Disney names new streaming service, eyes Hulu expansion

News Broadband Global 9 NOV 2018
Disney names new streaming service, eyes Hulu expansion

Disney's new streaming service will be called Disney+, the company announced in a presentation after quarterly results. The expected Netflix rival will launch in late 2019. The company is also looking at expanding the Hulu online TV service to new countries. 

The Disney+ service will carry content from Disney's stable of brand names including Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and Pixar. Aimed at consumers, it adds to earlier launched sports streaming service ESPN+, which has 1 million subscribers.

New content is expected to include a Star Wars prequel series, building on the 2016 movie 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story', said Disney CEO Bob Iger, speaking on the company's fourth-quarter earnings call. Iger also said Disney is developing a new series based around Marvel comic book villain Loki, starring British actor Tom Hiddleston, Reuters reports. 

The CEO also outlined plans for streaming service Hulu, NBC reports. Iger said Disney is aiming to win new subscribers by investing in more original programming and taking Hulu into new international markets. 

Disney co-owns Hulu with 21st Century Fox, AT&T and Comcast. After completing the takeover of Fox, Disney will have a majority stake of 60 percent in Hulu. Disney said it would hold an investor day in April to share more details of its direct-to-consumer plans

Categories:

Internet,  Video

Companies:

Hulu,  Disney,  21st Century Fox

Regions:

Global

Tags:

Production planning & operations, Corporate strategy, Marketing - Branding

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