On Nov. 12, 2019, Disney+, the latest streaming service, was unveiled to the world. With content ranging from Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic and hit movies such as Avengers: Endgame, it is safe to say that some consumers will have quite the incentive to get a Disney+ account. In fact, in just one day after its initial release, Disney+ already had more than 10 million subscribers; an impressive feat to say the least. But how does the service differ from other streaming services?
For one, Disney+ costs $6.99 per month whereas Netflix can cost up to $15.99. Disney+ has decided to release each episode of new TV shows weekly, similar to Hulu and HBO, while Netflix releases entire seasons at once, allowing viewers to binge entire seasons in one sitting.
Another key difference is in the actual content itself. Each streaming service has unique content that can only be watched on their services, which can prove difficult for consumers when deciding which streaming services they should be members of; there’s just so many.
For instance, Netflix has released some hit TV shows such as Stranger Things and The Crown, while HBO has Game of Thrones. Disney+ is currently streaming the new Star Wars show The Mandalorian, which is proving to be a huge draw for people joining Disney+ and is receiving very positive reviews by critics.
With the increasing competition from Disney+, Netflix has stepped up their game. For example, Netflix has some serious awards contenders with Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman along with Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story. Both films have received glowing accolades from critics and were the top films nominated at the Golden Globes.
In contrast, Disney+ has had its own fair share of problems to overcome, like any service starting up for the first time. According to The Washington Post, thousands of accounts were hacked and sold online upon Disney+’s launch. Furthermore, as it currently stands, Netflix and other streaming services have significantly more content than Disney+.
All in all, the exclusivity of Disney’s content will surely make it a serious competitor for other streaming services in the market. In our digital streaming age, the content available can seem endless.
Article by Matthew Minton of Quince Orchard High School
Graphic by Claire Yang of Winston Churchill High School