Disney Offers First Look at Upcoming Disney+ App, Launching in November for $6.99 Per Month [Update: Will Be Available on Apple Devices]

[Mac 128]

You know Disney announced the name of their streaming service towards the end of last year right? Apple had months to think of another name but instead they stuck with Apple TV +. On a side note, I just don’t see how Apple can be seen as a viable competitor to Disney’s streaming service when you see the size of that catalogue. It will be interesting to see who wins the streaming wars.
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The problem for Apple is they will have a laughable catalogue of content compared to Disney so they either need to undercut the $6.99 a month, which is unlikely, or face years of struggling to compete. Creating content takes years and I fear Apple will eventually give up because nobody wants to pay another subscription for a service that is as limited as this will be.

Apple isn’t planning to compete head to head with Disney. Apple is adding value to their platform which will attract customers to their hardware, and eventually future services. Apple is more closely related to Amazon in terms of how they are leveraging video. Producing original content is not ever going to be their core business, but a long game adding value to their customers. It’s a halo product not intended to compete directly with Disney, ATT, or Netflix. Exclusive original content is the future for branding a company. One hit show is all it takes to pull new customers to the platform and introduce them to their many other core services.

 

[apolloa]

Doesn’t seem too bad if you like the content. But if Netflix is anything to go by that price will only increase up and up.. as they invest more and more into original content.

 

[truthertech]

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The problem for Apple is they will have a laughable catalogue of content compared to Disney so they either need to undercut the $6.99 a month, which is unlikely, or face years of struggling to compete. Creating content takes years and I fear Apple will eventually give up because nobody wants to pay another subscription for a service that is as limited as this will be.[/QUOTE]


You would be correct if your comparison was correct, but it's very unlikely to be accurate. You assume that Apple TV + will be just a stand alone streaming service with Apple's initial original content shows that Apple will pair against Disney and the other streaming services. That's the least likely thing to happen.

Apple is much more likely to bundle their original content in some sort of package, perhaps even as a free add on. Also, people don't realize it, but Apple is already ahead of Netflix's pace in creating its own original content. Remember, they are all competing for the same group of writers, producers, directors, etc. "Original content" simply means they inked a deal first, and Apple is perhaps the best positioned of all to get the content it wants as it has the most resources and, unlike Netflix, can afford to "lose money" on its streaming service as long as it adds net value to its customers ecosystem.

 

[cardfan]

No, Apple wisely figured out they could build out their own original content for much less than the $125 billion dollars or so it would take to buy Disney, and then they wouldn't have all the baggage that would come along with absorbing another huge company. Apple will just steadily acquire the own "original" content and license or sell the other content. That's the smart long term play. When people keep arguing Apple should acquire Disney or Netflix, they don't understand the economics. Heck, Netflix is headed toward a steady decline in value as they are a one trick pony that can't afford to raise prices enough to keep up with their ever increasing costs. Someone will likely buy them at a much cheaper price in two to four years.

Lol. There’s nothing wisely going on here with Apple. You even admit Netflix is having to raise prices to keep up with billions spent on content. There’s only so high they can go.

So then why is this a good idea for Apple to do? It isn’t and they aren’t going to spend like Netflix.

But they won’t be building anything too fast at all with only spending a billion a year. There’s nothing to indicate they plan on licensing existing content which is just further spend. Under your “steady” approach, Apple won’t have nothing but a handful of original content. Then there’s season two around the corner. Does Apple have the stomach to keep pouring billions at a loser?

I’m beginning to think the content is only being added to get you to click on the tv app (and hopefully get you to subscribe to other channels like hbo). Something I don’t do now. I doubt it runs past 4.99 a month.

Atv plus is more of a string being pulled than any serious Netflix or Disney competition. Apple simply wont spend enough to do that. They simply want you to use their tv app. They’re more interested in getting 30 percent of subs for hbo go, Hulu, etc.

 

[truthertech]

Doesn’t seem too bad if you like the content. But if Netflix is anything to go by that price will only increase up and up.. as they invest more and more into original content.

The reason Netflix is in real trouble, and likely will eventually need to be bought out to survive, is that Netflix's popularity was always based on being very cheap with no commercials. They are a one trick pony and their costs are increasing at a huge pace, but they can't raise prices at the same rate to make up for the cost increase. Amazon, Apple, Google, and to a large extent, Disney all have other revenue streams and can run their streaming services at a loss. I'm sure Netflix executives got a sick feeling in their stomachs when they saw the price Disney + was launching at. Ouch!

Smart money is to short Netflix.

 

[MisterSavage]

I was interesting in Star Trek Discovery but what CBS was charging and what other content that monthly fee gave you didn't make me even remotely tempted to sign up.

I'm signing up for this the first day it's available.

 

[truthertech]

Lol. There’s nothing wisely going on here with Apple. You even admit Netflix is having to raise prices to keep up with billions spent on content. There’s only so high they can go.

So then why is this a good idea for Apple to do? It isn’t and they aren’t going to spend like Netflix.

But they won’t be building anything too fast at all with only spending a billion a year. There’s nothing to indicate they plan on licensing existing content which is just further spend. Under your “steady” approach, Apple won’t have nothing but a handful of original content. Then there’s season two around the corner. Does Apple have the stomach to keep pouring billions at a loser?

I’m beginning to think the content is only being added to get you to click on the tv app (and hopefully get you to subscribe to other channels like hbo). Something I don’t do now. I doubt it runs past 4.99 a month.

Atv plus is more of a string being pulled than any serious Netflix or Disney competition. Apple simply wont spend enough to do that.

So much wrong here, but just time for a couple comments and then have to go. First, no one knows what Apple is spending, but all the experts agree it is well past a billion dollars a year. The new series, See, is reported to be the most expensive series ever made. Next, Apple has more "than a handful of shows." They are pushing close to 30 and are ahead of the pace that Netflix had when building out original content. You mistakenly assume Apple is focused on quantity, when they are paying for quality. They don't need hundreds of shows that no one can watch or care about. They have license to sell/stream nearly an unlimited amount of content; Apple TV + is a value add to their ecosystem.

Finally, you don't understand that Apple is already one of the largest video streaming services on the planet and makes billions streaming content for other companies; it's called iTunes, and they are expanding their video streaming service this fall with their channels, which will bring in billions more.

 

[charlituna]

so I'll just get the obvious question out of the way: Who is gunna subscribe to both?

I likely will and I imagine many folks will. After all they won’t be providing the same content. So I’m not sure the claim of being competitors is valid
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I had hoped for some time now that Apple would buy Disney. With the cash they threw away in stock repurchases they could have bought Disney twice over. When it comes to real entertainment assets, Disney is second to none in my humble opinion.

That would have likely never passed the stink test for anti-trust. Disney buying Fox barely did
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Maybe this article doesn't do their announcement justice, but Disney is putting content from ALL their "channels" into this service. Marvel, Star Wars, Disney Channel, National Geographic, Pixar, Disney Studios, etc. It's quite impressive. Check out the video from their investor day webcast and I think you'll be quite impressed.

Do you have a link by chance. I think I’d like to see that video

I really wonder how Apple and their own original content will fit into this equation.

It’s two totally different equations. This is not a zero sum game where folks can only buy one. Many folks have Netflix, hulu and Prime and will have this and AppleTVPlus

 

[NMBob]

This is getting out of control. Subscriptions for everything.

Micro payments for everything on the web is next. (Remember those?)

 

[Shanghaichica]

I guess this will be US only.

 

[NtDs90]

I’ll probably subscribe to it for MCU and kid cartoons. Kids need to watch something better than the crap I see them watching on YouTube.
As for being on AppleTV. It would be stupid not too. Because I’m not paying if it’s not.
Subscribed to Netflix, Hulu, & CBS. My brother’s Dish gets me the rest for free.

 

[ipponrg]

No, Apple wisely figured out they could build out their own original content for much less than the $125 billion dollars or so it would take to buy Disney, and then they wouldn't have all the baggage that would come along with absorbing another huge company. Apple will just steadily acquire the own "original" content and license or sell the other content. That's the smart long term play. When people keep arguing Apple should acquire Disney or Netflix, they don't understand the economics. Heck, Netflix is headed toward a steady decline in value as they are a one trick pony that can't afford to raise prices enough to keep up with their ever increasing costs. Someone will likely buy them at a much cheaper price in two to four years.

My original comment was that Disney culture wouldn't fit well with Apple in that they are entirely different companies with different motives. Disney is prioritizing global reach and ubiquity, and Apple seemingly wants to target people from within their ecosystem.

If you work in the streaming business, you would know that content is king, especially when you own entirely the 1st tier content. Acquiring content because an actor/director was tied to it does not mean it's an instant success. It's actually the not-so smart thing to do if you think you can muscle into the video content industry just by acquiring content (as Netflix's prior history has shown).
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I guess this will be US only.

 

[Mtmspa]

a Hulu, Disney and ESPN+ bundle would meet my needs and would dump Netflix day one.

 

[Shanghaichica]

My original comment was that Disney culture wouldn't fit well with Apple in that they are entirely different companies with different motives. Disney is prioritizing global reach and ubiquity, and Apple seemingly wants to target people from within their ecosystem.

If you work in the streaming business, you would know that content is king, especially when you own entirely the 1st tier content. Acquiring content because an actor/director was tied to it does not mean it's an instant success. It's actually the not-so smart thing to do if you think you can muscle into the video content industry just by acquiring content (as Netflix's prior history has shown).
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Ooh. That’s good to know. Thanks.

 

[pipis2010]

Disney today shared a first look at its upcoming Disney+ streaming service, providing new details on how it will work and what features will be included.

The dedicated Disney+ app, which will house Disney+ content, looks rather similar to other streaming television apps, such as Apple's own TV app and Netflix.

The screenshot shared by Disney CEO Bob Iger features a dark interface with individual categories for different Disney franchises, including standard Disney fare, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and National Geographic, complete with a "Continue Watching" feature and recommendations.

Disney+ content will be available through the Disney+ app on web browsers, smartphones, smart TVs, tablets, and game consoles, essentially everywhere you can watch most streaming services. Deals have already been secured with Roku and Sony for a PS4 version of the app.

Individual profiles for each user in the household will be supported, and Disney plans to allow content to be downloaded for offline viewing. Disney will provide TV shows and movies in 4K HDR.

When Apple launches its TV+ service with its original content this fall and Disney launches Disney+, the two companies are set to become serious competitors, as both services will offer up exclusive content unavailable on other platforms.

Disney+ will house existing Disney content, but Disney is also developing new content for the streaming service. Some of the announced TV shows include "Falcon and Winter Soldier" based on the two Avengers characters, "WandaVision" with Wanda Maximoff and The Vision, a TV show based on "Monsters, Inc.," a TV show based on "High School Musical," a Frozen 2 documentary, a Star Wars series, a live-action version of "Lady and the Tramp," two projects featuring Marvel characters Loki and Hawkeye, and much more. All Pixar content will be on Disney+ the first year of launch, as will all Pixar theatrical shorts and all Star Wars films.

Disney may also be planning to offer bundled content, perhaps providing a discount for subscribers who purchase Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, but little detail was provided on Disney's bundling plans.

Disney plans to launch Disney+ on November 12, 2019, and it will be priced at $6.99 per month, which is much lower than other streaming services on the market. Disney is also offering a yearly subscription price of $69.99, which is even cheaper. Disney is planning to roll the service out to many other countries over the course of the next two years.

With its fall launch, Disney+ will be coming out right around the same time that Apple TV+ launches. Apple hasn't provided a specific launch date, but has said that the new streaming service will come out in the fall.

Update: In an interview with Bloomberg, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that the Disney+ app will "in all likelihood be available through traditional app distributors, with Apple being one of them." There was no official announcement Disney about platforms beyond Roku and Sony because Disney hasn't "made deals with all of them yet."

Article Link: Disney Offers First Look at Upcoming Disney+ App, Launching in November for $6.99 Per Month [Update: Will Be Available on Apple Devices]

I don't understand, they own all rights, why can't they launch globally from day 1?

 

[AppleMad98004]

Damn you Disney teasing with Boba Fett - the one character Star Wars fans have been clamouring for more stories!

I don’t know how anyone will be able to keep up with all these streaming services. This is not saving any money vs. cable!

Agreed. In fact if you add the cost of an internet connection it can be more than a cable package. Unfortunately I'm sure Disney content will be removed from all other services.

This is all about increasing total revenue increases no matter what the channel.

 

[LordVic]

I don't understand, they own all rights, why can't they launch globally from day 1?

they do have contracts with those rights that haven't expired yet. I think that's part of it. In addition to infrastructure and service bulding / ramp up.

it's not like they (or Apple or whoever) can snap their fingeres and have a globally available streaming platform and payment system in place.

 

[KrispE00]

BUT...will it be in 4K?!

 

[cylack]

Shorting netflix would be foolish bc there are plenty of customers, like myself, who love original netflix content. Netflix is my only subscription (treat Amazon Prime Video as a bonus bc I pay for the 2 day shipping) and I would gladly pay upto $25 a month for Netflix.

The reason Netflix is in real trouble, and likely will eventually need to be bought out to survive, is that Netflix's popularity was always based on being very cheap with no commercials. They are a one trick pony and their costs are increasing at a huge pace, but they can't raise prices at the same rate to make up for the cost increase. Amazon, Apple, Google, and to a large extent, Disney all have other revenue streams and can run their streaming services at a loss. I'm sure Netflix executives got a sick feeling in their stomachs when they saw the price Disney + was launching at. Ouch!

Smart money is to short Netflix.

 

[MrRabuf]

So will you be able to stream every single Disney/Pixar/Marval/etc movie? If so, that's definitely worth the cost for my family.

 

[MisterSavage]

Shorting netflix would be foolish bc there are plenty of customers, like myself, who love original netflix content. Netflix is my only subscription (treat Amazon Prime Video as a bonus bc I pay for the 2 day shipping) and I would gladly pay upto $25 a month for Netflix.

Yeah I don't think it's equivalent to lump Amazon Prime Video with these others. I'm paying for prime for expedited shipping and the video is a great bonus (that I use frequently).

 

[Norwegian_Imposter]

Any idea if launching in Norway?

 

[Lordforex]

Once Disney's service launches, I'll be able to quit all my other streaming services and just get the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle for $18 a month. I'm not sure yet if I'll keep Netflix.

 

[hauntvictim]

I agree the streaming services is getting out of hand, but big media/ corporations has caught on and it looks like the future. I suggest looking for ways to save. With T-Mobile I save with my two lines we get Netflix free. I dumped Apple Music and went with Spotify and now I get my Hulu for free. So essentially my streaming services are free.

I do have Xbox Live, Prime, and Game Pass. But looking to get rid of Prime never any good content.

 

[abbstrack]

The cable vs. streaming tons of different services argument doesn't really hold up, because there's no putting the genie back in the bottle here. It's not like going back to cable gets you all the content you are getting on the various streaming services. It still lands you with a ton of channels that you likely won't use, and missing out on the content you actually want to see.

I remember being an early cord cutter and waiting/wishing for folks like HBO to finally offer a direct to customer model, but I clearly didn't think of what happens in the long run when everybody starts fragmenting their content onto service offerings.

One one hand we're losing money by having to pay way more than we did for cable, but on the other, we are actually paying for the content & service providers we choose to pay for, instead of getting a bundled package of channels that we endlessly flip through out of sheer desperation to try to find something halfway watchable.

Also, there's ways to save on some of these offerings, i.e. I have at&t cellular service, so I no longer have to pay for HBO now as it's bundled with the tier that im on for unlimited data. If you're diligent enough, there are ways to hack the system so you're not paying for everything as a standalone.