Time to get your Disney+ on
Disney+ is coming!
Yes, the popular streaming site will (finally) hit Manila screens on Nov. 17, and for Filipinos, it might be the next best thing to a Disney Philippines theme park opening on these shores.
The highly-sought streaming service contains in its portfolio not just all Disney movies, series, cartoons and content, but its recent acquisitions of Pixar, Star Wars, National Geographic, Star TV and, of course, Marvel (a hot property among Pinoy comics fans).
The P369 monthly/P2,950 yearly Premium Plan (up to 4 screens and 7 personal profiles) or P159 monthly/P1,150 yearly personal Mobile Plan (one screen) will also provide Disney+ Originals and Exclusives like WandaVision, Loki, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Moon Knight, along with Star content, including shows from Disney Television Studios (ABC Signature and 20th Television), FX Productions, 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures.
It’s really a lot, with an expansive portfolio that includes new Disney movies like the upcoming Hocus Pocus 2, Willow and Disenchanted; Marvel Studios blockbusters like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Black Panther, Thor: Love and Thunder, and the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special; Star Wars fans can stream all 12 original movies up to the new spinoff series Andor; Walt Disney Animation Studios movies, from all the classics to recent Oscar winner Encanto and the live-action Pinocchio; and Pixar hits from Toy Story all the way up to the recent Soul, Turning Red and Lightyear; plus Korean content such as BTS concerts, Big Mouth, In the Soop: Friendcation, Snow Drop, Soundtrack #1 and Doctor Lawyer.
Disney+ offers National Geographic series including Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, Limitless with Chris Hemsworth, Running Wild with Bear Grylls and more, while Star offers much-loved series like Grey’s Anatomy and NCIS, not to mention The Simpsons and Family Guy.
It’s taken a while for Disney+ to get here, but you’ll soon be able to immerse in all of its content — including Marvel series and Star Wars chapters you’ve missed (hello, Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor!). All in all, it’s something like 1,800 movies and 32,000 episodes available on one streaming source.
Even more notably, Disney+ says it’s committed to creating more local APAC (Asia-Pacific) content as the market grows — including 50 new greenlit Disney Originals by 2023. David Shin, SVP and managing director, Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong for The Walt Disney Company, shared this in his comments.
PHILIPPINE STAR: What kind of clamor have you already heard from the Filipino fans about Disney+ coming?
DAVID SHIN: The response from Filipino fans has been extremely positive, with many consumers expressing excitement and anticipation online. Shortly after the announcement that Disney+ would be available in the Philippines, “Disney” became the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter. We are delighted that consumers in the Philippines have expressed such enthusiasm that they will soon be able to access our exciting and expansive library of content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and Star, offering unforgettable moments, movies and entertainment experiences.
Why now for the Philippine market?
We have a global launch plan and look forward to making our stories and general entertainment content accessible to fans and families in the Philippines. We believe that consumers will be drawn to our storytelling and original content, powered by our iconic brands and franchises. The Disney brand is beloved by many in the Philippines and we look forward to making our incredible stories, movies and shows accessible to consumers.
Will you produce original local content for Disney+?
We are committed to providing an unparalleled content offering, including Asian language content. Consumers across APAC including in the Philippines are demanding the best of global and Asian language content. Our creative ambition is to greenlight over 50 APAC Originals by 2023.
Our APAC content focus is currently centered on Korean drama and Japanese anime, as we believe they have the greatest potential to resonate in the region as well as to travel to global audiences — and we are always making adjustments based on changing consumer preferences.
Are there specific titles you’d like to highlight to audiences in the Philippines?
One of our most significant announcements in APAC this year is a global content collaboration we’ve forged with HYBE, South Korea’s entertainment lifestyle platform company and the management label of the world’s biggest global K-pop icons, BTS. This collaboration represents our commitment to bring globally relevant entertainment from the APAC region to the world. One of these titles is BTS: Permission to Dance on Stage - LA, a cinematic 4K concert film featuring their exhilarating live performance in Los Angeles’ Sofi Stadium last November.
What kind of experience can users expect with the platform?
Subscribers will be able to enjoy the Disney+ experience anytime, anywhere on a wide selection of mobile and connected TV devices, depending on the user’s chosen subscription plan. Mobile plans can be accessed on a range of Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, and the premium plan can be accessed on laptops through a web browser and on TVs, as well as phones and tablets.
Disney+ will give them access to high-quality viewing, with personalized recommendations and streaming on up to four devices. On selected content, Disney+ offers 4K Ultra HD (Up to 2160p resolution) picture quality for the premium plan and full HD (up to 720p resolution) for the mobile plan. Subscribers to the premium plan will be able to experience over 100 titles in breathtaking 4K Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos sound for a crisp and colorful cinematic experience on compatible devices.
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For information on Disney+, visit www.DisneyPlus.com.
For the sizzle reel, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L92kxOCsopc.
