Disney planning streaming service for TV, movies


Disney is reportedly pulling its content off of Netflix to launch its own competing streaming service. The service will offer Disney branded content for movies and TV, including Pixar Studio releases.

AP:

The Magic Kingdom is launching its own streaming service for its central Disney and Pixar brands and another for live sports. That would allow it to bypass the cable companies it relies on -- and Netflix -- to charge consumers directly for access to its popular movies and sporting events.


The Disney service is expected not to lunch until 2019. In addition, Disney-owned ESPN franchise is still building its own streaming app. ESPN is expected to expand its streaming offering next year, although will likely not compete directly with cable. This likely means the service will continue to require a cable/dish subscription and not be offered as a stand-alone. If, ESPN continues to lose cable subscribers, it seems poised to begin offering services directly to customers.