Disney+ reaches a last-minute deal with Amazon to include their streaming service on Amazon’s Fire TV devices. Launching November 12, Disney+ will offer a slew of new and existing TV shows and movies from Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, and more. A vital contender in the streaming wars, the Mouse House’s streaming platform is expected to kick off a new era for The Walt Disney Company.
2019 has been a crucial year for the enormous company. Disney and its properties have had numerous reasons to celebrate, including the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Disney’s acquisition of Fox, and the launch of the highly anticipated Disney+ itself. Offered for the relatively low price of $6.99 a month (or $69.99 for an annual subscription), Disney has thrown its hat into the ring of fierce competition between Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple+, HBO Max, and more. Disney appears adamant on providing a one-stop-shop service by enticing consumers with a massive catalog of content - a list so extensive, it took Disney+ three hours to announce. Following a recent deal with Verizon, which offers Disney+ free of charge for one year, the streaming service continues to unite forces with powerhouse companies in order to promote the service.
As reported to Variety, Disney and Amazon have reached a distribution deal that will make Disney+ available on Fire TV streaming devices, Fire TV Edition Smart TVs, and compatible Fire Tablets at launch. Cracking into the Amazon consumer base, Disney will be giving Fire TV and Fire Tablet users a free seven-day trial of Disney+. On the heels of the streaming service's launch, Disney+ integrating with Amazon also settles the dispute between the two companies over advertising rights in Disney’s apps.
Flanked by other big names in the streaming world, Disney recently revealed they would offer a bundle of Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu for a low price. Since its fruition, Disney+ has been a prominent figure in the streaming wars, with subscribers counting down to view Star Wars' live-action series The Mandalorian, the Disney theme park documentary series The Imagineering Story, and the remake of beloved classic Lady and the Tramp.
While the price of subscribing to a few different streaming service platforms beats the cost of a standard cable package, with each emerging service added it may only be a matter of time before the average consumer finds themselves spending more money. More importantly, consumers have feared the competition between services may further complicate access to favorite titles. Disney teaming up with the juggernaut Amazon could set an example of consumers getting what they want without having to break the bank, and Disney’s deal with Amazon could be a win-win for both companies. No doubt the new deal with Amazon will pull Disney+ ahead in the streaming wars.
Source: Variety