How Disney+ is Aiming to Overthrow the Streaming Giants

For years, Netflix has reigned supreme as the #1 streaming service available. During it’s time as the leader, many streaming services have come and gone in a vein attempt to dethrone Netflix. Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Vimeo: all of these services have either fallen into their own niche or disappeared into their own tier of irrelevance.

Either way, their failure shows that Netflix is an impenetrable titan of the streaming world. While Netflix is an impenetrable titan of the streaming world, Disney is an impenetrable titan, period, and with Disney+ coming and winning acclaim from critics and casual fans alike, it seems that Netflix finally has some solid competition.

But how? How is Disney accomplishing their goal of becoming a streaming giant when the service just released? Allow me to tell you!

A few years ago, Netflix realized that content licensed from other channels just wasn’t going to cut it; if they continued offering the bare minimum, competition was sure to rise, and Netflix’s status as a titan would crumble. So, what did they do? They offered exclusive content.

Shocked by the lack of political-drama shows? Don’t worry, Netflix has your back with House of Cards. In need of a series that will make you think (and possibly ruin your day)? Boom, BoJack Horseman is here.

Netflix has retained popularity by not only offering shows and movies from channels people don’t watch, but by also offering content exclusive to their service. Better yet, the content is actually good (most of the time).

Sure, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video also make their own exclusive content, but they never lived up to the quality and quantity of Netflix’s. However, this looks to be changing with the Disney+ catalog.

When Disney+ was first announced, people were skeptical, since the catalog would be 95% made-up of Disney exclusive content, including Marvel movies. How would Disney hold any longevity if they only included Disney-exclusive content?

Exclusives, of course! Disney+ has tons of exclusives in the works, such as the Loki standalone show, and the exclusives available on the platform now, such as The Mandalorian, have garnered critical acclaim for their great storytelling and high quality.

The main weapon in Disney+’s arsenal is exclusives, there’s no doubt about that. However, Disney+ has one other trick up it’s sleeves.

Netflix’s relationship with customers can only be described as strained. Since it’s inception, Netflix has taken pride in making some questionable decisions, such as constantly raising the prices of the subscription and deciding to forgo renewing certain licenses, such as the license for The Office (yep, that’s ending soon).

Disney recognized the strained relationship Netflix has with its customers and finally decided to strike this year, after another subscription price increase. Disney’s strategy? Release their service with an extremely low subscription price.

For only $7 a month, anyone can gain access to all of Disney+, including the loads of exclusive content. In my opinion, I don’t think the pricing can get any more competitive than that.

I’m not saying that Netflix will become irrelevant in the streaming world, but I am saying that Disney+ will become (if it’s not already) a formidable foe against Netflix, and it’s in Netflix’s best interest to monitor the traffic for Disney+.

The only thing I think Disney+ truly beats Netflix in accessibility, since not many countries fancy banning Disney content. However, many people use buy VPN to access streaming content, such as content on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, so no need to worry about that on Netflix’s part.

I think Netflix will have to step up their game a little, though, if they hope to stay the titan they’ve been for the past decade. If they don’t, then Disney may become the new king in streaming services.