The numbers mark a bright spot in financial performance that has been marred by the pandemic. The news coincided with the company’s first quarterly profit, $17 million, after a string of losses in 2020. It all suggests that Disney’s obsessive focus on Disney+ is working. Theatrical exhibition and linear channels like the company’s own ABC are now so-called “legacy” platforms, and run second to direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ as part of what CEO Bob Chapek referred to as a “DTC-first business model.”
CFO Christine McCarthy said content is the single-biggest driver in acquiring and retaining subscribers. And the company plans to spend big on content: $14 billion-$16 billion on all streaming platforms over the next three years, a figure announced during December’s four-hour investors extravaganza that teased over 100 moves and series in the works. Netflix spends a similar amount on its programming, but Disney has what Netflix doesn’t: IP. “A wealth of IP from our unrivaled collection of brands and franchises provides us with an incredible breadth and depth of storylines and characters to mine for Disney+ and our other streaming services,” Chapek said. “We have the ability to interconnect these storylines and characters in unprecedented ways.” Early Disney+ numbers were built on the appeal of “The Mandalorian.” Now the “Star Wars” universe is spawning another spinoff, a Boba Fett series set to launch on Disney+ in December. The first Marvel series, “WandaVision,” launched in January to acclaim for its oddball mix of classic-TV homage with Marvel favorites. Disney IP is also fueling rides based on “Ratatouille” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” that will soon be unveiled at the company’s parks, as is a “Star Wars” hotel and a Marvel-themed section. But as with natural resources, IP can’t be mined forever or at the same rate of return. Disney is careful not to miss any opportunity to create the latest franchise. “Black Panther,” lauded for its originality and elevation of the MCU when it was released for 2018, will become a Disney+ fixture with a series set in Wakanda. While audiences haven’t hit franchise fatigue with the MCU (the fourth Avengers movie, released in 2019, still holds the box-office record), it’s a future possibility. While Disney+ content does get most of the press attention, 30 percent of all Disney+ subscribers are subscribers of India’s Disney+ Hotstar, which offers access to the country’s wildly popular cricket league.
On February 23, Disney will launch another service, Star, across Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore as a Disney+ add-on. Think of it as the global equivalent to Hulu: It will feature thousands of hours of movies and TV, including content from the Fox acquisition and local programming. The big difference is Star will be accessed through Disney+. Stateside, Disney continues to invest in Hulu. Early Oscar contender “Nomadland” will premiere February 19 day-and-date on the service and in theaters. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
