By Megan Tran

Copy Editor

  Walt Disney Co. recently announced that they would not be renewing its contract with Netflix and instead launch their own video streaming service for customers to directly access the company’s movies and shows.

  All beloved Disney franchises such as the Disney princesses, Star Wars, and Marvel movies will be taken off of Netflix at the end of 2019. In 20117, Disney announced that they would purchase majority ownership of BAMTech, a streaming video company, for more than $1.5 billion.  

  “We announced a strategic shift in the way we distribute our content,” said Robert A. Iger, chairman and chief executive, the Walt Disney Company in a statement said to The Washington Post. “The media landscape is increasingly defined by direct relationships between content creators and consumers.”

  Disney reported that their new streaming service would offer much of the same content that it offers now through cable television following other networks that are trying to appeal to so called “cord cutters.” A cord cutter is a person who cancels a cable television subscription in favor of an alternative Internet-based service.

  Disney’s new streaming service, Disney Plus, will not be available until November. Disney Plus subscribers will also get additional content, mini-series based on characters in the new films, and behind the scenes footage.  

  “As a huge Disney fan I’m so excited for Disney’s own streaming service because now I can get all the content I want all in the same location,” stated senior Amanda Su.  

  In addition, Disney will also offer an ESPN-branded service with sports programming and family films. It will feature 10,000 live events a year, including Major League Baseball, hockey, soccer, and tenis, as well as college sports.

  After Disney announced the end of their relationship with Netflix, Disney shares fell as much as 22.6 percent and Netflix lost 3.5 percent.

  Competitors like Disney splitting from Netflix to become independent shows the recent demand for on-demand TV. Other examples include Amazon Prime and Apple’s own streaming service, Apple TV +.

  In addition, NBC will launch a free, streaming news service, called NBC News Now, in May. This service will include hours of daily programming, live hourly updates, and original reporting.  

  With many big companies shifting in the same direction many question the longevity of all the various streaming services

  “I think there will be some companies that do fall by the wayside,” adds Shona Ghosh, senior tech reporter at Business Insider. “Netflix is spending a lot of money producing great content – whether it can keep it up remains to be seen.