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Disney Plus UK: Release date, price, movies, shows and how the new streaming service will affect Netflix



Everyone who is anyone is launching a TV streaming service this year, whether it’s Apple, the BBC and ITV, or Disney.

It’s no secret that Disney has been planning its own Netflix rival for a while as a way to cash in on the success that the platform, as well as Amazon Prime, has been enjoying for the past few years. 

And, with all that original content the company has been creating since 1937, why not?

This week, Disney held an investor conference and released some eagerly anticipated details about Disney Plus (or Disney+) and how it will work.

Robert Iger, Disney’s chairman and CEO, said: “Disney+ marks a bold step forward in an exciting new era for our company—one in which consumers will have a direct connection to the incredible array of creative content that is The Walt Disney Company’s hallmark. 

“We are confident that the combination of our unrivalled storytelling, beloved brands, iconic franchises, and cutting-edge technology will make Disney+ a standout in the marketplace, and deliver significant value for consumers and shareholders alike.”

Here’s what we know so far. 

What is Disney Plus?

Disney Plus is Disney’s answer to Netflix, a comprehensive streaming platform featuring all the shows and films the company has produced since the 1930s. 

It will feature previous shows and films, as well as new content exclusive only to Disney Plus. 

The service will have five hubs focusing on the major franchises owned by Disney, such as Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic. 

Disney Plus will work the same way as other streaming services so you will be able to access it via an app on Smart TVs and mobile devices, as well as via browsers. 

You’ll be able to download content too to watch offline. 

What is the Disney Plus release date in the UK?

Disney Plus is set to launch in every major region within the next two years. At the moment, we only know what the US launch date is: November 12.

However, it’s likely that more information will come out over the next few months about when the service will come to the UK. 

You can sign up at DisneyPlus.com to find out when the service is coming to your country.  

How much will the new streaming service cost?

In the US, Disney Plus is set to cost $6.99 per month, or $69.99 per year. It’s likely it will cost around the same in the UK, so £6.99 per month or £69.99 per year. 

This puts Disney Plus just below Netflix’s pricing, which starts at £7.99 per month. 

What movies and shows will be on Disney Plus?

There’s going to be over 7,500 episodes and 500 films in the first year that Disney Plus is online, with more films and TV shows added overtime. 

The Simpsons is going to make its streaming debut on Disney Plus which will certainly please fans of the popular cartoon. 

There’s also going to be a few “Disney Originals”, if we can call them that now. New shows and movies will be created based on series in the Disney canon, with a particular focus on Marvel and Star Wars. 

Tom Hiddleston’s Loki could be getting an original TV series on Disney Plus (Walt Disney Studios/Marvel)

Two shows that are in the works include an original series focusing on Marvel’s Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston. There’s also set to be a prequel series to Star Wars’ Rogue One, about the character Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna.

A rebooted version of the High School Musical franchise is reportedly going to happen too. 

What will happen to Disney movies on Netflix?

By the end of 2019, there’s likely to be hardly any Disney-created content left on Netflix. The entertainment company already cancelled its Marvel Originals shows and declined to add any of its 2019 releases to Netflix, choosing to save them all for Disney Plus.

If you were upset about the end of The Punisher, starring Jon Bernthal, and Jessica Jones, with Krysten Ritter, the executive of Disney Plus, Kevin Mayer, said these shows could be revived on the new service, but that won’t be until at least 2020 thanks to the contract terms around the shows. 

Will Disney Plus be a threat to Netflix? Netflix seems pretty confident it won’t, given its major dominance around the world.

Yet, with the addition of an Apple streaming service in the mix, people may start to feel a strong case of streaming fatigue. 

 

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