Disney is doing so well with Disney+ that they want to see if lightning will strike twice. At today’s earnings meeting, CEO Bob Chapek announced that the relatively new streaming network has already attracted 60.5 million subscribers, making them right on track for their 100 million sign-up goal. Additionally, they’ll be releasing the live-action release of Mulan both on the big screen and in a one-off streaming release on Disney+ this September. However, just because it will be on Disney+, you won’t be able to watch it unless you pay a premium fee for the movie of $29.99. It will be interesting to see how many people sign-up for Disney+ just to get the privilege of paying for the movie.
As big as Disney releasing such a massive movie on a streamer is, that might not even be the big takeaway of today’s earning’s call. Chapek made a major announcement that they’ll be launching an entirely new streaming network in 2020 to feature content owned by Disney, but not appropriate for Disney+. This includes FOX movies and programming from ABC Studios, Fox Television, FX, Freeform, 20th Century Studios and Searchlight. It will be interesting to see what this means for the fate of Hulu, the current home of much of this programming.