Disney joins streaming wars with today’s launch of Disney+

Disney has become the latest entrant to the ever-increasing stable of streaming platforms.

The company’s Disney+ service comes hot on the heels of Apple’s Apple TV+, which launched on the first of November. The strategies of the two companies are not overly dissimilar at launch, with exclusive content being commissioned for the platform. In Apple’s case it was shows such as morning television programme drama The Morning Show, starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell. Disney is pinning its hopes on offerings such as The Mandalorian, the first live-action series set in the Star Wars universe, starring the likes of Pedro Pascal, Nick Nolte and, weirdly, Werner Herzog.

Disney does have at least two key advantages over Apple, however; it’s vast back catalogue, and its ownership of some of the world’s biggest intellectual properties in the form of Marvel and Star Wars. Accordingly, the company is dangling the carrot of future content set in those IPs being exclusive to the platform, such as an Obi-Wan Kenobi focused Star Wars TV series and spin-offs of the Marvel films focused on characters such as Loki and Hawkeye. The tsunami of streaming services is without a doubt shaking the traditional TV industry, causing, in the UK for instance, rival television channels to band together to create their own offering.

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The service is launching with 500 films and 7,500 television episodes, with that figure made up of both new and old content, such as Disney and Pixar’s animated classics..

Unlike Apple TV+, which launched everywhere simultaneously, Disney’s service is first coming to the US, the Netherlands and Canada, joined by New Zealand and Australia next week. Also unlike Apple’s platform, Disney+ is set to cost more, coming in at $6.99 per month rather than $4.99.

“The launch of Disney+ is a historic moment for our company that marks a new era of innovation and creativity,” said Bob Iger, Disney’s Chairman and CEO. “Disney+ provides an exceptional entertainment experience, showcasing our library of beloved movies, TV series and exclusive original content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic.”

(Image: Disney)