According to reports, Disney views linear channels as a means of encouraging app users to spend more time using it.
It has been rumored that Disney intends to incorporate linear cable-style streaming channels into Apple’s Disney+ service. As reported by The Information, the firm’s objective is to encourage users to remain within the app for longer periods of time. In order to achieve this goal, the company wants to provide consumers with a greater variety of watching alternatives. Additionally, Disney has the potential to increase its bottom line by selling advertisements on these networks.
There is already a large number of free streaming services that are supported by advertisements, such as Roku, Pluto TV, and Tubi on the market. In the previous year, Warner Bros. Discovery introduced FAST channels to Roku and Tubi, which included the company’s television episodes and films. A number of FAST channels, including those devoted to General Hospital and 20/20, are available within the ABC.com app, which is owned and operated by Disney. But none of those are included in a service that requires a membership.
According to the source, Disney may offer channels that are based on tentpole brands such as Star Wars and Marvel, in addition to other channels that feature animated movies from Pixar. As a result of the strong level of brand attachment for Disney, it would make sense for the company to investigate this possibility. Many people listen to FAST channels as background noise while they are cleaning or doing other tasks.
In addition to Marvel and Star Wars, Disney has a vast library of films and television episodes from which it can provide its linear streaming channels with content. There would undoubtedly be a demand for a channel that broadcasts The Simpsons around the clock. There is undoubtedly a population that would be delighted to have Boy Meets World or Scrubs playing in the background while they went about their day, and Disney, of course, has a sizable collection of animated children’s shows in its collection. It would appear that a DuckTales channel is an obvious choice.
Disney is working toward the goal of making Disney+ a one-stop place for customers to shop. Hulu was recently incorporated into the company, and it is rumored that the company intends to do something comparable with ESPN when the sports network’s separate streaming service is released the following year. The addition of linear streaming channels to the mix has the potential to assist Disney in attracting viewers away from other streaming services such as Roku and Pluto TV.
According to the report, even another large streaming platform has investigated a variety of various tactics. It is reported that at one point in time, Netflix contemplated the possibility of providing its users with the ability to subscribe to and watch content from other streaming services within its own app, in a manner comparable to what Amazon does with its Prime Video Channels. It is said by The Information that although Netflix has not yet implemented that strategy, the firm has not completely dismissed the possibility of doing so as it also strives to encourage customers to spend more time within its app.