Exploring Disney Streaming Strategy
Fast Company’s Nicole LaPorte broke down Disney Plus Playbook…
Obviously, Disney+ is the big story over in Burbank, where The Mouse is coming off a record-breaking week on Wall Street.
Much of that recent success remains predicated on Disney Direct to Consumer streaming business or the rails that the company switched to when the pandemic shut down the theme park and movie business.
During the most recent earnings report, Disney explained that its operating loss during the quarter was directly attributable to streaming success, including Disney Plus’ 95-million subscribers (in just over a year).
How Did Disney+ Do It?
But how did Disney+ numbers pop so quickly?
Fast Company writer Nicole LaPorte looked to explain the success succinctly.
In a tremendous article, which pointed out the very different approach taken by Disney in the streaming wars, cited:
Fascinating article…
“As competition amps up between streamers and licensing contracts run out, HBO Max, Paramount Plus, and Peacock will a…” https://t.co/Hib4nYTfRE— John Bishop (@jmbishopjr) February 27, 2021
- An ever-growing content library and IP collection;
- The evergreen nature of much of the intellectual property;
- And beyond the sheer size of the catalog, its astonishing breadth.
Disney’s “Super Power”
One excellent quote (amongst several) stood out.
As competition amps up between streamers and licensing contracts run out… original titles like Cinderella even more potent fodder against the Netflixes and Amazons of the world.
“The Disney library is so specific and so branded, that’s their super power,” says one streaming source. “Paramount Plus is like, ‘We’ll be the exclusive home of Chinatown!‘ I love Chinatown, but they don’t have the Star Wars titles and all the animated films that Disney does.”
In other words.: Good luck competing.
Perseverance & Resolve
And the resolve is paying off.
Just two months after CEO Bob Chapek told investors, “We haven’t just persevered during these tough times, we’ve also taken a number of deliberate steps and smart risks that have positioned our Company for greater long-term growth…” Disney remains poised to reach even greater rights should the pandemic allow consumers to return to parks and movie theaters.
As Fast Company pointed out, this is good because Disney Plus will need to persevere as the target on its proverbial back gets bigger and bigger.