Disney is looking at licensing content to Netflix, Disney CEO Bob Iger has shared. In a recent earnings call, Iger shared that Disney is exploring a relationship with Netflix that could see different Disney titles on the competitor’s streaming service. However, not all titles from the House of Mouse would be ending up on Netflix. Iger shared that there would definitely be limitations with its major brands not a part of any licensing deal. This would include brands like Disney Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.
Iger said that Disney Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars are “really important building blocks” to Disney’s own streaming service, Disney+. Bob Iger said the following about the subject on the earnings call:
Those are real, obviously competitive advantages for us and differentiators. Disney Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, for instance, all doing very, very well on our platform, and I don’t see why just to basically chase bucks we should do that when they are really really important building blocks to the current and future of our streaming business.
Disney has licensed content to Netflix before. However, it didn’t have its own streaming service initially. In November of 2019 this changed when Disney+ launched. Since then, Disney has worked to build its content library on the streaming service. Initially, the focus of the content additions were to help build the subscriptions for the service. However, this has changed in the last year to a focus on profitability for Disney+.
Any potential deal could lead to the revival of some titles that have been removed from Disney+ as the company changes its focus from subscribers to profitability. One show, Willow, could get new life potentially on Netflix. At this time, it is unknown what titles are being negotiated by Disney with Netflix, however. With the limitations that Bob Iger has put in place for licensing, the Marvel series that originally were created for Netflix would be off the table to make a return on Netflix.
What do you think of Disney licensing some of its titles to Netflix? What titles would you like to see show up on Netflix? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
