History of Disney+ in Timeline
Disney+ is a subscription-based streaming service owned by Disney. It features content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, ESPN, Hulu, and Star. It offers both existing films and television shows, as well as original and exclusive content. With 159 million paid memberships, Disney+ ranks as the third most subscribed video on demand streaming service following Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
2004: Shark Tale Appears on Disney+
As a result of the Hulu acquisition, select titles from DreamWorks Animation and Warner Bros. Discovery have also begun to appear on the service, including the 2004 comedy film Shark Tale.
2014: Hulu Japan sold to Nippon TV
In 2014, Hulu Japan, which had been sold by Hulu's previous ownership group to Nippon TV, was later bundled with Disney+ in Japan in 2023.
August 8, 2017: Disney Acquires Controlling Stake in BAMTech
On August 8, 2017, Disney invoked its option to acquire a controlling stake in BAMTech for $1.58 billion, increasing its stake to 75%. The company announced plans for a Disney-branded direct-to-consumer service drawing from its entertainment content, which would launch after the company ends its existing distribution agreement with Netflix in 2019.
2017: DuckTales Series Year
The 2017 DuckTales series had its episodes arranged in the proper order in 2020.
March 2018: Disney Reorganizes with Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International
In March 2018, Disney's top level segment division was reorganized with the formation of Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International, which then included BAMTech, containing "all consumer-facing tech and products".
March 20, 2019: Disney Completes Acquisition of 21st Century Fox Assets
On March 20, 2019, Disney completed its acquisition of key entertainment assets from 21st Century Fox, bolstering its content portfolio for its streaming products.
April 11, 2019: Disney+ Launch Date Announced
On April 11, 2019, Disney announced that Disney+ would launch on November 12, 2019, in the United States and outlined plans for a worldwide rollout over the next two years, targeting Western Europe and Asia-Pacific countries by late 2019 and early 2020, and Eastern Europe and Latin America during 2020.
August 2019: Disney+ Subscriptions Opened at D23 Expo
In August 2019, at the D23 Expo, Disney opened subscriptions to Disney+ at a discounted rate for three years.
September 12, 2019: Disney+ Trial Version Launched in Netherlands
On September 12, 2019, a trial version of Disney+ became available in the Netherlands with limited content, preceding the official launch on November 12.
October 2019: Disney Prepares for Launch
In October 2019, Disney released a 3 hour and 18 minute video on YouTube to showcase its launch lineup for Disney+. It was also reported that Disney would ban advertisements for competitor Netflix from most of its TV platforms, except ESPN.
November 12, 2019: Disney+ Launch in Select Regions
On November 12, 2019, Disney+ was officially launched in the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands.
November 13, 2019: 10 Million Subscribers Signed Up
On November 13, 2019, a day after its launch, Disney announced that the streaming service had already signed up more than 10 million subscribers.
November 18, 2019: Disney+ Accounts Hacked
On November 18, 2019, an investigation revealed that thousands of Disney+ user accounts were hacked, with login information put up for sale on the dark web.
November 19, 2019: Disney+ Launches in Australia, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico
On November 19, 2019, Disney+ launched in Australia, New Zealand and Puerto Rico.
2019: Top Trending Google Search
In 2019, Disney+ was the top trending Google search term in the U.S.
February 3, 2020: Subscriber Count Update
By February 3, 2020, Disney+ had 28.6 million subscribers.
February 2020: Disney+ India Launch Announced
In February 2020, Disney announced its plan to launch Disney+ in India on March 29, 2020, via Hotstar, rebranding paid tiers as a co-branded service.
February 2020: Subscriber Count Update
In February 2020, Disney reported that Disney+ had 26.5 million subscribers by the end of 2019.
March 12, 2020: Vanessa Morrison Appointed President of Streaming
On March 12, 2020, Vanessa Morrison was appointed President of Streaming for Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, overseeing Disney+ film content.
March 2020: Disney+ Expansion to Europe
In March 2020, Disney+ expanded its availability to select European countries.
March 24, 2020: DisneyLife Replaced by Disney+
On March 24, 2020, Disney+ replaced DisneyLife in the United Kingdom.
March 29, 2020: Disney+ India Launch Postponed
The planned launch of Disney+ in India on March 29, 2020, was postponed due to the rescheduling of the Indian Premier League because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 3, 2020: Disney+ Launched in India
On April 3, 2020, Disney+ was launched in India through Hotstar.
April 2020: Subscriber Count Update
By April 2020, Disney+ had 50 million paid subscribers, with approximately 8 million coming from India.
April 2020: Disney+ Original Content Licensed to OSN in Middle East and North Africa
In April 2020, all the Disney+ original content has been removed from OSN, which its platform were previously host Disney+ original content through licensing since April 2020.
May 2020: Ability to Switch Between Aspect Ratios Added
In late May 2020, Disney+ added the ability to switch between 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios for early Simpsons episodes, after receiving backlash for stretching those episodes to 16:9 by default at launch.
May 28, 2020: Aspect Ratio Feature Added
On May 28, 2020, Disney made the ability to watch episodes of The Simpsons of the first 19 seasons and some from season 20 in either the 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio available.
June 11, 2020: Disney+ Launches in Japan
On June 11, 2020, Disney+ launched in Japan as part of Disney's existing partnership with NTT Docomo, succeeding the existing Disney Deluxe service in the region.
June 26, 2020: Episode Ordering Corrected
On June 26, 2020, the 2017 DuckTales series had its episodes arranged in the proper order.
August 2020: Agnes Chu Leaves Executive Position
In August 2020, Agnes Chu, who was appointed senior vice president of content and led initial projects to launch Disney's new streaming unit, left the company.
September 4, 2020: Mulan Premieres on Disney+ with Premier Access
On September 4, 2020, the live-action adaptation of Mulan premiered in select countries on Disney+ with Premier Access for a premium fee ($29.99).
September 5, 2020: Disney+ Launched in Indonesia
On September 5, 2020, Disney+ was launched in Indonesia through Hotstar.
September 2020: GroupWatch Feature Added to Disney+
In September 2020, Disney+ added the GroupWatch feature, allowing up to seven different Disney+ accounts to link up and co-view programming. Viewers can react with emojis and control playback.
September 2020: Disney+ Expansion to Additional European Countries
In September 2020, Disney+ expanded to additional European countries.
October 12, 2020: Disney Announces Reorganization with Focus on Streaming
On October 12, 2020, Disney announced a reorganization of their media business with a greater focus on streaming platforms like Disney+ and Hulu, planning to add more content.
November 2020: Disney+ Expansion to Latin America
In November 2020, Disney+ expanded its service to Latin America.
November 17, 2020: Disney+ Launches in Latin America and the Caribbean
On November 17, 2020, Disney+ service launched in Latin America and the Caribbean.
December 10, 2020: Disney+ Subscriber Count Announced
On December 10, 2020, Disney announced that Disney+ had over 86.8 million subscribers a year after its launch.
2020: Apple TV App of the Year
In 2020, Apple Inc. named Disney+ the Apple TV App of the Year and it was voted the best app of 2020 by Google Play users.
February 2021: Subscriber Count Update
In February 2021, Disney reported that Disney+ had 94.9 million subscribers as of January 2, 2021.
February 23, 2021: Disney+ Launches in Singapore
On February 23, 2021, the Disney+ service expanded to Singapore.
February 25, 2021: Reported Launch in Malaysia and Thailand
On February 25, 2021, it was reported that Disney+ was to be launched in Malaysia and Thailand through Hotstar within 2021.
March 5, 2021: Raya and the Last Dragon Offered Through Premier Access
On March 5, 2021, Raya and the Last Dragon was offered through the Premier Access model on Disney+, the same day as its theatrical release.
March 9, 2021: Subscriber Count Surpasses 100 Million
On March 9, 2021, Disney reported that Disney+ had surpassed 100 million paid subscribers.
March 2021: Disney Announces Cruella and Black Widow Premier Access Release
In March 2021, Disney announced that Cruella and Black Widow would be released theatrically and through Premier Access.
March 26, 2021: Disney+ Price Increase
On March 26, 2021, Disney increased the pricing for its streaming service, Disney+.
April 2021: Disney and Sony Pictures Reach Multi-Year Streaming Deal
In April 2021, Disney and Sony Pictures reached a multi-year deal to stream Sony's titles (such as films from the Spider-Man and Jumanji franchises, individual titles like Stuart Little, and anime licensed by Funimation/Crunchyroll like Attack on Titan and Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works) on Hulu and Disney+.
May 2021: Jungle Cruise to be Released Theatrically and Through Premier Access
In May 2021, Disney announced that Jungle Cruise would also be released theatrically and through Premier Access.
June 1, 2021: Launch in Malaysia
On June 1, 2021, Disney+ officially launched in Malaysia through Hotstar.
June 2021: Sony Titles Begin Streaming on Hulu
In June 2021, a significant number of Sony titles began streaming on Hulu as part of the multi-year deal between Disney and Sony Pictures.
June 30, 2021: Launch in Thailand
On June 30, 2021, Disney+ officially launched in Thailand through Hotstar.
August 12, 2021: Disney+ to Launch in the Middle East and Africa
On August 12, 2021, Disney announced that it would launch in the Middle East and Africa in mid-2022.
August 2021: Possibility of Merging Disney+ and Hulu Discussed
In August 2021, Disney CEO Bob Chapek suggested that Disney+ could eventually be merged with Hulu in the US, citing less subscriber churn with bundled services.
September 2021: Disney Begins New Television Release Strategy
In September 2021, it was reported that Disney had begun a new television release strategy by giving episodes from certain series an early premiere on Disney+ ahead of their television debuts.
October 6, 2021: The Ghost and Molly McGee Episodes Released Early on Disney+
On October 6, 2021, Disney+ began releasing episodes 3 to 5 of The Ghost and Molly McGee ahead of their television debut as part of a new television release strategy.
November 12, 2021: Final Season of Fancy Nancy Premieres on Disney+
On November 12, 2021, the third and final season of Fancy Nancy premiered in its entirety on Disney+ alongside its premiere episode on Disney Junior.
November 2021: Marvel Cinematic Universe Films Receive IMAX Enhanced Versions
In November 2021, Disney and IMAX announced that 13 films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe would receive IMAX Enhanced versions on Disney+, featuring IMAX's 1.90:1 aspect ratio for scenes shot in or opened up for the format, with the feature available beginning on November 12, 2021.
November 2021: Disney Channel Original Movies Released on Disney+
In November 2021, it was reported that the Disney Channel Original Movie, Christmas...Again?! would be released on Disney+ on December 3, 2021, the same day of its television premiere, marking the first film to receive a simultaneous release.
December 3, 2021: Christmas...Again?! Released on Disney+ and Disney Channel Simultaneously
On December 3, 2021, the Disney Channel Original Movie, Christmas...Again?! was released on Disney+ the same day as its television premiere, marking the first film to receive a simultaneous release.
2021: App Downloads Update
In H1 of 2021, the Disney+ app reached 125 million downloads.
2021: Disney+ and ESPN+ became non-removable parts of the Hulu + Live TV package
In late 2021, Disney+ and ESPN+ became non-removable parts of the Hulu + Live TV package. These changes were made alongside the launch of the standalone Disney+ service in the U.S.
2021: Disney+ Expansion to Southeast Asia
Since 2021, Disney+ has expanded into Southeast Asian countries.
March 4, 2022: Disney+ Announces Ad-Supported Tier
On March 4, 2022, Disney announced its plan to launch a low-cost ad-supported version of Disney+ by late 2022 in the United States, with expansion to other international territories planned for 2023.
March 29, 2022: Launch Date Announcement
On March 29, 2022, Disney announced the launch dates for Disney+ in several regions, including South Africa on May 18, the Middle East and North Africa (excluding Syria) on June 8, most of the remaining European countries on June 14, and Israel on June 16.
May 2022: Disney+ Subscriber Gains Reported
In May 2022, The Walt Disney Company reported that Disney+ gained 7.9 million subscribers in the first three months of 2022.
May 18, 2022: Launch in South Africa
On May 18, 2022, Disney+ launched in South Africa.
June 14, 2022: Launch in Europe
On June 14, 2022, Disney+ launched in most of the remaining European countries.
June 2022: International Version of Disney+ App Translated in 21 Languages
As of June 2022, the international version of the Disney+ app is translated in 21 languages.
June 2022: Disney+ Launched in MENA Markets
In June 2022, Disney+ officially launched in the 17 MENA markets, including Israel, and had a variant of the Disney+ Hotstar app for non-PC devices made available.
June 2022: Sony Pictures Titles Added to Disney+ Outside the U.S.
In June 2022, titles from Sony Pictures began to be added to Disney+ in regions outside of the U.S., starting with the majority of the Spider-Man films as part of the deal between Disney and Sony.
June 16, 2022: Launch in Israel
On June 16, 2022, Disney+ launched in Israel.
August 10, 2022: Disney+ Ad-Supported Version Launch Date Announced
On August 10, 2022, Disney announced that the ad-supported version of Disney+ would launch on December 8, costing US$7.99 per month, with a price hike of US$3 for the ad-free version.
August 2022: Disney Streaming Platforms Surpass Netflix in Subscribers
In August 2022, it was announced that the combined subscriber total across all Disney streaming platforms, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, had surpassed Netflix with approximately 221 million subscribers.
October 2022: Disney+ Acquires Streaming Rights to Doctor Who
In October 2022, Disney+ announced that it had acquired streaming rights, excluding the United Kingdom & Ireland, to the BBC series Doctor Who starting in 2023 with the 60th Anniversary Specials.
November 17, 2022: Launch in the Philippines
On November 17, 2022, Disney+ launched in the Philippines along with a mobile plan.
2022: Availability in 50+ countries
In 2022, Disney+ became available in more than 50 countries as part of its continued international expansion.
2022: Potential launch in Vietnam
In 2022, the service was expected to launch in Vietnam, although no updates have been made since then regarding a launch of Disney+ in the region.
January 2023: Disney+ Receives First Academy Award Nomination
In January 2023, Disney+ received its first Academy Award nomination for the Italian film "Le pupille" in the Best Live Action Short Film category.
February 2023: Disney+ Subscriber Count at End of 2022
In February 2023, Disney reported a total of 161.8 million Disney+ subscribers worldwide at the end of 2022, with a gain in Canada and the United States but a net loss attributed to the loss of streaming rights to Indian Premier League cricket in India.
March 14, 2023: Disney+ airs live sports for the first time
On March 14, 2023, Disney+ aired live sports for the first time, simulcasting an animated NHL ice hockey game between the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers alongside Disney Channel and Disney XD. The animation featured characters from the series Big City Greens.
March 2023: Peppa Pig Available on Disney+ in EMEA Regions
In March 2023, Hasbro Entertainment's Peppa Pig was made available on Disney+ in many EMEA regions.
April 21, 2023: Sam Raimi-Directed Spider-Man Films Available on Disney+
On April 21, 2023, all three Sam Raimi-directed Spider-Man films and The Amazing Spider-Man would eventually be made available on the American version of the platform.
May 18, 2023: Removal of Original Films and Series Announced
On May 18, 2023, it was announced that Disney+ and Hulu would remove nearly 60 original films and series on May 26 to cut costs, sparking some backlash. However, it was confirmed the next day that the film "Howard", the documentary on the life of songwriter Howard Ashman, will remain available on the service.
September 2023: Disney+ Available to Spectrum TV Select Subscribers
Following a carriage agreement, Disney+ became available to Spectrum TV Select subscribers for no extra cost in September 2023.
September 26, 2023: Removed Original Films Released for Purchase
On September 26, 2023, it was revealed that six of the previously removed original films: Crater, Better Nate Than Ever, Flora & Ulysses, The One And Only Ivan, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made and the 2022 remake of Cheaper by the Dozen were released for purchase on multiple digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Vudu and Google Play.
November 3, 2023: Spider-Man: Far From Home Added to Disney+
On November 3, 2023, Spider-Man: Far From Home was added to Disney+.
December 6, 2023: Hulu Content Hub Added to Disney+
On December 6, 2023, Disney added a Hulu content hub to Disney+ as a beta for U.S. Disney Bundle subscribers, similar to the Star content hub internationally.
December 11, 2023: Lionsgate+ Discontinuation
Until December 11, 2023, bundles incorporating Disney+ and Star+, as well as Lionsgate's streaming service Lionsgate+ (formerly Starzplay) were offered in some countries of Latin America, until Lionsgate+'s discontinuation on December 11, 2023.
2023: Expansion to 160+ countries
Disney+ was initially planned to be available in more than 160 countries by the end of 2023, but ultimately was not released in more countries during that year.
February 7, 2024: Disney+ Obtains Streaming Rights to Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
On February 7, 2024, Disney+ obtained the streaming rights to the 2023 concert film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, with an exclusive unabridged edit dubbed "Taylor's Version" to stream beginning March 15.
March 2024: Disney+ Debuts Updated Logo Design
In March 2024, Disney+ debuted an updated teal logo design and updated interface, dubbed "Aurora", and a short orchestral theme composed by Ludwig Göransson.
May 7, 2024: Disney+ to simulcast ESPN2's coverage of WNBA opening night
On May 7, 2024, Disney+ announced it would simulcast ESPN2's coverage of WNBA opening night on May 14.
May 2024: Twilight Films Made Available on Disney+
In May 2024, the Twilight films were made available to stream on Disney+ under the Star hub including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom and other regions, supposedly done via a small content deal with Lionsgate.
July 24, 2024: Star+ Standalone Service End Date
On July 24, 2024, the standalone service Star+ concluded in certain regions, as the brand Star was retooled as a content platform within Disney+ in some regions, with Latin America having its own standalone service, Star+, until June 26 and July 24, 2024.
November 2024: ESPN Content Added to Disney+
In November 2024, Disney announced that it will be adding an ESPN title (with content from ESPN+) on Disney+ in the United States beginning on December 4, however select ESPN (and Hulu) content will now be available for non subscribers.
November 2024: Twilight Films Removed From Disney+
The Twilight films were later removed from Disney+ on November 2024.
2024: Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery bundle announced
In the summer of 2024, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery announced they will begin offering a bundle comprising Disney+, Hulu and WBD's Max for a discounted price in the U.S.
2025: Warner Bros. Television Shows Appear on Disney+
From the start of 2025, a few Warner Bros. Television shows began appearing on Disney+ outside the U.S via the Star hub including Gilmore Girls, The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon, implying that Warner Bros. has done a content deal with Disney.
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