The Walt Disney Africa introduced new seasons of the series 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' and a new film from the 'Ice Age' franchise at a presentation held on Tuesday in Johannesburg. South African residents wishing to catch up on earlier parts of these franchises can do so via the Netflix platform.
This was made possible by a content licensing agreement between Disney and Netflix. All five 'Ice Age' films and the first two seasons of 'Percy Jackson' became available on Netflix worldwide on October 4th, with each franchise receiving a three-month promotional period.
Season 3 of 'Percy Jackson' will be released on Disney+ on November 20th, and the film 'Ice Age: Collision' is scheduled for theatrical release on February 5, 2027.
The agreement extends beyond two franchises
This partnership also covers other projects. The first four seasons of the series 'Will Trent' will appear on Netflix globally on November 3rd. The first three seasons of 'Tracker' will become available outside the US starting February 26, 2027, despite Disney showcasing the fourth season of 'Tracker' among its hits on Disney+ during the presentation.
The deal also includes animated content from Disney. Among these are 'Raya and the Last Dragon' from Walt Disney Animation Studios and 'Soul' from Pixar, which are expected on Netflix in early 2027, although availability will vary by country, according to Storyboard18. At the event on Tuesday, Disney promoted the next original Pixar film, 'Gato', which premieres in theaters on March 5th. The list also includes older series such as 'Felicity', 'Revenge', and 'This Is Us'.
As reported by Variety, content already available on Disney+ will remain there, while Disney-branded content will largely maintain exclusivity on the company's own platforms and channels. In return, Disney gains additional revenue and exposes its shows to a much wider audience. Netflix previously stated in January that it had reached 325 million paid subscribers. Variety noted that one of Disney's goals is to increase interest in its upcoming releases.
What Disney+ is betting on
This move represents a shift in strategy for the company, which has spent years keeping its films and series away from competitors to strengthen Disney+'s position. This comes amid price increases for Disney+ in South Africa: the Premium plan increased from R159 to R179 per month this year. The local market also lost a competitor after MultiChoice ceased operations of the Showmax service at the end of April.
Under a multi-year agreement starting in the 2026/2027 season, all Formula E races will be broadcast on Disney+ starting December 18th. Disney assured subscribers that they would have access to practice, qualifying, and race sessions, as well as highlights and recap programs.
Formula E joins the ESPN hub on Disney+ in South Africa. ESPN also broadcasts the French Top 14 tournament and several European football leagues, and serves as the exclusive English-language platform for NBA finals in Sub-Saharan Africa. A new Disney+ app was released for users in South Africa last month. Disney stated that it offers more personalized recommendations, new parental control features, and an improved ESPN user experience, as well as allowing users to watch content while traveling in Europe, the US, and other regions.