Disney will launch its own video subscription service in the United Kingdom
Disney fans, at least those in Europe, have a new reason to smile.
According to Variety, Disney is planning on introducing a new streaming service, DisneyLife, next month in the United Kingdom. It will roll out to France, Spain, Italy, and Germany sometime during 2016.
When it launches in the U.K. it will cost £9.99 per month, which is around $15.50.
Along with a number of movies, including the hugely popular Pixar titles, the service will offer TV series, books, and music:
“This is the future, in many respects,” said Bob Iger, Disney’s chief executive. “We’re seeing more and more opportunities to reach consumers directly and not through middlemen, and we’re seeing consumers wanting product in different ways.”
DisneyLife won’t include any material from Marvel or the juggernaut Star Wars franchise. But Iger told Variety that separate subscription services surrounding those franchises could launch sometime in the future.
It’s unknown how Apple fans can access the service. But with the close ties between Apple and Disney, subscribers should expect some type of iOS app and maybe even a channel on the revamped Apple TV that will officially arrive next week.
Interestingly, Iger also told the publication that Disney believes the future is apps:
“There’s a general sense that the world is going in this direction,” he said. “There will be multichannel TV and we will be part of it, but the app experience offers many more layers (and) much more richness in content than a channel, where one program follows another program.”
Bad news for Americans
Surprisingly, Disney has no current plans to launch DisneyLife in the United States. But that could change in the future.
That’s probably due to the fact that Netflix has paid Disney to offer Disney movie releases. The deal, which also includes Canada, kicks in at the end of 2016 starting with 2015 theatrical releases.
For other news today, see: Apple speaks out against cybersecurity bill, Apple officially releases iOS 9.1 with new emoji and more, and Are these 4 new Apple products worth the higher price?
