That’s the big question being asked over at BBC News. As Disney+ makes major announcements, bringing us details of new forthcoming TV series from Star Wars, Marvel and beyond, can they truly challenge the behemoth that is Netflix?
In addition to Disney, there are the tech giants: Google-owner Alphabet is in the game with YouTube, while Amazon’s Prime video and live streaming Twitch platform give the e-commerce giant a stake.
Facebook is developing programmes for its “Watch” video feature, and Apple is expected to launch a new streaming services in 2019. More traditional media companies are players as well.
Dish Network, a US satellite company, owns SlingTV. AT&T, previously known as a distributor of pay-TV and internet, plans to launch a new streaming service, built around HBO, in 2019, after its more than $80bn purchase of Time Warner earlier this year. Even retailer Walmart, which has been flirting with online video since 2010, recently announced a new partnership with a movie studio.
Disney’s most valuable assets are their vast and deep IP library which includes their own, homemade characters as well as Pixar, The Muppets, Marvel and of course the legacy and newly-created characters of the Star Wars galaxy. Here are Disney’s highest grossing movies at the domestic box office.
1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) $936.7m
2. Black Panther (2018) $700.1m
3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) $678.8m
4: Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)$623.4m
5. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) $620.2m
No doubt it’s going to be a bloody battlefield once Disney+ launches, but with the properties they have in their arsenal, Disney have as good a chance as any to challenge Netflix, Amazon and the other major players, which includes CBS All-Access and Hulu.
