The Walt Disney Company has confirmed the launch date and pricing for Disney+ in Australia and New Zealand, with the new streaming platform available as of 19 November.
The company has reached global agreements with nearly all the major platforms to distribute the Disney+ app across partner mobile and connected TV devices, with the offering priced at $8.99AUD per month (or $89.99 per year) and $9.99NZD per month (or $99.99 per year).
The global rollout of the platform begins from 12 November in the US, Canada and Netherlands, with Australia and New Zealand following a week after, making the two markets some of the first to have access to the content giant's new streaming play.
The launch date reveal will only cast further doubt on the future of the company's local arrangements with Nine-owned streaming platform Stan, which signed a short-term content deal late last year.
Nine CEO Hugh Marks and Stan CEO Mike Sneesby have both downplayed the impact of Disney+ and its arrival in Australia, with neither stating that the launch would see the end of a relationship with the global content giant.
Disney+ will offer access to content from the company’s entertainment brands, including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars National Geographic, and more.
From The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International segment, Disney+ will offer ad-free programming with a variety of original feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series and short-form content.
Alongside access to Disney’s library of film and television entertainment, the platform will also include 30 seasons of The Simpsons, which has previously been unable to be streamed in Australia.
The service will also be the exclusive streaming home for films released by The Walt Disney Studios in 2019 and beyond.
Internationally, Disney+ will also tie in ESPN+, giving US viewers access to thousands of live sporting events.
Locally, ESPN airs on Foxtel, Kayo and Fetch, broadcasting American sporting codes including the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB, as well as the recently acquired National Basketball League, Australia's top-tier basketball competition.
Disney locally has also announced a raft of new roles this week ahead of the launch of Disney+.
At launch, consumers will be able to subscribe to Disney+ directly or via in-app purchase and start streaming from the following partner platforms and devices (dependent on country): iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV, and fully integrated with the Apple TV app, Android phones, Android TV devices, Google Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and all Android based Sony TVs) and Roku streaming players.
More news will be revealed at this year's D23 Disney conference. AdNews is on the ground in LA for the event and will bring further updates from the conference throughout the week.
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