These days, it seems like paying for streaming services is getting as expensive as paying for cable. Disney isn’t make that situation any easier on our wallets as they have announced they will be removing their films from Netflix so they can launch their own exclusive streaming service in 2019. They will also launch one for ESPN in 2018.
From the beginning of the streaming era, Netflix has been at the forefront. With the DVD popularity dying off and streaming becoming more commonplace, other streaming sites have made their presence known.
Hulu and Amazon are just as big as Netflix now, and though we benefit from it greatly, the competition is fierce for these companies.
CNBC and The Wrap have reported Disney is ready to join the ranks of streaming companies and will launch a service for their movies which they plan to have ready by 2019.
ESPN, which Disney acquired in recent years, will receive the same treatment. Live streaming would possibly be made available for all different types of sports, and some bonus content.
Bob Iger, who is a CEO at Disney, released a statement which lays out their intentions and thoughts about this new service:
“Today we announced a strategic shift in the way we distribute our content. The media landscape is increasingly defined by direct relationships between content creators and consumers, and our control of BAMTech’s full array of innovative technology will give us the power to forge those connections, along with the flexibility to quickly adapt to shifts in the market. This acquisition and the launch of our direct-to-consumer services mark an entirely new growth strategy for the Company, one that takes advantage of the incredible opportunity that changing technology provides us to leverage the strength of our great brands.”
Disney is as strong as they ever were with their children’s movies, and with Marvel and Star Wars added in with their catalog, they seem pretty unstoppable. Amazing business acumen has been something they have been known for.
A streaming service for their sports fans sounds like a great choice; a dedicated streaming service for their films… not so much. I say this, but time and time again, their fan base gets underestimated.
This probably won’t do as bad as people who want to save money sticking to a fewer number of streaming sites would like.