The big news hit die hard Disney fans hard. Articles about a new Disney streaming service (or services) came out of the blue as are articles about Disney pulling their content off of Netflix and millennials are having a field day over it with varying opinions. Here's what you need to know, and no I don't do my blog to use click bate nor am I going to be like the highly biased but most popular Disney blog, Oh My Disney, where everything is hunky dory exciting about what's going on. These are honest opinions that you may not like because while I like Disney, I don't live, breathe, or die Disney. With that, let's get on with it
This isn't rumors or fake news; the Disney company stated unequivocally THEY WILL NO LONGER DOING THE NETFLIX DEAL ANYMORE.
2. The Netflix deal was a joke to begin with
Everyone thought ALL your favorite Disney movies will be on there, and while some content was on there, not all the movies made it. Most of it were mostly B classics that Disney doesn't promote as much like Lilo and Stitch. I'm not saying they are bad movies (most of them aren't), but this was not what the fans were asking for. They wanted Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Frozen, and The Lion King.
3. All Disney content will be pulled by 2018
Good news everyone, you still have time to binge some of the content currently on Netflix as they should not all pull out immediately. I predict it will be in stages though, so get your binge on NOW before they leave Netflix possibly forever.
4. The streaming app, whatever it may be, will be a separate app
Yes, you will have to pay for a separate app if you still want Netflix and Disney content
5. Disney will probably pull out of Hulu too
This is not a for sure fact, but knowing Disney, they may want this app to have exclusivity, so expect the movies on their to not stay too long. Again, these are B movies like Honey I Blew Up a Kid, so no major losses here, but still if you love these movies, binge now.
6. There will be two separate apps, but one featuring the movies and entertainment and one for ESPN
It's actually a wake up call for the cable companies right now if ESPN makes this app easily available to those who don't need a cable or satellite subscription, and numbers show that cord cutting is rising. This app launches with no need to have cable, and the sports fans will flock away and the companies will hit rock bottom. In the meantime, ESPN will launch first in 2018. The other with the movies will launch in 2019.
The picture above shows that WB invested with their content first with Boomerang as well as TCM, HBO, and Warner Archive. CBS has launched CBS All Access which has the CBS Paramount library in addition to the shows airing on CBS and the upcoming Star Trek reboot (no cartoons though). More studios may soon follow. Anyone wanna bet Universal will start as well with movies such as Minions and cartoons such as Casper and Woody Woodpecker?
Don't even ask about it. NO...NOT HAPPENING. A lot could change between now and 2019, but this movie is still currently banned by Disney. This is for sure not part of the deal.
But there are still many questions we don't know about this move such as
1. Will the ESPN app be without a cable subscription?
And if so, will the Watch ESPN app die? Remember, this will be huge if this were the case and all cable companies must watch carefully.
Marvel and Star Wars are currently still in question. In addition to these plus the Disney brands, Disney also owns Pixar, ABC, Freeform, and Muppets. This creates a broader library and also includes shows such as Schoolhouse Rock (pictured above).
That is a good question as the movies are more than just princess movies. Will The Three Caballeros be on here? Will Fantasia be on here? How about The Reluctant Dragon, The Muppet Movie, Make Music Mine, and Mickey and the Beanstalk? And, unlike Netflix and Hulu, are they big names (though they already hinted the latest features coming out once its launched such as Frozen 2)?
* This does not include Song of the South due to previously mentioned controversy
The Muppet fans are still ticked about no seasons 4 or 5 on DVD yet of The Muppet Show. The Muppet Babies have yet to surface to DVD due to clearance issues, and there are smaller unusual treasures to behold such as Little Muppet Monsters. Ok, maybe we won't get the latter, but what about the first two? Or even ANY Muppet content at all?
Disney started out making cartoon shorts for theaters, so it's only logic to showcase some of them right? Will they be full length, or are they Have a Laugh versions? How well organized will they be? By character? By era? By theme? And how about Oswald and Alice? How about Steamboat Willie which is a must? The good news is that 99% of the shorts are restored (some in HD, some not), and some original titles were found including this one pictured above that showed up on Netflix. That alone would sell me personally being an old cartoon aficionado.
There's an excellent chance the more recent shows such as The Lion Guard and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse/Mickey and the Roadsters will be on here, as will the new Mickey Mouse shorts which are a hit, but Disney television goes back over 60 years ago. If I may mention some titles, The Mickey Mouse Club, Disney anthology shows which includes Davy Crockett and Zorro, The Wonderful World of Color, Welcome to Pooh Corner, Mousetracks, and so much more? Are we going to see variety from Dumbo's Circus to Ducktales or will we be stuck with hours upon end of Waterboarding...oh excuse me...Hannah Montana? Wouldn't you just love to see these moments again on the app?
But of course, it's way too early to tell what this app or service will be like, so we all just need to wait and see. I will say this as I said when Boomerang was announced: Disney does a very good job of taking care of its classic iconic properties. Mickey Mouse is still a household name as are a vast majority of his friends like Donald Duck, Goofy, Winnie the Pooh, Snow White, and others. That said however, the battle is still not over for old cartoons. Disney and WB are the best track records thus far, but I really want the other studios such as Universal (who did some work, but not a whole lot) and Paramount (who did slim work.....VERY SLIM) to get on board as they are just as classic as any other movie. Classic cartoon restoration and preservation needs to happen and needs to happen NOW, and aside from WB and Disney, only Jerry Beck of Cartoon Research and Steve Stanchfield of Thunderbean Animation has assured me of that (Google them for more info).
One more thing, this blog recommends that if you love something so much and it is available to do so, BUY THE DVD OR BLU-RAY! This news proves why streaming can be great but not permanent. Once you buy the physical disc, it's YOURS and NOBODY can take that away from you.
Until then, See you real soon.......
......maybe.......
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