If You Need Me, I’ll Be Watching The Simpsons
In 1989, I sat in a Shoney’s restaurant and watched Sideshow Bob frame Krusty the Klown for murder.
I know you have questions. Here are my answers. 1) Yes, I’m older than you.
2) Shoney’s used to be an easily recognizable restaurant famous for its salad bars and Big Boy statue outside the restaurant.
Anyway, the 12th episode of the first season of The Simpsons sold me on the series forever.
By this point, the show hadn’t quite reached cultural phenomenon status, but it would happen soon.
I was already on the bandwagon, though. Fast forward to 2025, and not much has changed.
Photo: simplemost.com
I still watch every new episode of the show and can recite dialogue so much that it can comprise an entire conversation.
Now, Disney+ has finally made a dream of mine come true. So, if you need me, I’ll be watching The Simpsons.
(Photo Illustration by Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Here’s what just happened…and please know that I’m smiling as I type this.
Introducing The Simpsons Channel
Simpsons
A few years ago, FXX, a Fox cable channel, made a bold programming decision.
The largely unwatched network went all-in on sitcoms, buying the broadcasting rights to shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
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Soon afterward, FXX earned headlines for its $500 million acquisition of licensing rights to The Simpsons.
FXX effectively became the re-run channel, accidentally predicting the primary future form of streaming consumption.
Wall Street Journal
Cable viewers knew that when they turned on FXX, they’d find one thing and one thing only: sitcom re-runs.
If that sounds familiar, you’ve been reading MickeyBlog’s other Nielsen Ratings articles.
Photo: Disney+
At this point, Hulu only needs a handful of shows to fill out its entire annual programming calendar.
Almost everything else people consume on Hulu is some sort of comfort sitcom binge.
Photo: Disney+
The reality is that a bunch of viewers simply want to turn on a streaming service and not have to think.
At some point, we all tired of combing through menu after menu in search of the perfect program.
Photo: Hulu
What we’d prefer instead is for someone to tell us what to watch.
You may think I’m exaggerating, but this is basically Netflix’s entire business model.
Deadline
At one point, Netflix even introduced a kind of random play option.
People would load the service and let fate decide their program.
Photo: Netflix
This is FXX’s core philosophy from 2013, modernized on streaming. And the latest example is The Simpsons.
Did You Know History Repeats Itself?
Simpsons
As of this week, you can watch The Simpsons 24/7 from now until the end of time.
Technically, you already could, but Disney+ just made it a lot easier.
Photo: Disney+
The streaming service just introduced a permanent Simpsons channel. I will NEVER get any work done again.
Seriously, I’m watching Sideshow Bob try to kill Bart Simpson right now.
Photo: The Simpsons
But despite the narcissistic title, this article isn’t really about me. It’s about Disney’s evolving streaming engagement plan.
Last fall, Dana Walden, the Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, acknowledged that Disney+ was struggling.
Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Financially, Disney was finally steering toward profitability, but it was falling way behind other streaming services.
I’m not even talking about Netflix, the gold standard. Disney+ struggled against Max and Paramount+ as well.
Holywood Reporter PHOTOGRAPHED BY DIANA KING
At the time, Walden described the issue as a technological disadvantage and indicated solutions were in progress.
Ordinarily, when an executive says something like that, they’re either stalling or wishcasting. Walden meant it.
Here’s a quote from a recent (paywalled) update from The Wrap:
“Disney+ has updated its user interface with ESPN and Hulu tiles for a more seamless experience for bundle subscribers, with the latter offering surpassing 1 billion hours viewed since launching last March.
NPR
“It also added Streams, a group of themed, 24/7 live channels, such as ABC News and Disney+ Playtime, which have driven over 10 million streaming hours from subscribers in the U.S.”
You’ve probably guessed that the new Simpsons channel is a part of that initiative…and more is probably coming.
Did You Know History Repeats Itself?
Photographer: Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
As usual, I’m about to discuss the Nielsen Streaming Ratings for the week.
This time, what you should consider is how easily Disney and Hulu could add 24/7 Streams for some of these other shows.
Photo: Getty Images/Ringer illustration
Currently, Disney+ only hosts a handful of streams with content such as Disney children’s programming, National Geographic, and Disney “Throwbacks.”
Disney+ sometimes offers Star Wars and Marvel streams, which seem to come and go.
Photo: PCMag.com
Those of you who have used services such as Pluto TV and Roku TV (or have a Samsung smart tv) are familiar with this setup.
These services exist to feed viewers a constant array of repeatable content. Yes, I’m talking re-runs.
Photo: English Jargon
And the future of Disney+ and Hulu should rely heavily on such content.
For example, during the week of February 17th through February 23rd, here are Disney’s most popular streaming programs:
Photo: Bluey.tv
- Bluey – 1.05 billion minutes watched
- Family Guy – 1.01 billion minutes watched
- NCIS – 718 million minutes watched
- Bob’s Burgers – 706 million minutes watched
- Grey’s Anatomy – 701 million minutes watched
- Paradise – 502 million minutes watched
- Moana – 189 million minutes watched
Why This Strategy Will Work
Photo: Ludo Studios
Just think about how popular a Stream would be for any of this repeatable content, especially Bluey, Grey’s Anatomy, and Seth MacFarlane’s shows.
Viewers could turn on Disney+/Hulu, load the applicable Stream, and know they have background noise for the next few hours.
Photo: The New York Post
In the process, the numbers for Disney’s streaming services would increase dramatically.
Even better, Disney would sell advertising for many of those views, thereby pulling the old cable television double/double.
Photo: The Simpsons
Disney will keep earning subscription revenue from consumers and advertising revenue from other businesses.
In short, Disney has copied the FXX business model from 2013 and modernized it with more lucrative revenue opportunities in 2025.
Photo: The Simpsons
I’d complain, but Mr. Burns’ childhood teddy bear has gone missing. I have to find out what happened to it.
PS: Fun fact about that Simpsons episode where Krusty gets framed. The director was…Brad Bird. Yes, Brad Bird of The Incredibles.
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Feature: Disney+
