Boardwalk Times: Stories from the Seashore — Disney+ Is At A Crossroads
Originally posted on November 28, 2021.
Welcome back to Boardwalk Times: Stories from the Seashore! In this month’s newsletter, we will be discussing Disney+’s anniversary and Disney+ Day. Also, this month we will be briefly diving into my adventures at IAAPA and Destination D23. All that plus a ton of Links of the Month in this edition of Boardwalk Times: Stories from the Seashore!
Disney+ Is At A Crossroads
On November 12, it was Disney+’s second anniversary. This year Disney celebrated with Disney+ Day, a company-wide synergy event. From new releases to special happenings in the Disney Parks.
For weeks fans and analysts alike got their expectations high that Disney+ Day would bring a flurry of major announcements similar to Disney’s Investor Day in 2020.
Disney+ Day didn’t bring those announcements.
Instead, Disney+ Day just reiterated the majority of what we already know. Besides Marvel Studios, nobody from the Mouse House released info on brand-new projects. Lucasfilm didn’t even care to make minor update announcements! (Come on confirming The Mandalorian season three once again would’ve been better than nothing).
Which maybe Disney confused its audience on what Disney+ Day is? Maybe Disney should’ve steered clear entirely from the whole “new announcements” angle and just have Disney+ Day as a day where they launch a ton of new content (The Simpsons short, Shang-Chi, and more) on the service. You then can save the announcements for a later date (Investor Day or D23 event).
But between the combination of Disney’s Q4 call and Disney+ Day, I realized this.
Disney+ is very much at a crossroads and its future can be even more interesting than its present.
Yes, many will point and say Disney+ should just integrate with ESPN and Hulu, and then the problem will be solved.
But those integrations will likely take years, and Disney would have to be meticulous about its Disney+ brand. Some of the people that beg for more adult content on Disney+ will be the first to complain that certain adult content ruins the Disney brand (even if Disney put this content under a Hulu tab, controversy would still happen).
Disney+’s short-term future is based on content. It’s finding the Hamilton’s as Julia Alexander of Puck News says. It’s about broadening your content pipeline but not screwing it up completely with non-Disney quality series and films.
The Beatles: Get Back fits, and it will be interesting if non-typical Disney+ users stick around after watching it. If Disney can keep finding these cultural events like Hamilton and The Beatles: Get Back that could be a strategy for success.
Sidenote: It’s ironic that the two pieces of content that broaden Disney+’s offerings and appeal are Hamilton and The Beatles: Get Back. Two pieces of content that were shepherded by Bob Iger during his time at the helm.
Obviously, another big key is that Disney+ needs a major series that isn’t a The Mandalorian spin-off or a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Maybe a Disney+ original from another country will end up being popular around the world on Disney+?
Plus licensing deals like with Sony will help. Spider-Man is pivotal but even films like Ghostbusters and Jumanji can boost the library more.
I do think Disney+ needs to continue to rely on Marvel/Star Wars. I’m not telling them to stop because that would be idiotic. But Disney+ clearly needs another The Simpsons, another Hamilton, another The Beatles: Get Back, and other bingeable series on top of all the Marvel/Star Wars/Pixar/Disney series/films.
I personally think National Geographic was onto something with The Right Stuff (which was originally scheduled to air on the National Geographic cable channel). It didn’t quite connect with the Disney+ audience but it was an original made for adults but without being too adult that it wouldn’t be allowed on Disney+. I would love to see Disney+ take a shot at making another series like The Right Stuff.
But outside of content, I want to talk about Disney+’s far future. A future that is probably even past its inevitable merger with Hulu and ESPN.
We have to address Disney+ as Disney’s Metaverse.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek himself said Disney+ would be key to Disney’s Metaverse. Does this mean Disney+ in the future will go beyond just films and TV series? Could Disney+ be the future home of Encanto — A Virtual Reality Adventure? What about a D23 hangout in real-time or Destination D23 as a live event? Could Disney+ potentially work as a shopDisney portal integration? What about a live concert on Disney+ from Powerline? Could this all happen in Disney’s Metaverse?
It very well could, and we will definitely be exploring all the possibilities Disney will have to do in order to create something like this on Boardwalk Times: Stories from the Seashore in the coming months.
In conclusion, Disney+ is at a crossroads when it comes to how to grow. There are different solutions but in the end, it comes down to content.
Disney can still reach its lofty 2024 goals of 230 million to 260 million subscribers if it continues to bring new content. If they combine their streaming services together it will likely result in higher prices for the consumer which in the end would help Disney+’s ARPU.
In regards to Disney+ Day, that is an event that will get cooler as the years go on. Hopefully, they continue the theme park integrations because I think that could end up being a cool day to come to the parks.
Disney+ is at a crossroads but it’s crazy to think the service is only two years old. Most people are putting expectations on the service like it can automatically be Netflix overnight. When in reality this is a years-long process where Disney will slowly build up its streaming empire. They just got off to a fast start, and everyone gets concerned when you start to slow down the pace.
I Went To IAAPA
For the first time I got to go to IAAPA and it was awesome.
I can’t wait to go back next year and do even more things. The show floor was epic and there were so many things that I didn’t get to see or do that it just makes me more excited to do it again in 2022.
But here are some of the IAAPA highlights that I wrote about…
— Sally Dark Rides announced two new attractions for 2022.
— Triotech’s “Carnival Chaos Hyper-Ride” is an enjoyable ride that can fit into a smaller footprint.
— Themed Entertainment industry veterans Chuck Fawcett and Daren Ulmer announced Medici XD at IAAPA Expo. I wrote all about them, and the new company’s structure.
I Went To Destination D23
Now Destination D23 was another great experience.
From being able to see Encanto a week early (great film by the way) to Josh D’Amaro giving me (and everyone else) a free Amazon Echo, it was a great weekend.
Although Destination D23 didn’t give a ton of new updates. I think that may be a Disney thing in general. I’m wondering if Disney is nervous that the world is going to shut back down again, and that’s why they are so hesitant to promise dates on film, TV series, and attractions.
That’s just something I ponder especially after the Parks presentation and even after Disney+ Day.
The D23 Disney+ Christmas Party was also a fun experience, and I am hoping to attend another D23 event in the near future.
LINKS OF THE MONTH
— I answered questions about Hulu, ESPN’s strategy, and more in my quarterly mailbag. (Boardwalk Times)
— I did my analysis and recap of Disney’s Q4 and the main takeaway is that the theme parks grow as Disney+ slows. (Boardwalk Times)
— How Mad Men and Hallmark Christmas movies influenced Hawkeye. (The Hollywood Reporter)
— ESPN is seeking a sports betting deal. (The Hollywood Reporter)
— Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs continue their spending spree as they buy Moonbug, the creators of Cocomelon. (Variety)
— Imagine being trapped in a Disney Park because someone tested positive for COVID-19. Well, that happened in Shanghai Disneyland. (The Holywood Reporter)
— Disney+ and HBO Max have struck a deal to share 20th Century Fox releases starting with Ron’s Gone Wrong. (Variety)
— A great profile on Disney Animation Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee. (Variety)
— Good interview with Eternals screenwriter Patrick Burleigh on his Marvel journey. (The Hollywood Reporter)
More exciting things are on the way at Boardwalk Times. Best of Boardwalk 2021 is right around the corner. We hope you are checking out our new podcast season Chasing Arrows, a Hawkeye after-show podcast.
Happy Holidays from the Boardwalk Times
See you next month for the final edition of Boardwalk Times: Stories from the Seashore in 2021.