South Africa that isn't considered a "major market" by Disney remains locked out with The Walt Disney Company that announced on Monday that its upcoming Disney+ video streaming service that will launch on 12 November in America will also be available within a week after launch in four international markets including Canada, the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand.
Disney has commissioned an avalanche of TV content in the form of new animation and live-action series and films from its combined Marvel, Disney, Pixar and Star Wars brands that will be available on its new subscription video-on-demand SVOD) service, along with a massive library of content from 21st Century Fox and National Geographic.
Disney+ will compete globally with streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, along with the soon-to-launch Apple TV+ and WarnerMedia's HBO Max.
Disney's new Direct-to-Consumer and International division announced on Monday that it had reached global agreements with Apple, Google, Microsoft, Roku, and Sony to distribute its Disney+ across partner mobile and connected-TV devices.
Besides the launch of Disney+ in the United States where it will cost $6.99 (R107.24) per month from 12 November, Walt Disney on Monday announced that Disney+ will also launch on the same day in Canada costing CAD$8.99 (R103.96), and the Netherlands costing €6.99 (R118.99) per month.
Disney+ will make its debut a week later from 19 November 2019 in both Australia at A$8.99 (R93.42) and New Zealand costing NZD$9.99 (R98.30) as well.
South Africa and Africa remains excluded from Disney+ but so is the United Kingdom. Disney says that it expects to make Disney+ available in all major markets within the first two years after launch.
When Disney+ launch in these initial markets, Disney+ subscribers will be able to sign up and use the service directly or through in-app purchases on Apple's iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV; Google's Android phones, Android TV devices, Google Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices; Microsoft Xbox One; Sony Interactive Entertainment's PlayStation 4 and all of Sony's Android-based TV set; as well as Roku streaming players and Roku TV sets.
The Walt Disney Company Africa is set to hold its annual content showcase for the media and advertisers for 2019/2020 showing more about its upcoming content slate on Tuesday 20 August in South Africa.
Last week Disney announced that it has appointed Luke Bradley-Jones as the boss of Disney+ for Europe and Africa.
