Disney+ has launched a new application in South Africa and given existing subscribers until October 12th to transition to it; after this date, the current application will cease to function.
Subscribers will be prompted to download the updated application and log in using their previous credentials. Prompts for account confirmation and profile setup will appear on the screen.
A more significant change is the migration of subscribers who use only the mobile version to the new basic Disney plan. The company stated that this will expand the number of devices on which content can be viewed by including televisions, which was not provided by the mobile plan. Registration for the basic plan will be done through MTN, with availability details to be announced later.
Disney has not specified the cost of the basic plan for mobile subscribers, nor has it guaranteed the retention of current prices or what will happen to those who do not switch by October 12th.
The new application supports up to 25 languages for audio and subtitles, and it includes a Kids Mode with a Pin profile protection, customizable content ratings, and notifications upon profile change. Furthermore, Disney has completely redesigned the homepage, stating that recommendations will be based on viewing history and content popularity in the subscriber's country. The content assortment remains unchanged.
A small player in a noisy market
Disney+ is the flagship streaming service of The Walt Disney Company. It was launched in the US in November 2019 as a platform for Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic content. Outside the US, the service also offers general entertainment brands from Disney, such as Hulu and FX, where shows like The Kardashians and Only Murders in the Building are featured alongside the animated catalog.
The service appeared in South Africa in May 2022, as part of a wave of expansion into over 40 new markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, priced at R119 per month. This was followed by a cheaper mobile plan sold through MTN, which is slated for discontinuation during this migration. The full package, offering a 4K viewing experience, now costs R179 per month.
Since its debut four years ago, Disney has never published data on the number of subscribers in South Africa, and its local presence is limited to the application itself. There are no local sports rights, almost no local commissions, and minimal marketing. Disney reports the number of streaming subscribers globally, including Africa in the overall statistics for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
These application changes occur against the backdrop of instability in the local broadcasting and streaming market. MultiChoice, now owned by Canal+, is preparing to conduct the largest reorganization of DStv packages in the last 15 years on September 17th, removing M-Net and KykNet from the Premium package, lowering the cricket price to R399 (streaming) in the sports package, and completely abandoning Compact Plus. This represents direct competitive fighting for households that purchase one or two subscriptions and carefully consider them.
The market has also lost a player. Canal+ ceased Showmax after acquiring a 30% stake in NBCUniversal, and Netflix and e.tv have occupied the vacated niche thanks to an agreement allowing eMedia's flagship drama series to be shown on Netflix one day after broadcast. Local content is the area that Disney+ has never challenged in South Africa.
Additionally, the initial price has decreased. Amazon integrated Prime Video into the full Amazon Prime subscription in South Africa at R59 per month, which is lower than the original R79 just for the video service, making the most affordable way to access a large content catalog more advantageous due to the inclusion of delivery services.