Disney and the Future of Streaming: Are Board Directors Gearing Up for a Brave New World?

Remember when we all shared Netflix passwords like an underground cult, secretly enjoying the perks of someone else’s subscription? And then, Netflix, in a mighty executive search for ways to bolster revenue, introduced charges for account sharing beyond households. The aftermath? An unmistakable domino effect! Enter Disney.

Remember when we all shared Netflix passwords like an underground cult, secretly enjoying the perks of someone else’s subscription? And then, Netflix, in a mighty executive search for ways to bolster revenue, introduced charges for account sharing beyond households. The aftermath? An unmistakable domino effect! Enter Disney.

Disney might very well be shadowing Netflix's footsteps. Bob Iger, during a recent earnings call, unveiled the company’s intention to curtail account sharing, emphasizing its significance. By leaning into the potent arsenal of tech capabilities Disney boasts, the company is poised to address this ‘issue’ head-on in 2024. It’s not just about security. With a blend of revised subscriber agreements and lucrative monetization strategies, it's evident that the board directors are reassessing the streaming ecosystem.

But that’s not all folks!

This September, Disney is setting the stage with an alluring $19.99 ad-free bundle of Disney Plus and Hulu. Of course, as all good things come with a little catch, individual subscription rates for these platforms will witness a slight uptick in October. Such changes, often led by ESG Recruiting trends, highlight how enterprises like Disney are realigning their strategies to reflect sustainability, profitability, and user ethics.

Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge perfectly encapsulates the flux within the streaming universe. Disney’s Indian avatar, Hotstar, observed a seismic subscriber drop, which many speculate is linked to the loss of streaming rights to the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Moreover, whispers from an interview with CNBC shed light on Disney's visionary trajectory. A pivot away from traditional cable networks, a subtle snip in expenditures for Marvel and Star Wars, and Iger’s hint of potentially shedding non-core assets like ABC and FX suggest a windswept change.

In the grand tapestry of entertainment, Iger envisions three primary growth drivers - film studios, parks business, and streaming. Each thread intertwined with the magic of Disney’s brand.

With Iger extending his reign at Disney till 2026, the horizon seems rife with innovation, a sprinkle of fairy dust, and undoubtedly, more surprises. Welcome to the future of Disney's digital dreamscape!

Author: Jeff Christian CEO at Christian & Timbers

Disney and the Future of Streaming: Are Board Directors Gearing Up for a Brave New World?

The Disney logo on a blue background is etched into our collective consciousness. It brings a rush of nostalgia, whimsy, and now, an expansive digital universe. But lately, under the canopy of stars surrounding the enchanted castle, a few storm clouds seem to be gathering.