The world's most influential media, entertainment & technology show
11 - 15 September 2020
RAI Amsterdam
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Disney+ is set to launch in a number of European markets on 31 March, the studio giant confirmed during a results call.
The SVoD service is set to launch in the US, Canada and the Netherlands next week (12 November) and Australia and New Zealand a week later, but the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain will all have to wait until March, Disney chief executive Bob Iger said.
The service will launch with a raft of content from Disney’s vast back catalogue plus a number of new shows including Star Wars-based The Mandalorian and Marvel shows such as Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
The later launch for Europe means some of the new content, including a live-action remake of The Lady and the Tramp, will already be available on the service at launch.
Disney is also including content it has acquired the rights to during a number of high-profile mergers, such as its acquisition of LucasFilm and Pixar, and its merger with Fox which was completed earlier this year. The Fox deal means Disney+ will include content such as The Simpsons.
Disney did not disclose European pricing during Iger’s announcement, but in the US it will cost $6.99 per month. In August, Disney announced it will also offer a bundle that includes Disney+, ESPN+ and commercial-supported Hulu for $12.99 a month, although it did not disclose if any similar bundles would be made available in Europe.
Disney has already announced a number of partnerships for the service, and appears to be eyeing more, with Canal+ reportedly in talks to become the exclusive carrier partner for the service in France.
Earlier this week, Disney struck deal with Amazon to offer Disney+ through its Fire TV range of devices, Iger announced. It will also be available on LG and Samsung smart TVs.
The decision to launch Disney+ will see the Mouse House go head-to-head with established streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, as well as a wave of new offerings from the likes of Apple (which launched Apple TV+ earlier this month), AT&T/ WarnerMedia’s HBO Max and NBCUniversal’s Peacock.
WarnerMedia has not revealed if it will launch HBO Max into European markets, though it recently signed a new deal with UK broadcaster Sky for HBO.
Irish broadcaster RTÉ has announced plans to cut up to 200 jobs as part of a series of financial measures aimed at reducing costs by €60 million over the next three years.
The decision to cut up to 200 roles was made following a review on the future of the organisation that highlighted a financial crisis that means RTÉ must significantly reduce costs.
According to RTÉ News, the Irish broadcaster will also close existing studios in Limerick and its digital radio network, which include 2XM, Pulse, RTÉ Gold, RTÉjr and Radio 1 Extra. It will also look to sell off RTÉ Guide and close its Aertel service.
Last September, RTÉ director general Dee Forbes warned staff that the PSB was facing a financial situation unlike any in its near 100-year history.
The review found that RTE needs to cut costs by around €60 million between 2020 and 2023. It has already announced plans to reduce the fees paid to top on-air presenters by 15% as well as executive pay by 10%. It will also introduce an indefinite pay freeze for all staff below that executive level, with a review of staff benefits expected to follow.
Forbes said: “We remain in discussions with Government. We are doing all we can to return RTÉ to a stable financial position, but we will not be able to reinvent public media for future generations, nor fulfil our remit, without immediate reform of the TV licence system.”
Forbes was a speaker at IBC2019. Prior to the event, she told IBC365 that the sustainability of RTÉ is under pressure against a backdrop of reduced funding. RTÉ receives funding from Ireland’s television licence fee as well as commercial revenue, including the sale of advertising and sponsorship.
This comes at a time when there is increasing pressure from OTT providers. RTÉ is going through that transformation process but “we are doing so on the back of contracting funding and a depleted commercial base”, she said. “We need funding reform and regulatory reform.”
“How audiences consume is changing, sometimes it feels by the day,” she told IBC365. “It can feel like PSMs are on the precipice in terms of evolving to match audience consumption habits, as the funding gap restricts our ability to evolve at the pace required.”
Deluxe has completed a restructure of the business and appointed Eric Cummins to the role of chief executive.
Cummins will replace current CEO John Wallace, who is retiring after some 35 years in the media and entertainment industry.
In his previous role as chief financial officer of Deluxe, Cummins oversaw the company’s long-term business and financial planning.
Last month, Deluxe announced it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and a financial restructuring process that involved swapping the company’s debt for equity.
Deluxe said this week that as a result of the restructuring and emergence from Chapter 11, the company has shed more than 75% of its debt and obtained $115 million in new financing.
“With an optimised balance sheet and significantly less debt, Deluxe is well-positioned to carry on its unparalleled legacy, and we are pleased to appoint Eric as CEO,” said Gregg Bresner, member of Deluxe’s Board of Directors.
“He has been instrumental in completing the comprehensive refinancing, and we are confident that he is the right person to lead the company forward.”
Cummins added: “I couldn’t be more excited to take on this role, and I look forward to carrying on Deluxe’s reputation of delivering for clients as we continue to build a technology platform that enables media and entertainment companies to create and deliver content globally.”
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