Disney+ Adds New Playlists — Will They Be Enough to Keep Subscribers Around?
By Movieguide® Contributor
Disney+ just dropped four more live channels after adding live programming to the platform earlier this year.
The new channels, which Disney calls “Playlists,” include Hallowstream, Hits & Heroes, Throwbacks and Real Life. They join ABC News and Disney+ Playtime.
Superhero fans have anxiously awaited the Hits & Heroes channel, as it “promises to give fans a diverse selection of action-packed movies and series from Disney’s extensive library, including content from the beloved Star Wars and Marvel franchises,” Tom’s Guide said.
Real Life will feature “documentaries and biopics, providing viewers with in-depth explorations of real stories and historical events.” Hallowstream promises to curate a selection of Halloween-themed content, while Throwback “will offer a nostalgic viewing experience, which is perfect for those looking to revisit classic Disney content.”
Users shouldn’t confuse Disney’s new playlists with FAST channels, though they are very similar.
Deadline reported, “In announcing the expansion, the company took pains to describe the channels as ‘playlists’ and ‘streams,’ avoiding the acronym FAST, industry shorthand for ‘free, ad-supported streaming television.’ One obvious reason for that is that the channels are not free and can only be accessed by subscribers to Disney+.”
“Playlists are the latest example of how we’re providing the best value and experience for our subscribers every time they open Disney Plus. Whether it’s news, kids’ content, popular genres, hit TV shows or blockbuster films, there will be something for everyone in a lean-back viewing experience based on seasonality and interest,” President of Disney Plus, Alisa Bowe, said.
The new channels arrive to U.S. subscribers as the price for the streamer increases on Oct. 17.
The two pre-existing channels, ABC News and Disney+ Playtime, were released in August and have brought in “more than 10 million hours of streaming in the U.S. since launching in early August.”
However, it will be interesting to see if new features like these playlists are enough to keep subscribers around as the subscription cost increases. Movieguide® previously reported that the last price hike which resulted in major subscription drops:
In the last four months of 2023, Disney+ lost 1.3 million “core” subscribers.
“According to the information in the [2024 Q1 earnings] call, Disney+ went from 112.6 million subscribers in September 2023 down to 111.3 million in December 2023,” Early Game wrote. “This comes after Disney introduced new subscription prices, with the ad-free tier increasing its price from $10.99/month to $13.99/month in October 2023.”
The Q1 report notes that the end of its global summer promotion also impacted the dip in subscribers. And Disney didn’t earn more than it did in the prior year’s quarter.
1.3 million is only a fraction of the number of subscribers it lost earlier in 2023. In last year’s second quarter, 12.5 million Indian subscribers dropped their subscriptions as Disney shifted away from “low-margin” customers, Variety reported.
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