|
 Disney
will launch a streaming service in 2019. The move ends the theatrical
distribution deal with Netflix. In 2018 Disney is launching an ESPN streaming
service which sets the stage for the move. This follows their spending $1.58
billion to acquire a majority of BAMTech, the streaming technology company owned
by the Major League Baseball-owned online company MLBAM. So in 2019 if you want
to watch a live action or animated movie from Disney and Pixar you will have to
subscribe to the service. The move does not affect Marvel’s Netflix TV shows.
Those shows are produced by Netflix. Disney will produce at least five original
films for the new service. So the new service will include 400-500 movies and
7,000 TV episodes. There is a massive risk to the move since Business Insider
says the channel will have to have 32 million subscribers just to break even.
Disney hasn’t mentioned a price point yet but the going rate for most services
is $9 dollars a month. The studio will lose about $2.5 billion from film and TV
licensing alone. The 32 million subscriber number wouldn’t even be close to the
50 million subscribers Netflix has in the US. |
