Disney+ Streaming Service's Fall 2019 Launch Date Confirmed

[Black Panther]

Disney has officially announced the launch date for its Disney+ streaming service. The ongoing success of subscription-based streaming services like Netflix and Amazon has encouraged other companies to move quickly and get streamers of their own up and running. CBS did just that when it launched CBS All Access in late 2014, and has since attempted to gain more members by producing original content like Star Trek: Discovery and The Twilight Zone revival. Similarly, Apple is in the middle of developing several original series for its upcoming streaming service, which will kick-off this fall.

Of course, it's been known for some time now that Disney's also planning to launch a new streaming service this fall. The streamer, known as Disney+, will supposedly include everything from the Mouse House's library, in addition to original content and the IPs it gained from its recently-completed purchase of Fox's assets (which was done specifically to help the company transition into the modern digital era). Now, the service has gained a concrete launch date to boot.

As part of Walt Disney Studios' Investors Day 2019 webcast, the Mouse House announced that Disney+ will go live in the U.S. on November 12, 2019. The service will cost subscribers $6.99 a month or $69.99 for the entire year, if they decide to take out an annual subscription. Both options will give users full access to the entire Disney + catalog, including its original series, movies, and projects developed by Disney-owned affiliates like Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and Pixar Animation.


Among the original films and TV series that are now confirmed for Disney+ are the Marvel Cinematic Universe series WandaVision (featuring Scarlet Witch and Vision) and Falcon & Winter Soldier. Meanwhile, on the Disney side of things, the service will launch with the live-action Lady and the Tramp remake, as well as the live-action Star Wars TV series The Mandalorian. Other projects that were previously reported on, but have now been formally announced for Disney+ are an animated What If...? series from Marvel, new Toy Story shorts, and an animated Phineas and Ferb movie. Altogether, the company intends to release more than 25 original series and 10 original films, documentaries, and specials on Disney+ in its first year.

As far as competition for Netflix and Amazon goes, Disney+ is in pretty good shape, right off the bat. Its low pricing alone will make it easier to convince people to sign up for yet another streaming service, on top of everything else that's already out there. Of course, your average consumer only has so much money they can afford to spend on monthly entertainment, so that will have some impact on how many people actually sign-up for Disney+ when it first launches. Suffice it to say, it will be interesting to see how the streaming wars play out from here, now that the Mouse House has planted its flag in the sand.