Disney Headlines for May 21st, 2024
This week in Disney Headlines, Bluey Mania reaches another level, while Scientologists may fear the new Sports Hulu service.
The Bluey Hot Dog? Oh, no. Ohnonono.
![Bluey Unicorne](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/chili-side-eyes-unicorse-in-bluey.avif)
Photo: Disney+
I swear that I’m not trying to find new ways to describe Bluey’s soaring popularity. It just keeps happening.
The plucky little Australian animated series has gone from buzzy kid’s show to international sensation.
![Bluey Surprise](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bluey-surprise.jpeg)
![Bluey Surprise](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bluey-surprise.jpeg)
Photo: Disney+
Bluey is the greatest Australian export since The Wiggles, yet people keep underestimating its popularity. Just the other day, this happened.
A small Las Vegas restaurant named Dirty Dog tried to do a silly Bluey event that management foolishly advertised incorrectly.
![Bluey](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-disney-plus-bluey-the-sign-episode.jpg)
![Bluey](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-disney-plus-bluey-the-sign-episode.jpg)
Photo: Disney
“Bluey,” in this instance, was just a dude in a cheap costume you’d buy for $30 at Spirit Halloween.
The hot dog chain placed the notification for the free event on Facebook and quickly gained three thousand (!!!) RSVPs.
![Dirt Dog](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/960x0.webp)
![Dirt Dog](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/960x0.webp)
Photo: Lulu K via Yelp/Courtesy
Apparently, this happens often with Vegas restaurants, with few people ultimately attending.
Bluey is different. By now, everyone should know Bluey is different.
![](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Bluey-S2_The-Quiet-Game_36_0191-scaled.jpg)
![](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Bluey-S2_The-Quiet-Game_36_0191-scaled.jpg)
Photo: Disney+
Sadly, this restaurant did not and was WOEFULLY unprepared for the storm of angry customers who arrived.
From the customers’ perspective, this turn of events qualified as false advertising AND a lack of food.
![Bluey](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Bluey-FI.jpg)
![Bluey](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Bluey-FI.jpg)
![Bluey](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Bluey-FI.jpg)
Photo: Disney+
Also, this small store was nowhere near large enough for the mass of Bluey fans who swarmed the place.
So, the restaurant reportedly broke a few fire code laws as well.
Then, we have the uncomfortable truth that nobody’s quite sure what hot dogs are.
Sure, they’re tasty, but these tubed meats aren’t, you know, definitive with their ingredients.
Should a hot dog place be selling Bluey-related hot dogs, given that Bluey is a dog?
This whole thing strikes me as ill-considered. I mean, kids complained that they could see Bluey’s beard.
![Bluey](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Bluey-FI.jpg)
![Bluey](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Bluey-FI.jpg)
![Bluey](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Bluey-FI.jpg)
Photo: Disney+
As a gentle reminder, Bluey is a young female puppy. They…don’t have beards.
The restaurant has since profusely apologized in a local news interview. They learned a valuable lesson this day. Bluey Mania is real.
They Named It WHAT???
![Disney100 100th Anniversary Disney+ Library Streaming](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Disney100-100th-Anniversary-Disney-Library-Streaming-2.jpg)
![Disney100 100th Anniversary Disney+ Library Streaming](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Disney100-100th-Anniversary-Disney-Library-Streaming-2.jpg)
Photo: Disney
When Disney announced it was joining forces with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and Fox on a streaming sports service, I was cautiously optimistic.
At the time, nobody was worried that WBD or Disney would lose NBA broadcasting rights.
![streaming](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Screen-Shot-2022-05-29-at-7.13.03-PM.png)
![streaming](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Screen-Shot-2022-05-29-at-7.13.03-PM.png)
Photo:cnet.com
So, this super-configuration of media companies appeared likely to offer a mostly comprehensive live sports streaming service.
Sure, I had some concerns, but I didn’t think even WBD leader David Zaslav would be stupid enough to spit the bit with the NBA.
![ESPN](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ESPN-Cost.png)
![ESPN](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ESPN-Cost.png)
Photo: ESPN
Weeeeeeeeell, I’m an optimist by nature, and I may have given too much credit to someone I genuinely do not respect.
Presuming that Bill Simmons is right – and he’s not someone I consider trustworthy – Comcast has bested WBD for NBA rights.
![Comcast](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Comcast.png)
![Comcast](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Comcast.png)
Comcast
Should that statement prove true, WBD’s value to this streaming joint venture (JV) seems dramatically limited.
Conversely, the absence of Comcast’s NBCUniversal suddenly becomes a glaring omission.
![Disney/Comcast/Hulu](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FBN_hulu_comcast_Disney.png)
![Disney/Comcast/Hulu](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FBN_hulu_comcast_Disney.png)
Disney/Comcast/Hulu
In short, Zaslav’s greed and ceaseless corporate cost-cutting may have already killed this JV before it even started. No joke.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that the companies finally came up with a name for the streaming service.
![Streaming](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bobigerdisneyceo1689256556868.jpg)
![Streaming](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bobigerdisneyceo1689256556868.jpg)
Photo: English Jargon
There’s no way they can screw that one up, right? I was busy this week, so humor me while I glance at the new name and…
WHAT??? VENU? Isn’t that the hydrogen bomb detonating villain in Scientology?
![question mark](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/f2d54c8b-601c-41ec-8db1-6c2aa1dfd9a9.jpg)
![question mark](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/f2d54c8b-601c-41ec-8db1-6c2aa1dfd9a9.jpg)
Photo: Playbuzz.com
I mean, that name sounds like somebody passed out in the middle of trying to say Venus Williams.
It’s Pronounced Venue
![thumbs down](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/475-4756112_mickey-mouse-dislike-hand-png-image-mickey-mouse.png)
![thumbs down](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/475-4756112_mickey-mouse-dislike-hand-png-image-mickey-mouse.png)
Photo: kindpng.com
Okay, I’m making dad jokes because it’s been a bit of a rough week for me.
I was – no joke – sitting in a hospital bed when I read the new name, and I just shut down the tab.
![DAZN](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BUXKMHIGTNJ2HITAKJB54UJKL4-scaled.jpg)
![DAZN](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BUXKMHIGTNJ2HITAKJB54UJKL4-scaled.jpg)
REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo
The name was so stupid that I couldn’t even deal with it at that moment.
We’ve already watched somebody try something this ridiculous in the sports streaming field.
![DAZN](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DAZN_Logo_Master.svg_.png)
![DAZN](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DAZN_Logo_Master.svg_.png)
DAZN
Are you familiar with DAZN? Sure, that name looks like it’s daze-n, but the actual pronunciation is Da Zone. People hate that.
The same statement applies to this new JV, Venu Sports, which is supposed to be pronounced Venue Sports.
![Venu](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/venu_sports_logo-1024x576-1.jpg)
![Venu](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/venu_sports_logo-1024x576-1.jpg)
Venu
Since this is a Disney-involved entity, I would have suggested something simpler like Lotso Sports.
You can brand that easily, and it clearly establishes what to expect to find on the service.
![Venu](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Venu_Sports_logo.svg_.png)
![Venu](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Venu_Sports_logo.svg_.png)
Venu
People will read “Venu Sports” and wonder about the game of Venu, which could be the new pickleball for all anybody knows.
Also – and I cannot believe nobody caught this – there’s already a Garmin wearable pedometer called the Venu Fitness & Sport.
![](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BLANK-Hulu-Sports-Concept-WEBP-TD.webp)
![](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BLANK-Hulu-Sports-Concept-WEBP-TD.webp)
(Conceptual graphic designed by The Desk)
A friend on my Streaming into the Void podcast is convinced that this Sports Hulu endeavor is vaporware.
This name is so terrible that I’m starting to wonder about self-sabotage.
![WNBA Disney+](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2.webp)
![WNBA Disney+](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2.webp)
Credit: Michael Hickey/Getty Images
Then again, the real self-sabotage would be WBD losing half the NBA rights, which may have already happened.
The Changing Streaming Climate
![television](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Screen-Shot-2022-05-24-at-8.53.01-AM-e1654229835433.png)
![television](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Screen-Shot-2022-05-24-at-8.53.01-AM-e1654229835433.png)
Photo: simplemost.com
To a larger point, over the past three weeks, the streaming structure has fundamentally changed.
As a consumer, you won’t feel the impact for several months, possibly even years, but here’s what’s happening.
![Netflix](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-netflix-logo.jpeg)
![Netflix](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-netflix-logo.jpeg)
Photo: Netflix
The old-school media companies have realized they cannot be single nations against Netflix.
The alpha in the streaming industry has gained too large a foothold for anyone, even Disney, to compete in the short term.
![television](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/10393_disneyfrozenontvivanmarcshutterstock_400554.jpg)
![television](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/10393_disneyfrozenontvivanmarcshutterstock_400554.jpg)
Photo:Source: Ivan Marc / Shutterstock.com
Disney could have done so if investors had been willing to swallow large financial losses in the Direct-to-Consumer division.
We all know they weren’t, and even despite that setback, most of the lesser services are looking up at Disney with envy.
![](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/netflix-disney-plus-1176069-1280x0-1.jpeg)
![](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/netflix-disney-plus-1176069-1280x0-1.jpeg)
Source: comicbook.com
Tiers have emerged, with Disney at the top of the second tier, but there’s a chasm between Netflix and it.
Comcast, Fox, and WBD (and many others like Sony and Paramount) are trying to carve their niches to weather the storm.
![Netflix](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Netflix-photo.jpg)
![Netflix](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Netflix-photo.jpg)
Photo: Netflix
When Disney and WBD announced that they would sell one another’s products on their own services, the ice was broken.
Since then, Comcast has signed a similar deal with its company’s Peacock, Apple TV+, and Netflix.
![streaming](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/streamingwars-40-blogroll-1716013653900.jpg)
![streaming](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/streamingwars-40-blogroll-1716013653900.jpg)
Photo: IGN.com
This bundle gets a good name, StreamSaver, which fully explains what it is. So, there’s that.
Why Companies Are Bundling
![internet](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/shutterstock-world-laptop-internet.jpg.webp)
![internet](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/shutterstock-world-laptop-internet.jpg.webp)
Photo: Rappler
I’ve said all along that streaming services are attempting to reinvent cable via the internet. That’s the safest business model.
These bundles ostensibly protect individual services by tethering them to other, presumably/hopefully stable entities.
![down arrow](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Eo_circle_green_arrow-down.svg_.png)
![down arrow](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Eo_circle_green_arrow-down.svg_.png)
Photo: Wikimedia
Peacock loses lots of money. While it’s a drop in the bucket, Apple TV+ probably does as well.
Combining those two entities to Netflix provides better value for the consumer while adding insurance for all three.
![apple logo](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/knowledge_graph_logo.png)
![apple logo](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/knowledge_graph_logo.png)
Photo: apple
Even Netflix executives feel better knowing that they’ve got the weight of Apple behind them.
At some point, additional consolidation is coming.
![data](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/binary.jpg)
![data](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/binary.jpg)
Photo: Computer Hope
These recent moves signify failsafe measures while the industry awaits whatever happens next.
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