Today marks the launch of Disney+, the new streaming service from the behemoth studio, and there have already been reports of issues. For months now, Disney has been hyping up its new service with the promise of a massive content library and new shows set in the Star Wars and Marvel universes. Despite launching with a smaller subscriber count than Netflix, Disney has high hopes for the service and anticipates lots of new sign-ups going forward.
The battle for streaming dominance has only gotten bigger as competitors seek to get a leg up over Netflix. HBO plans to enter the fray next year, and earlier this month, Apple launched its own service to mixed results. Despite most of its new shows earning second seasons, they also received mixed-to-negative reviews. Disney hopes to have a better launch, especially since one of its first programs includes the first live-action Star Wars series, The Mandalorian.
However, Disney+'s opening day has already hit a few snags. Variety reports that Disney+ users have taken to social media to complain about several errors they've run into. Many had issues signing into the service, while others were unable to find certain programs. They often ran into error messages citing an inability to connect, complete with pictures of beloved Disney characters like Mickey Mouse and Ralph from Wreck-It Ralph. Other users complained about not being able to watch The Mandalorian or the new live-action Lady and the Tramp.
Disney+'s customer service Twitter account posted a message claiming the errors stemmed from a high consumer demand that exceeded their expectations. They insisted they were working quickly to solve the issue, but many subscribers were not pleased. There have been reports of users being left on hold for over an hour when they called the customer service phone number. Today, Disney+ has only launched in the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands, with other territories getting the service later this month and in early 2020.
Considering the amount of content available and the massive Disney fanbase, it's not surprising that Disney+ has encountered issues on its first day. This is a highly anticipated launch that features some of Disney's biggest brands; clearly a lot of people were going to be logging in at once. Disney could have been more prepared for this, but when it comes to technological issues, there are a lot of variables at play that might not be anticipated. People frustrated with the errors hopefully won't have to wait long for them to be fixed. Either way, The Mandalorian will still be there tomorrow.
Source: Variety