According to the report from AudienceProject, which surveyed more than 6,000 people from the Nordics, Germany, the UK, and US, 37 per cent those planning to subscribe to Disney+ are considering cancelling their subscriptions to other streaming services.

Currently, 75 per cent of Brits use Netflix, making it the most popular streaming service. This is followed by the BBC’s free iPlayer service watched by 60 per cent of people and Amazon Prime at 50 per cent. 31 per cent of those who would consider cancelling their other subscriptions would choose Netflix, 23 per cent Amazon Prime, and 17 per cent Now TV.

“The entrance of Disney+ into the battleground of UK streaming services is set to radically change the state of play,” said Rune Weliin, chief product officer at AudienceProject. “Netflix’s reign could be in question, as thousands of UK consumers consider switching from its service to Disney+. By this time next year, we could be looking at a very different picture when it comes to digital TV subscriptions and usage.”

The post Disney+s UK arrival could be bad news for Netflix appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.

The streaming service will launch in the US, Canada, and the Netherlands on 12 November before arriving in Australia and New Zealand on 19 November. The UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain will join the party on 31 March, with further countries to be announced for the same date ‘soon’.

Just announced: #DisneyPlus will be available in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain (and more to be announced soon) starting on March 31st. Please note: Titles may vary by territory. pic.twitter.com/lE6nzBeaXy

— Disney+ (@disneyplus) November 7, 2019

Disney+ will be available via iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV, Android and Google devices, Xbox One, Sony devices, and Roku-compatible TVs.

Disney has yet to announce the pricing for the service in the five additional markets but did already confirm the prices for the initial five nations. Disney+ will start at C$8.99 a month (or C$89.99 per year), €6.99 each month (or €69.99 per year) in the Netherlands, A$8.99 per month (or A$89.99 a year) in Australia, and NZ$9.99 every month (or NZ$99.99 per year) in New Zealand. In the US, the service will cost $6.99 a month (or $69.99 a year), but customers will also have the option of paying $12.99 each month for a Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu bundle.

The post Disney+ will land in the UK and four other European countries in March next year appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.

The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) group has announced that Disney+ will be launched in the US, Canada and the Netherlands on November 12, followed by Australia and New Zealand on November 19. DTCI also confirmed the streaming service will be available across most mobile and connected TV devices, in almost all major markets by 2021.

“Disney+ will offer fans of all ages a new way to experience the unparalleled content from the company’s iconic entertainment brands, including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and more, and will be available on nearly all major mobile and connected TV devices at launch with global distribution agreements in place with Apple, Google, Microsoft, Roku and Sony,” said Disney in a blog post.

Solo and bundle pricing for the new streaming service has already been confirmed, starting at 8.99CAD per month (or $89.99 per year) in Canada, €6.99 per month (or €69.99 per year) in the Netherlands, $8.99AUD per month (or $89.99 per year) in Australia, and $9.99NZD per month (or $99.99 per year) in New Zealand. US customers also have the option of paying $12.99 a month for Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu.

Disney+ can be streamed via Apple iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, Android and Google devices, Xbox One, Sony devices, and Roku compatible TVs.

The post Disney+ announces global launch dates appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.

Just a week after AT&T sold its 9.5 per cent stake back to Hulu, Comcast is reportedly in talks to sell its shares to Disney, leaving Disney in complete control of the streaming service. Sources close to the matter told CNBC today that Disney, which owns roughly 60 per cent of Hulu, is fully pursuing Comcast’s remaining 30 per cent stake.

Originally, Hulu had been financially backed by multiple entertainment and media companies, but now the only two entities left in the mix are Disney and Comcast. Disney recently bought 21st Century Fox, and in doing so, absorbed Fox’s 30 per cent share of Hulu. Disney then went after AT&T’s 9.5 per cent stake, but AT&T decided to sell the shares back to Hulu earlier this month, in an effort to lighten its debt. These deals have left Hulu valued at around $15bn.

“On Hulu, the relationship with NBC, it’s very much in everybody’s interest to maintain,” Comcast CEO Brian Roberts told CNBC. “And we have no new news today on it, other than it’s really valuable. And we’re really glad we own a large piece of it.”

Disney recently announced its own family-friendly streaming service, Disney+, which launches in November. To contrast with Disney+, the company has expressed interest in keeping Hulu an adult focused platform, with more mature content.

The post Disney is reportedly in talks to buy Comcast’s 30 per cent Hulu stake appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.

In a not totally unexpected move, AT&T has sold its 9.5 per cent share back to Hulu for roughly $1.43bn, allowing majority shareholder Disney to gain even more control of the service. AT&T, who is rumored to have its own streaming service in the works, said the company will use the money to pay off a portion of its debt.

Last year, Hulu’s majority control was up in the air, with Disney, Fox, and Comcast all owning 30 per cent of the company each. After Disney acquired Fox earlier this year, its shares jumped to around 66 per cent. Now that AT&T’s out, Comcast (NBC & Universal), holds the remaining 33 per cent.

The sale puts AT&T – which owns WarnerMedia, TBS, and TBT- in the perfect position to pull its content from Hulu ahead of the launch of AT&T’s own similar streaming service. Regardless, Hulu CEO Randy Freer stated AT&T will be a “valued partner” well into the future.

Disney also just announced its own streaming service, Disney+, which will launch in November and be predominantly focused on family-friendly content. At the same time, Disney has expressed interest in keeping Hulu for streaming more mature content, focusing on an adult audience. There is speculation that Disney may even create a bundle offer for Hulu and Disney+.

The post AT&T sells its shares back to Hulu, leaving Disney and Comcast in control appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.

Disney is reportedly in talks with AT&T to acquire the carrier’s 10 per cent stake in video streaming service Hulu. Disney, which already owns 30 per cent of Hulu, is also in the midst of buying 21st Century Fox, which holds another 30 per cent stake. If all goes in Disney’s favor, the company could control up to 70 per cent of Hulu.

According to Variety, citing a source with knowledge of the talks, AT&T would receive up to $960m for its Hulu stake, an amount that could greatly help the carrier climb out of a company debt estimated at $183bn. The company had previously vowed to eliminate at least $20bn of that debt in 2019 alone.

The loss of Hulu’s stake would not be detrimental to AT&T, as it is reportedly focused on a new subscription-streaming service being launched by WarnerMedia, which was recently acquired by AT&T. WarnerMedia has suggested the service will launch in the fourth quarter of 2019 and will have a price-based tier-system, common in most SVOD services.

Disney, however, has expressed interest in fully controlling Hulu to complement its upcoming launch of Disney+, a family-friendly subscription service. Disney has announced its new streaming channel will have exclusive and original Disney content as well as older movies and shows. To balance customer appeal, Disney CEO Bob Iger has said the company would keep Hulu as an adult-focused entertainment service.

Currently, Comcast owns the remaining 30 per cent of Hulu’s stake, but it does not look like the company will sell its ownership anytime soon. Steve Burke, CEO of NBC Universal, which is owned by Comcast, said the company has already been approached by Disney but have no interest is selling shares.

“Disney would like to buy us out,” said Burke. “I don’t think anything’s going to happen in the near term.”

The post Disney is pursuing AT&T’s 10 per cent stake in Hulu appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.

The company plans to launch a streaming service to compete with Netflix and Amazon later this year, but in a filing on Friday, the entertainment giant said that its investment in Hulu was largely responsible for a $580m loss in equity investments in the fiscal year ended 30 September. Disney’s direct-to consumer-segment, primarly BAMtech, the streaming technology that powers ESPN+ and other services, lost an additional $469m.

Disney faces tough competition when it does launch. Last week, Netflix revealed that it had added 8.8m new paying subscribers in the last three months of 2018, taking its total number of subscribers globally to 139m. It also reported Q4 revenues of $4.2bn, a 28 per cent year-on-year increase, and total 2018 revenues of $16bn, 35 per cent up on the previous year.

It also faces additional costs. As CNBC reports, the company has yet to assume control of another 30 per cent of Hulu, part of its $71.3bn deal for the majority of 21st Century Fox. If Disney were to acquire Comcasts 30 percent stake in Hulu, that would further increase operating losses.

The post Disneys streaming losses top $1bn appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.

Google will power Disney’s advertising across its collection of brands and properties, including Disney, ABC, ESPN, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars. As a result, Disney will be able to serve video ads on the web, in mobile apps, streaming through connected TVs, and for live events through Google’s ad tech platform.

“People also expect the same content they love in the living room on every screen, which can be the difference between a loyal fanbase and a lost audience. Advertisers want to deliver quality ad experiences that are relevant, seamless and measurable across screens, inspiring media companies to reimagine the commercial break,” said Philipp Schindler, chief business officer at Google, in a blog post.

“Together, we plan to build an advanced video experience for Disney that will transcend devices, platforms, and living rooms to bring the magic of premium video content into people’s hearts, minds, and screens—everywhere.”

The post Disney pens digital advertising deal with Google appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.

The ad campaign will be distributed across relevant media sites, targeting Broadway audiences, and uses OmniVirts proprietary 360° video ad technology to place viewers right on stage with Aladdin and Genie during one of the shows premiere musical numbers, “Friend Like Me”.

In addition to being able to view the musical number, the 360° video provides audiences with a digital text overlay sharing interesting facts from the show and its production.

“Disneys 360° experience is among the most smartly produced 360° content weve seen in the market,” said Brad Phaisan, CEO of OmniVirt. “It takes full advantage of the content format and adds in digital flourishes that render for a magical experience.”

The ad will run in click-to-expand display banner ads as well as pre-roll video units. The video was produced by Koncept VR, with OmniVirt powering the distribution of the ad units. The video has also been embedded on the website for the musical using OmniVirts own VR player.

This isnt the first time Disney has worked with OmniVirt and used 360° video to promote a Broadway show. The two companies previously partnered to embed 360° video on the website for The Lion King, virtually transporting viewers into the show.

The post Disney and OmniVirt launch 360° video ad campaign for Aladdin on Broadway appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.

The WFA’s manifesto is asking brands to create a strong data governance, minimise the amount of data they collect, give consumers real control of their data, and get a proper grip on their media supply chain. This call to action is aimed at companies, and their operations, all around the globe.

“Just as 2017 was the year of media transparency, 2018 is the year of data transparency. Just look at the recent outcry over Cambridge Analytica and Facebook,” said David Wheldon, president of the WFA and CMO at the Royal Bank of Scotland. “GDPR is going to flip control back into the hands of consumers and hold brands accountable in a way they’ve never been before. The marketing community needs to go back to thinking first and foremost about the people behind the data, their expectations and their rights.”

An advisory board is being created by the WFA to get the ball rolling on creating ‘more trust, control and respect for people’s data’. The board will be led by Unilever’s general counsel for global marketing, media and eCommerce, Jamie Barnard.

Barnard will work with the WFA as well as a cross-functional team of experts from companies including Diageo, Disney, Just Eat, Mars, Pernod Ricard, and Shell.

“When it comes to trust, people are instinctive; it isn’t small print that helps them decide, it’s their sense of safety,” said Barnard. “Data transparency is about bridging the gap between perception and expectation. The Advisory Board will look at ways to make transparency a day-to-day reality for people.”

The post Unilever, Diageo, Disney go beyond GDPR with support of WFA data manifesto appeared first on Mobile Marketing Magazine.