Total - $180

Hooray! Cord cutting saved me $10!

I don't disagree with you at all. The problem is those types of practices don't stop the people who would pirate anyway. However, they do encourage those who would normally buy your product if it were readily available at a reasonable price and in an easy to get fashion to pirate it instead. That includes things like login sharing.

No they don't. Most people (I would say more than 98%) don't even know how to pirate - and especially pirate without getting a bunch of virus's, fake files and everything else, so the only people it "encourages" are the people who ARE already pirating content. Thieves just like to make excuses for being a thief.

 

[Juicy Box]

I doubt this will happen.

So a year ago I had

• Comcast double play for $180 (w/HBO)
• Netflix - $10
Total - $190

Now I have

•Comcast internet for $100
• playstation Vue for $55 (thanks price hike)
• HBO Now for $15
• Netflix for $10
Total - $180

Hooray! Cord cutting saved me $10!

Everyone's situation is different, and cord cutting might not be the best option for everyone. That said, it sounds like you are getting more content for less money. Yes, it is $10 less, but you are still saving money.

I currently have Comcast, and I swap between them and FiOS regularly, usually 1-3 times a year.

Right now I have the following monthly charges:

Comcast Internet 25/5 Mbps $40
Netflix family plan - $12
Hulu Ad-free and HBO - Free for the first month $26 after that.

I am constantly changing both ISPs and content providers, but I haven't been above $100 a month in years.

Not everyone could have this same deal, or some people need certain channels like my parents that have a $200 a month cable bill, but if you can live with just a few content providers, and switch them every once in a while, you could save a lot more.

 

[Cashmonee]

I have to disagree with those who are saying Disney is just trying to recoup the equivalent of their carriage fee, which is rather small. A popular brand like Disney would be on the "want" list of a large percentage of households.

This is an attempt to greatly expand their profits. It's what businesses do when they see a potential opportunity. But I'm not willing to subscribe to a dozen streaming services...

It unfortunately looks like the best economic model for my family is going to continue with disc rental (e.g. RedBox, Netflix), followed by the purchase of the tiny number of movies we think we'll want to rewatch - followed by ripping those discs, and continuing to run my own streaming server on leftover old hardware (currently a 2006 MacBook Pro).

You may be right, however, Disney's carriage fee is far from small. They own the most expensive (from a fee standpoint) channel, ESPN, which rakes in 3-4 times as much as the next closest channel. Plus Disney Channel is a top 5. Then there is all the other ESPN and Disney channels that are a separate fee. I am fairly certain Disney pulls in more carriage fees than any other media company.

 

[Westside guy]

Most people (I would say more than 98%) don't even know how to pirate - and especially pirate without getting a bunch of virus's, fake files and everything else,

I work at a university, and I guarantee you that the majority of younger people know how to pirate. The ever-shifting landscape of where best to get movies is a frequent topic of discussion among the students.

 

[Cashmonee]

No they don't. Most people (I would say more than 98%) don't even know how to pirate - and especially pirate without getting a bunch of virus's, fake files and everything else, so the only people it "encourages" are the people who ARE already pirating content. Thieves just like to make excuses for being a thief.

You are equating pirating to downloading from a pirate site. I would venture the most common form of pirating these days is sharing logins to services followed by illegal streams, which far more people know about that you seem to assume. I do not believe people are actually downloading files from a repository any more.