The Disney+ streaming service already knows the way into our hearts: make their service really cheap. It has been announced that the platform will launch on November 12 & it will run for the low price of $6.99 a month.
The powerhouse entertainment conglomerate showcased its forthcoming Netflix competitor during a presentation for investors on Thursday, featuring exclusive and original content, an extensive back catalog, and a not-unfamiliar interface. Here are a few takeaways:
At $6.99 a month, the service will be cheaper than that of its competitors like Netflix & Amazon Video. Amazon Prime Video and Netflix each cost $8.99 a month for their most basic plans; Netflix’s premium pricing tier costs $15.99 for 4K resolution and the ability to watch on four devices simultaneously. (Meanwhile, Disney now owns a majority stake in Hulu, which costs $5.99 monthly for its basic, ad-supported version. The ad-free tier costs $11.99 a month.) Neither Amazon Prime Video nor Netflix currently offers an annual subscription plan —unless you count Amazon’s all-inclusive Prime membership for $119 a year — but Disney+ will. Annual subscribers will be able to sign up for $69.99 per year.
The Simpsons will make Disney+ their new, exclusive streaming home for all 30 of its seasons. So much for that FXX Simpsons World launch because it’s about to be obsolete.
5,000 (!) episodes of Disney shows will be available at launch. Hannah Montana? Kim Possible? That’s So Raven? Yep, all of your Disney favorites from the past will be there.
The Disney+ inventory will include plenty of older shows, as well as several new ones. The new offerings include The Mandalorian, a live-action Star Wars series set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, helmed by Jon Favreau; a National Geographic-produced travel series starring Jeff Goldblum; and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, based on the classic Disney Channel Original Movie.
Marvel’s Disney+ shows will matter to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. These series include WandaVision, which will star Scarlet Witch (a.k.a. Wanda) and Vision; Falcon and Winter Soldier, a series about the relationship between Captain America’s titular pals; and Loki, starring Tom Hiddleston as the fan-favorite Asgardian. Also announced a couple of days ago is a Hawkeye series starring Jeremy Renner.
