Marvel

Disney Announced Disney+ and Cut Netflix Ties (2017)

On August 8, 2017, The Walt Disney Company announced plans to launch its own streaming service and end its content-licensing relationship with Netflix, a move that reshaped the streaming competitive landscape. The service, branded Disney+, launched on November 12, 2019 in the U.S., Canada, and the Netherlands. Disney acquired a majority stake in streaming technology firm BAMTech to power the platform, debuted original series such as The Mandalorian, and used tactics like bundling with Hulu and ESPN+ and a paid "Premier Access" option for early theatrical releases. By early 2020 Disney+ surpassed 50 million subscribers and by 2025 exceeded 150 million. The article is a retrospective on the strategic impact of Disney's decision.

TikTok Creator Videos Coming to Disney+ Verts

Disney and TikTok have launched a first-of-its-kind content-sharing partnership that gives U.S.-based creators licensed access to Disney-owned franchises and assets — including Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, FX and hundreds of films and series — to produce short-form vertical videos. Opt-in creators will receive authorized assets and some creator videos will be curated and distributed both on TikTok and within Disney+’s mobile-first Verts feed, marking the first time TikTok content will appear on another platform. The initiative begins as a U.S. pilot in the coming months with planned international expansion, and includes a Disney Creator Ambassador Program offering library access, rewards, heightened visibility, exclusive events and development pathways for selected creators. Financial terms were not disclosed; the move is part of Disney’s broader push to build short-form inventory after earlier Sora plans were cancelled.

Spider-Man Breaks Box Office While Skipping TV

Spider-Man: Brand New Day achieved record box office openings while relying heavily on social marketing rather than a traditional TV campaign. The film, from Disney and Sony with Marvel involvement, posted a $360 million U.S. opening weekend and $932 million global to date, surpassing Avengers: Endgame for the biggest domestic opening. Together with The Odyssey, it produced a combined domestic weekend of $430 million. The article highlights the film's marketing mix shift toward social platforms as a driver of its theatrical success.